Montane African climbing mouse

Dendromus insignis
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Family:	Nesomyidae
Genus:	Dendromus
Species:	D. insignis
Binomial name
Dendromus insignis (Thomas, 1903)

The montane African climbing mouse or remarkable climbing mouse (Dendromus insignis) is a species of rodent in the family Nesomyidae.^[1] It is found in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.^[2]

The montane African climbing mice have short, soft brown to reddish-brown pelage^[3] with a dark stripe down the middle of their backs and dark gray or grayish underparts.^[2] They have tails that can equal up to 133% of their head and body length, which taper and are covered in scales and short hair.^[4]

Montane African climbing mice have a typical mymorphous zygomatic arch with a narrow infraorbital foramen, due to the prominence of the lower anterior-positioned masseter muscles—resulting in only three molars in a row and grooved upper incisors.^[4]

The hind limbs of the montane African climbing mouse are elongated, with hind feet highly specialized for climbing. D. insignis have a reduced inner proximal foot pad, and a reduced first digit with a nail.^[4]

The montane African climbing mouse is one of the largest species of the genus Dendromus, with head and body length ranges from 76 mm to 90 mm and weigh from 7-20 g,^[5] up to 20% larger than other Dendromus species. Additionally, their head is relatively large compared to other genera of rodents, making up about 27% of their head and body length^[4] and resulting in longer molar rows.^[2]

The montane African climbing mouse avoids predation by being nocturnal, using its well-adapted hind feet to climb twigs and dense grasses and its long hindlimbs to produce long jumps of up to 45 cm.^[4] Its climbing agility is used to contribute to its insectivorous and granivorous diet, and allows for nests to be above ground.^[4]

Its home range of extends through mountainous areas but they generally dwell in heath and alpine zones.^[6] They have been documented across a wide range of high altitude locales, including elevations as high as 4240 m.^[5] Below 2000 m, grassland meets the montane forest, and D. insignis is less commonly found, as easy-to-climb dense vegetation is reduced.^[7]