The species is known from only two specimens collected from localities 100 m apart on Mount Kahuzi in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Thorough recent surveys of the area have failed to find this species, suggesting that it is a rare, narrow-range site endemic. Classified as Critically Endangered (CR B1ab(iii)) on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Its habitat is threatened by illegal logging and the threat of human-caused fires.
This species is known from only from a single location on Mount Kahuzi in the highly threatened montane forest of the Kahnti-Biega National Park. Further research is needed into population abundance, the species range, biology, ecology, habitat status, threats, and potential conservation measures. There is a need to monitor the only known population of this species. Improvements in the management of the protected area for this species are needed.
Little is known about the ecology of this species. It may be arboreal – as its common name suggests, it is probably a good climber, using its long semi-prehensile tail to grasp twigs and branches. The animals are thought to be primarily nocturnal, spending the hours of daylight in small spherical nests of shredded vegetation. Most related species build their nests off the ground, although some are known to nest in underground burrows. The diet probably consists of seeds, berries, insects, small lizards, bird’s eggs and nestlings. The litter size of other species in this group is 2-8. This mouse has soft woolly fur that is coloured brownish above and white or yellowish underneath. There are well-defined dark rings around the eyes. The long tail is semi-prehensile (grasping). It is scaly and sparsely haired. The tail is brown in colour, sometimes with a paler underside. Mice in the genus Dendromys can be distinguished by their grooved incisor teeth and the fact they only have three well-developed toes on their forefeet.
Species Coordinator
Julian Kerbis Peterhans
Julian is a Professor at Roosevelt University and an Adjunct Curator at the Field Museum of Natural History, both in Chicago, USA. He has has spent the past 20+ years conducting small mammal surveys throughout montane (primarily) and lowland forests of the Albertine Rift and the Kenya Highlands, including research in Kenya, Uganda, DR Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Malawi and Mozambique. Over the course of these activities he has extensively worked with African nationals, both in the field and Chicago and as an academic advisee, on the preparation, identification and publication of specimens from these field activities. To date, six species of small mammals new to science have been described, another 4 species are 'in press', with others in the pipeline. Julian is currently in Uganda on a year long Fulbright scholarship at Makerere University, Kampala. Other local collaborators include the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Centre de Recherché de Scientifique Naturelles (DRC). Exciting results from unprotected areas in the eastern DR Congo should prove instrumental in the formal conservation of Itombwe Forest and the Kabogo-Misotchi Highlands.