Class [Mammalia] Linnaeus, 1758 - mammals
   Order Rodentia Bowdich, 1821 - rodents
     Family Muridae Batsch, 1788 - rats, mice, hamsters, voles, lemmings, and gerbils
       Subfamily Dendromurinae Allen, 1939 - African climbing mice
         Genus Dendromus Smith, 1829 - African climbing mice
           Dendromus messorius Thomas, 1903