Kivu African Climbing Mouse

discussion

Discussion: Dendromus nyasae and the three names in synonymy (based on study of all holotypes) have been treated as subspecies of the southern African D. mesomelas (Bohmann, 1942; Misonne, 1974). The latter is larger in external dimensions; has longer pelage with upperparts brighter and buffier (darker, tawny hue in D. nyasae), underparts white usually suffused with pale buff or ochraceous (dark grayish white in D. nyasae); its skull is more robust with narrow interorbital and postorbital regions and more flaring zygomatic arches (interorbit constricted but postorbit wider), longer molar rows; and occurs commonly in lowlands (D. nyasae is strictly montane). Ansell (1974 b, 1978) noted that specimens from NW Zambia identified as D. mesomelas major (= D. mesomelas) were " quite distinct " from D. mesomelas nyasae (= D. nyasae) on the Nyika Plateau, NE Zambia. In the Western Rift mtns, D. nyasae may occur sympatrically with D. insignis (see account). In morphology, D. nyasae seems to be most closely related to the small-bodied D. vernayi from the Angolan Plateau, D. oreas from the E Cameroon mountains, and the larger-bodied D. insignis from the mountains of East Africa. The four speci

Order Rodentia - Family Nesomyidae

distribution

Distribution: Western Rift Mtns — Ruwenzoris in E Dem. Rep. Congo and W Uganda (Kerbis Peterhans et al., 1998; Osgood, 1936; AMNH and FMNH), south through the E Dem. Rep. Congo (Kivu region; AMNH, BMNH, and MCZ) to the Marungu Mtns in SE Dem. Rep. Congo (AMNH 55735), Mbizi Mtns in W Tanzania (FMNH), SW Tanzania (Rungwe and Ukinga; AMNH, FMNH, MCZ; listed by G. M. Allen and Loveridge, 1933, as kivu), Nyika Plateau in NE Zambia (Ansell, 1978; Ansell and Ansell, 1973) and N Malawi, and highlands in S Malawi (Ansell and Dowsett, 1988; Lawrence and Loveridge, 1953); also through the Eastern Arc Mtns, E Tanzania (Uzungwa Mtns, FMNH and MCZ; Uluguru highlands, holotype of hintoni; Ukaguru Mtns, FMNH; Nguru Mtns, FMNH; South Pare Mtns, Stanley et al., 1998 a, as mesomelas).

Order Rodentia - Family Nesomyidae

activity

Activity patterns. The Kivu African Climbing Mouse is nocturnal. It is terrestrial but also climbs.

Nesomyidae

biology_ecology

Habitat. Various upland grasslands, especially those associated with water, typically above elevations of 1300 m. The Kivu African Climbing Mouse can also occur on edges of swamps and agriculturalfields.

Nesomyidae