In 2016, it was reported that three whole-body specimens of "Z. insignis" were recovered on Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea. At that time, it had been over 20 years since the scientific literature recorded new individuals. These specimens were used to sequence portions of the "Z. insignis" genome. Phylogenetic analysis using combined DNA and anatomical data place "Zenkerella" as the sister taxon of an "Idiurus"-"Anomalurus" clade. This is contrary to a previous hypothesis that grouped "Zenkerella" with "Idiurus" within the family Anomaluridae. The "Z. insignis" position in the rodent evolutionary tree supports a single origin of the anomalure gliding adaptation with no evolutionary reversals; more complex evolutionary scenarios were previously envisioned. The same analysis estimated an early Oligocene origin of anomalure gliding and an early Eocene divergence of the "Z. insignis" lineage. 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.