Montane African climbing mouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dendromus insignis |
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Dendromus
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insignis
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The montane African climbing mouse (or remarkable climbing mouse) is a small rodent that belongs to the Nesomyidae family. These mice are special because they are excellent climbers! You can find them in countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.
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What Does It Look Like?
Montane African climbing mice have soft fur that can be brown or reddish-brown. They have a dark stripe running down the middle of their backs. Their bellies are usually dark gray or grayish.
These mice have very long tails. Their tails can be even longer than their bodies and heads combined! The tails are thin and covered with tiny scales and short hairs.
Special Feet for Climbing
The back legs of the montane African climbing mouse are long. Their back feet are super specialized for climbing. They have a smaller inner foot pad and a tiny first toe with a nail. This helps them grip branches and grass easily.
How Big Are They?
The montane African climbing mouse is one of the biggest mice in its group, called Dendromus. Their bodies and heads are usually about 7.6 to 9 centimeters (about 3 to 3.5 inches) long. They weigh between 7 and 20 grams. This makes them up to 20% larger than other Dendromus species. Their heads are also quite big compared to their bodies.
How They Live
Behavior and Food
The montane African climbing mouse is a nocturnal animal. This means it is active mostly at night. Being active at night helps it avoid predators like owls or snakes. It uses its amazing climbing skills to move through twigs and tall, thick grasses. Its long back legs help it make long jumps, sometimes up to 45 centimeters (about 1.5 feet) in one leap!
Their climbing ability also helps them find food. They eat both insects (this is called insectivorous) and seeds (this is called granivorous). Because they are such good climbers, they can build their nests above the ground, keeping them safer.
Where They Live
These mice live in mountainous areas. They prefer to live in high-altitude places like heath and alpine zones. People have seen them living as high as 4,240 meters (about 13,900 feet) up in the mountains!
Below 2,000 meters (about 6,500 feet), the grasslands meet the montane forest. The montane African climbing mouse is not found as often in these lower areas. This is because there is less dense vegetation that is easy for them to climb.
