Poemys melanotis

(A. Smith, 1834)

Gray African Climbing Mouse

Taxonomy

Subclass : Theria
Infraclass : Placentalia
Magnorder : Boreoeutheria
Superorder : Euarchontoglires
Order : Rodentia
Suborder : Supramyomorpha
Infraorder : Myomorphi
Superfamily : Muroidea
Family : Nesomyidae
Subfamily : Dendromurinae
Genus : Poemys

Species status

Living
Found in the wild
Listed in MSW3 2005

Authority citation

Smith, A. 1834. African Zoology. South African Quarterly Journal (2)2(2):145-160.

Authority publication link

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15968276

Original name as described

Dendromys Melanotis

Type material

BMNH:Mamm:1843.2.28.12

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/35a605c6-36fc-4b64-9fbf-7e2a2213cbaf

Type locality

"South Africa,—on shrubs near Port Natal."

Biogeographic realm

Afrotropic

Country distribution

Angola · Namibia · Botswana · Zambia · Malawi · Zimbabwe · Mozambique · South Africa · Eswatini · Nigeria · Uganda · Ethiopia · Kenya · Tanzania

Taxonomy notes

previously included P. pecilei; the synonym vulturnus and basuticus likely represent distinct species, but further research is needed to establish the correct names for each putative species; moved from Dendromus to Poemys

Taxonomy notes citation

Denys, C., & Aniskine, V. (2012). On a new species of Dendromus (Rodentia, Nesomyidae) from mount Nimba, Guinea. Mammalia, 76(3), 295-308. · Voelker, G., Huntley, J. W., Bryja, J., Denys, C., Šumbera, R., Demos, T. C., ... & Peterhans, J. K. (2021). Molecular systematics and biogeographic history of the African climbing-mouse complex (Dendromus). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 161, 107166.

IUCN Red List status

Not Evaluated

Species Permalink

https://www.mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1003717

Country distribution map

The map below provides a general overview. Most species inhabit only specific regions within countries. Hover over the highlighted regions to see the country name.

Names and synonyms

Present and past (if available) associated names to the species. Click on a name to view its details. If the list is long, scroll down to see more.

Dendromys Melanotis

(A. Smith, 1834)

Family

Nesomyidae

Root name

melanotis

Validity status

species

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1843.2.28.12

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/35a605c6-36fc-4b64-9fbf-7e2a2213cbaf

Authority page

158

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15968276

Authority publication

South African Quarterly Journal

Name usages

  1. Smith (1841:pl. 34, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/51577839) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67649)
  2. Murray (1866:360, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15580356) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/39798)
  3. Fitzinger (1867:62, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/6476748) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/34989)
  4. Bocage (1882:26, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/16211309) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/68546)
  5. Thomas (1904:419, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/16108505) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/16275)
  6. Wilson, Mittermeier & Lacher (2017:200) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/57900)

Dendromys subtilis

(Sundevall, 1847)

Family

Nesomyidae

Root name

subtilis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

120

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2581777

Authority publication

Öfversigt af Kongl. Vetenskaps-Akademiens Förhandlingar

Name usages

Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)

Dendromys pallidus

(Fitzinger, 1867)

Family

Nesomyidae

Root name

pallidus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

nomen_nudum

Authority page

62

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/6476748

Authority publication

Sitzungsberichte der Kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften

Name usages

Fitzinger (1867:62, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/6476748) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/34989)

Dendromys pallidus

(von Heuglin, 1877)

Family

Nesomyidae

Root name

pallidus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

74

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/36876443

Authority publication

Braunschweig

Name usages

  1. Heuglin (1877:74, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/36876443) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/66584)
  2. Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)

Dendromys nigrifrons

(F. W. True, 1892)

Family

Nesomyidae

Root name

nigrifrons

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

USNM:MAMM:19783 (= USNM:MAMM:A35263)

Type kind

lectotype

Type specimen URI

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/34352cdb3-27be-4795-9309-b9b059d68d06

Authority page

462

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15737483

Authority publication

Proceedings of the United States National Museum

Name usages

  1. Matschie (1895:48, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/14835441) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67260)
  2. Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)

Dendromus spectabilis

(E. Heller, 1911)

Family

Nesomyidae

Root name

spectabilis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

USNM:MAMM:164815

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/3431b6d73-cf42-4d1f-a0c5-a8e924b0d160

Authority page

3

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/8813459

Authority publication

Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections

Name usages

Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)

Dendromus (Poemys) nigrifrons vulturnus

(O. Thomas, 1916)

Family

Nesomyidae

Root name

vulturnus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1908.7.19.39

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/370053c0-83f3-4519-9fe9-5f72c748460d

Authority page

242

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/22129817

Authority publication

Annals and Magazine of Natural History

Name usages

  1. Roberts (1924:72) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/17634)
  2. Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)

Dendromus (Poemys) exoneratus

(O. Thomas, 1918)

Family

Nesomyidae

Root name

exoneratus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1912.1.16.19

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/768db7b7-7bd1-4df4-897d-6efac7854bab

Authority page

59

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15630768

Authority publication

Annals and Magazine of Natural History

Name usages

Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)

Dendromus (Poemys) arenarius

(A. Roberts, 1924)

Family

Nesomyidae

Root name

arenarius

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

71

Authority publication

Annals of the Transvaal Museum

Name usages

  1. Roberts (1924:71) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/17634)
  2. Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)

Dendromus melanotis

(A. Roberts, 1924)

Family

Nesomyidae

Root name

melanotis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

72

Authority publication

Annals of the Transvaal Museum

Name usages

  1. Roberts (1924:72) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/17634)
  2. Roberts (1927:484) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/69118)
  3. Hayman (1963:129) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/68592)
  4. Heim de Balsac & Bellier (1967:159) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/58093)
  5. Corbet & Hill (1980:167) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63069)
  6. Honacki, Kinman & Koeppl (1982:408) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63071)
  7. Corbet & Hill (1991:176) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63070)
  8. Musser & Carleton (1993:542) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63347)
  9. Yalden, Largen, Kock & Hillman (1996:117) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36072)
  10. Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)
  11. Happold (2013:174) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/27625)
  12. Mammal Diversity Database (2018:ID #6443) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67336)
  13. Mammal Diversity Database (2019:ID #6443) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67337)
  14. International Union for the Conservation of Nature (2024, https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/6443/22235350) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67246)

Dendromus nigrifrons

(A. Roberts, 1924)

Family

Nesomyidae

Root name

nigrifrons

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

72

Authority publication

Annals of the Transvaal Museum

Name usages

  1. Roberts (1924:72) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/17634)
  2. Granvik (1924:20) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/68174)
  3. Allen & Loveridge (1927:434) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67782)
  4. Hill & Carter (1941:104) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/16955)

Dendromus nigrifrons nigrifrons

(Granvik, 1924)

Family

Nesomyidae

Root name

nigrifrons

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

20

Authority publication

Lunds Universitets Årsskrift

Name usages

Granvik (1924:20) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/68174)

Dendromus (Poëmys) concinnus

(O. Thomas, 1926)

Family

Nesomyidae

Root name

concinnus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1925.12.4.118

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/84bd8306-ce06-4857-bc8a-516682eb1f7e

Authority page

299

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London

Name usages

Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)

Dendromus melanotis basuticus

(A. Roberts, 1927)

Family

Nesomyidae

Root name

basuticus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

AMG (number not known)

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

484

Authority publication

Records of the Albany Museum

Name usages

  1. Roberts (1927:484) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/69118)
  2. Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)

Dendromus (Poemys) melanotis chiversi

(A. Roberts, 1929)

Family

Nesomyidae

Root name

chiversi

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

TM 4475

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

116

Authority publication

Annals of the Transvaal Museum

Name usages

Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)

Dendromus (Poemys) nigrifrons shortridgei

(St. Leger, 1930)

Family

Nesomyidae

Root name

shortridgei

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1930.10.1.2

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/b0945872-b2d7-4ac7-bc67-35ab5cdc8b4c

Authority page

622

Authority publication

Annals and Magazine of Natural History

Name usages

Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)

Dendromus melanotis capensis

(A. Roberts, 1931)

Family

Nesomyidae

Root name

capensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

TM 5825

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

232

Authority publication

Annals of the Transvaal Museum

Name usages

Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)

Dendromus melanotis pretoriae

(A. Roberts, 1931)

Family

Nesomyidae

Root name

pretoriae

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

TM 5253

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

232

Authority publication

Annals of the Transvaal Museum

Name usages

Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)

Dendromus melanotis thorntoni

(A. Roberts, 1931)

Family

Nesomyidae

Root name

thorntoni

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

TM 5834

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

231

Authority publication

Annals of the Transvaal Museum

Name usages

Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)

Pœmys concinnus

Shortridge, 1934

Family

Nesomyidae

Root name

concinnus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

253

Authority publication

London

Name usages

Shortridge (1934:253) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/69309)

Pœmys nigrifrons

Shortridge, 1934

Family

Nesomyidae

Root name

nigrifrons

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

251

Authority publication

London

Name usages

Shortridge (1934:251) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/69309)

Pœmys nigrifrons shortridgei

Shortridge, 1934

Family

Nesomyidae

Root name

shortridgei

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

251

Authority publication

London

Name usages

Shortridge (1934:251) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/69309)

Poemys melanotis insignis

Shortridge & T. D. Carter, 1938

Family

Nesomyidae

Root name

insignis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

287

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40891088

Authority publication

Annals of the South African Museum

Name usages

  1. Shortridge (1942:58, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40888975) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/48770)
  2. Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)

Poemys melanotis capensis

Shortridge, 1942

Family

Nesomyidae

Root name

capensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

90

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40889007

Authority publication

Annals of the South African Museum

Name usages

Shortridge (1942:90, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40889007) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/48770)

Poemys melanotis

Shortridge, 1942

Family

Nesomyidae

Root name

melanotis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

58, 90

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40888975 https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40889007

Authority publication

Annals of the South African Museum

Name usages

  1. Shortridge (1942:58, 90, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40888975, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40889007) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/48770)
  2. Shortridge (1942:90) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/48770)
  3. Mammal Diversity Database (2024, https://www.mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1003717) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67250)

Poemys melanotis thorntoni

Shortridge, 1942

Family

Nesomyidae

Root name

thorntoni

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

90 (footnote)

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40889007

Authority publication

Annals of the South African Museum

Name usages

Shortridge (1942:90 (footnote), https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40889007) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/48770)

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