Dendromus messorius Thomas 1903

Wilson, Don E. & Reeder, DeeAnn, 2005, Order Rodentia - Family Nesomyidae, Mammal Species of the World: a Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3 rd Edition), Volume 2, Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, pp. 930-955 : 939

Dendromus messorius Thomas 1903

Dendromus messorius Thomas 1903 , Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 7, 12: 340.

Type Locality: Cameroon, Efulen.

Vernacular Names: Banana African Climbing Mouse.

Synonyms: Dendromus haymani Hatt 1934 ; Dendromus kumasi Bohmann 1939 ; Dendromus ruddi Wroughton 1910 .

Distribution: Tropical lowlands and lower mountain slopes, from Ghana ( Grubb et al., 1998) through Benin ( USNM 422451), Nigeria ( USNM 410307), and Cameroon (series in AMNH and MCZ), to N Dem. Rep. Congo (series in AMNH and USNM) and extreme S Sudan (Torit region; USNM 299833, 299834); southwards to NW ( USNM 165270) and W Uganda (Ruwenzori Mtns; series in AMNH and MCZ), W Kenya near Lake Victoria ( USNM series) and Mt Elgon (holotype of ruddi ; MCZ specimens; Clausnitzer and Kityo, 2001); limits unresolved ( Dieterlen, 1971).

Conservation: IUCN – Lower Risk (lc).

Discussion: Treated as part of D. mystacalis by Misonne (1974), but regarded as a separate species by Hatt (1940) and Dieterlen (1971), who pointed out its sympatric occurrence with D. mystacalis . Morphology and pelage coloration similar to D. mystacalis , but body size larger, middorsal stripe absent (present but indistinct in some D. mystacalis , absent in many), and underparts white (white to buffy gray in D. mystacalis ). Both species may be phylogenetically close to southern African D. mesomelas . Hatt (1940) and Rosevear (1969) provided excellent descriptions of morphology and habits.