Genet (animal)

A genet (pronounced or ) is a member of the genus Genetta, which consists of 17 species of small African carnivorans. The common genet is the only genet present in Europe and occurs in the Iberian Peninsula, Italy and France.

Genet fossils from the Late Miocene and later have been found at sites in Ethiopia, Kenya and Morocco.

Classification Genetta was named and described by Frédéric Cuvier in 1816. The number of species in the genus is controversial. The following were proposed as valid in 2005:

Image Name Habitat Distribution and IUCN Red List statusCommon genet (G. genetta) (Linnaeus, 1758)Wooded habitats and savannahSouth African small-spotted genet (G. felina) (Thunberg), 1811Woodland savanna, grassland, thickets, dry vlei areasAbyssinian genet (G. abyssinica) (Rüppell, 1835)Montane dry forest up to 3,750 m (12,300 ft)Diaz Behrens, G. and Van Rompaey, H. (2002). The Ethiopian Genet, Genetta abyssinica (Rüppell 1836) (Carnivora, Viverridae): ecology and phenotypic aspects. Small Carnivore Conservation 27: 23–28.Cape genet (G. tigrina) (Schreber, 1778)Fynbos, grassland and coastal forestsGaubert, P. (2013). Genetta tigrina Cape Genet. In: J. Kingdon and M. Hoffmann (eds.) The Mammals of Africa. V. Carnivores, Pangolins, Equids and Rhinoceroses, pp. 247–249. Bloomsbury, London, UK.Angolan genet (G. angolensis) Bocage, 1882Open miombo forestCrawford-Cabral, J. (2013). Genetta angolensis Miombo Genet. In: J. Kingdon and M. Hoffmann (eds.) The Mammals of Africa. V. Carnivores, Pangolins, Equids and Rhinoceroses, pp. 218–220. Bloomsbury, London, UK.Giant forest genet (G. victoriae) Thomas, 1901RainforestsVan Rompaey, H. and Colyn, M. /2013). Genetta victoriae Giant Genet. In: J. Kingdon and M. Hoffmann (eds.) The Mammals of Africa. V. Carnivores, Pangolins, Equids and Rhinoceroses, pp. 249–250. Bloomsbury, London, UK.Hausa genet (G. thierryi) Matschie, 1902Savannah and moist woodlandsJohnston's genet (G. johnstoni) Pocock, 1907Dense rainforestGaubert, P., Veron, G., Colyn, M., Dunham, A., Shultz, S. and Tranier, M. (2002). A reassessment of the distribution of the rare Genetta johnstoni (Viverridae, Carnivora) with some newly discovered specimens. Mammal Review 32: 132–144.Bourlon's genet (G. bourloni) Gaubert, 2003RainforestsPardine genet (G. pardina) Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1832primary and secondary rainforests, gallery forests, moist woodlands, plantations, and suburban areasGaubert, P. and Dunham, A. E. (2013). Genetta pardina Pardine Genet (West African Large-spotted Genet). In: J. Kingdon and M. Hoffmann (eds.) The Mammals of Africa. V. Carnivores, Pangolins, Equids and Rhinoceroses, pp. 237–238. Bloomsbury, London, UK.King genet (G. poensis) Waterhouse, 1838RainforestRusty-spotted genet (G. maculata) (Gray, 1830)Woodland savannah, savannah-forest mosaic, rain forest and montane forest up to 3,400 m (11,200 ft)Angelici, F.M. and Gaubert, P. (2013). Genetta maculata Large-spotted Genet (Blotched Genet). In: J. Kingdon and M. Hoffmann (eds.) The Mammals of Africa. V. Carnivores, Pangolins, Equids and Rhinoceroses, pp. 232–236. Bloomsbury, London, Uk.Letaba genet (G. letabae) Thomas and Schwann, 1906Woodland savannahSchouteden's genet (G. schoutedeni) Crawford-Cabral, 1970Rainforest, woodland savannah and savannah-forest mosaicServaline genet (G. servalina) Pucheran, 1855Lowland forests to high-altitude bamboo forest and coral rag thicketVan Rompaey, H. and Colyn, M. (2013). Genetta servalina Servaline Genet. In: J. Kingdon and M. Hoffmann (eds.) The Mammals of Africa. V. Carnivores, Pangolins, Equids and Rhinoceroses, pp. 242–245. Bloomsbury, London, UK.Crested servaline genet (G. cristata) Hayman, 1940Scrub and primary deciduous forestsAngelici, F. M. and Luiselli, L. (2005). Habitat associations and dietary relationships between two genets, Genetta maculata and Genetta cristata. Revue d'Écologie (La Terre et la Vie) 60: 341–354.Aquatic genet (G. piscivora) (Allen), 1919RainforestsVan Rompaey, H. and Colyn, M. /2013). Genetta piscivora Aquatic Genet. In: J. Kingdon and M. Hoffmann (eds.) The Mammals of Africa. V. Carnivores, Pangolins, Equids and Rhinoceroses, pp. 239–240. Bloomsbury, London, UK.

Extinct species Genetta nyakitongwer – Early Pleistocene of Kenya Genetta plesictoides – Late Pleistocene of Cyprus

Genetta and Poiana are estimated to have diverged about . Genetta species are estimated to have diverged at least starting with the Hausa genet, followed by the giant genet .

Characteristics

Genets are slender cat-like animals with a long body, a long ringed tail, large ears, a pointed muzzle and partly retractile claws. Their fur is spotted, but melanistic genets have also been recorded. They have musk glands and anal sacs.Kingdon, J. 1997. The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals. Academic Press, San Diego, California. They also have perineal glands.Roeder, Jean-Jacques. "Marking behaviour and olfactory recognition in genets (Genetta genetta L., Carnivora-Viverridae)." Behaviour 72.3 (1980): 200-210.

All genet species have a dark stripe along the spine; they differ in fur color and spot pattern. Their size varies between species from in head-to-body length with long tails; their tails are almost as long as head and body. They have large eyes with elliptical pupils; the iris is about the color of the fur. They can move their eyes within their sockets to a limited extent, and move their heads to focus on moving objects. Their pinnae have a fine layer of hair inside and outside. They can move the pinnae by about 80° from pointing forward to the side, and also from an erect position to pointing downwards. Their rhinarium is important for both sensing smell and touch.

Distribution and habitat All genet species are indigenous to Africa. The common genet was introduced to southwestern Europe during historical times. It was brought from the Maghreb to Spain as a semi-domestic animal about 1000 to 1500 years ago, and from there spread to southern France and Italy. In Africa, it inhabits wooded habitats north of the Sahara, in savanna zones south of the Sahara to southern Africa and along the coast of Arabia, Yemen and Oman.

Ecology and behavior

Genets are highly agile, have quick reflexes and exceptional climbing skills. They are the only viverrids able to stand on their hind legs. They walk, trot, run, climb up and down trees, and jump. They live on the ground, but also spend much of their time in trees. They are considered solitary, except during mating and when females have offspring.

They are omnivorous and opportunistically catch invertebrates and small vertebrates, but also feed on plants and fruit. Aquatic genets feed mainly on fish. Angolan genets are thought to feed on grasshoppers and other arthropods. Johnston's genet probably feeds mainly on insects.Dunham, A. E. and Gaubert, P. (2013). Genetta johnstoni Johnston's Genet. In: J. Kingdon and M. Hoffmann (eds.) The Mammals of Africa. V. Carnivores, Pangolins, Equids and Rhinoceroses, pp. 229–231. Bloomsbury, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

In 2014, a camera trap in the Hluhluwe–Imfolozi Park captured a large spotted genet riding on the back of two different buffalo and a rhinoceros. This was the first time a genet was recorded hitch-hiking.Luhdo, Z. (2014). Camera Traps Capture A Hitch Hiking Genet. Wildlife ACT, South Africa.

Females have up to five young in a litter. They rear their young alone.

Common genet females become sexually mature at the age of two years. After copulation, the gestation period lasts for 10 to 11 weeks. They are diestrous and give birth twice a year, during spring and late summer to autumn.Zabala, Jabi and Iñigo Zuberogoitia. (2010). Late summer-early winter reproduction in common genets, Genetta genetta. Mammalia 74: 89–91. Captive common genets have been known to live up to 13 years. A male genet lived for 22.7 years in captivity.Weigl, R. (2005). Longevity of Mammals in Captivity: From the Living Collections of the World: A List of Mammalian Longevity in Captivity. Kleine Senckenberg-Reihe 48. E. Schweizerbart'sche, Stuttgart

Threats

Loss of habitat due to deforestation and conversion of land to agriculture is a major threat for the crested servaline genet and Johnston's genet. Both genet species are also hunted for meat and skins. They are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red Lists. These are also major threats for Bourlon's genet, which is classified as Near Threatened.

The aquatic genet may be affected by hunting, but major threats have not yet been identified. It is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.

The king genet and the Abyssinian genet are so poorly known that threats cannot be identified. Both are listed as Data Deficient on the IUCN Red Lists.

The remaining genet species are not considered threatened and are listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red Lists.

Etymology The etymological origin of the word 'genet' is uncertain; it may be a derivation of the Arabic name djarnet. The English word comes from Old French 'genete', which came from Spanish 'gineta'.

In captivity Most genets that are kept as pets are common genets, rusty-spotted genets or Cape genets. As enforced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), keeping a genet as a pet is prohibited in certain states in the US. Some states have specific laws regarding the possession of exotic pets. Genet prices can exceed $1500 for both the purchase and shipment of the animal. Genets are not suited to life in captivity, and it is not recommended to keep one as a pet. They are solitary animals in the wild and will not get along well with other common household pets such as cats or dogs.

References

Genet (animal)

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