Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Cladus: Sarcopterygii
Cladus: Rhipidistia
Cladus: Tetrapodomorpha
Cladus: Eotetrapodiformes
Cladus: Elpistostegalia
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Cladus: Synapsida
Cladus: Eupelycosauria
Cladus: Sphenacodontia
Cladus: Sphenacodontoidea
Cladus: Therapsida
Cladus: Theriodontia
Cladus: Cynodontia
Cladus: Eucynodontia
Cladus: Probainognathia
Cladus: Prozostrodontia
Cladus: Mammaliaformes
Classis: Mammalia
Subclassis: Trechnotheria
Infraclassis: Zatheria
Supercohors: Theria
Cohors: Eutheria
Infraclassis: Placentalia
Cladus: Boreoeutheria
Superordo: Euarchontoglires
Ordo: Rodentiaa
Subordo: Myomorpha
Superfamilia: Muroidea
Familia: Nesomyidae
Subfamilia: Dendromurinae
Genus: Dendromus
Species: Dendromus oreas
Name
Dendromus oreas Osgood, 1936
References
Primary references
Osgood, W.H. 1936. New and imperfectly known small mammals from Africa. Field Museum of Natural History, Zoological Series 20(21): 217–256. BHL Reference page.
Links
IUCN: Dendromus oreas (Vulnerable)
Vernacular names
English: Cameroon Climbing Mouse
The Cameroon climbing mouse (Dendromus oreas) is a species of rodent in the family Nesomyidae which is endemic to the montane grasslands on three mountains in Cameroon.
Description
The Cameroon climbing mouse is a rather small species of mouse with a long tail and an indistinct black stripe along its back and a long tail. The fur on the dorsum is brown while the ventral fur varies from dark rufous to pale greyish-yellow. There are white or cream patches on the throat and on the chin, and on the anal fur. The ears are blackish with a fine covering of tawny hairs and with a pale spot at the base of each ear on the outer margin. The hindfoot has 5 digits with didit 5 having a claw and being opposable to the other digits.[3]
Distribution
Sunset at Mount Manengouba
Mount Cameroon
It is found only in Cameroon where it is known from three mountains: Mount Cameroon from 1,700 to 4,000 m above sea level, Mount Manenguba between 1,800 and 1,900 m in altitude and Mount Kupe where it occurs around 850m.[1][3]
Habitat
Montane savannas above the tree line, among boulders on Mount Cameroon, in grassy scrub on Mount Manenguba and occurring in plantation and farmland on Mount Kupe. It avoids the montane forests at lower altitudes.[1]
Habits
The Cameroon climbing mouse is both diurnal and nocturnal and lives mostly on the ground, digging burrows into the soil despite being well adapted for climbing.[3]
Threats
Mount Manengouba
The Cameroon climbing mouse is threatened by climate change which may lead to scrub and tree growth higher up the mountains in its restricted range and as the lower forests are cleared grazing livestock may move up to higher latitudes.[1]
References
Kennerley, R. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Dendromus oreas". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T6448A115081767. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T6448A22234774.en. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
"Dendromus oreas". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
Jonathan Kingdon; David Happold; Thomas Butynski; Michael Hoffmann; Meredith Happold; Jan Kalina (2013). Mammals of Africa Volumes 1-6. A&C Black. pp. 182–183. ISBN 1408189968.
Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M., eds. (2005). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 894–1531. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
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