Cameroon scaly-tail

Previous common names for this species included flightless scaly-tail 'squirrel', but this is a misnomer as anomalures are very distantly related to the true squirrels of the rodent family Sciuridae and only superficially resemble them.Phylogenetic analysis using combined DNA and anatomical data place Zenkerella as the sister taxon of an Idiurus-Anomalurus clade.[6] These results were used to justify a taxonomic revision that erected the new rodent family Zenkerellidae in which Z. insignis is the only living species.[6] Gliding is a relatively rare adaptation that has independently evolved in three lineages of extant placental mammals (anomalures, colugos, and flying squirrels).[6][9] In mammals, dental morphology is an excellent indicator of the animal's diet; it therefore seems that the lineage has retained the same dietary niche for at least 31 million years.[14] Without direct scientific observation, lifestyle and diet are largely inferred from what is known of other anomalures[3][4] and anecdotal information gathered by interviewing local people and subsistence trappers.
Timescale and phylogenetic relationships of extant and extinct anomaluromorph rodents .
Photographs of a male museum specimen.
Early MiocenePreꞒConservation statusLeast ConcernIUCN 3.1Scientific classificationEukaryotaAnimaliaChordataMammaliaRodentiaZenkerellidaeZenkerellaBinomial nameMatschierodentmisnomeranomaluresSciuridaeIdiurusAnomaluruspen-tailed treeshrewmonito del monteanomaluromorph rodentsMioceneOligoceneMoroccogenomePhylogeneticanatomicalsister taxonAnomaluridaeevolutionary treeventralpatagiaplacental mammalscolugosflying squirrelsliving fossilCameroonEquatorial GuineaBioko IslandCentral African RepublicRepublic of Congorainforestsemi-deciduousNigeriaiNaturalistarborealnocturnalherbivorousData Deficientconservation biologistsIUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesBibcodeGlobal Biodiversity Information FacilityAnomaluromorphaKabirmysPedetidaeMegapedetesPedetesLazibemysWikidataWikispeciesARKiveOpen Tree of LifePaleobiology Database