591. Montane Wood Mouse Hylomyscus denniae

French: Hylomysque du Rwenzori / German: Berg-Afrikawaldmaus / Spanish: Raton de bosque de montana Other common names: Montane Hylomyscus

Taxonomy. Mus denniae Thomas, 1906, “Rwenzori East, [Uganda]. Altitude of type 7000’ [= 2130 m].”

Hylomyscus volcanorum, H. endorobae, H. anselli, and H. arcimontensis were previously included as synonyms or subspecies of H. denniae . It probably does not include a population from Mount Elgon in the Uganda and Kenya border that might represent another species. Monotypic.

Distribution. Restricted to the higher slopes of Rwenzori Mts, NE DR Congo and SW Uganda.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 90-115 mm, tail 122-157 mm, ear 18-23 mm, hindfoot 19-23 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. Fur of the Montane Wood Mouse is soft and dense, dark

brownish gray above with tinge of rufous on flanks and whitish gray below. Upper lips, chin, and throat are whitish gray. Tail is very long (c.140% of head-body length) and appears naked except for tuft of hair at tip. Fifth digit on hindfoot is opposable and almost as long as second to fourth digits. Top of hindfeet and forefeet are white. Upper surface of each hindfoot digit has tuft of white hair. Females have four pairs of nipples. Incisors are opisthodont.

Habitat. Montane forests and other alpine and subalpine habitats.

Food and Feeding. Montane Wood Mice eat invertebrates, seeds, and fruit.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Montane Wood Mice are presumably arboreal and nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List.

Bibliography. Carleton & Stanley (2005), Carleton et al. (2006), Clausnitzer (2003), Clausnitzer & Kityo (2001), Monadjem et al. (2015).