Genet
fossils from the
Late Miocene and later have been found at sites in Ethiopia, Kenya and Morocco.[4][5]
Classification
Genetta was
named and described by
Frédéric Cuvier in 1816.[6] The number of species in the genus is controversial. The following were proposed as valid in 2005:[1]
Genetta and Poiana are estimated to have diverged about 9.5 to 13.3 million years ago.[39]Genetta species are estimated to have diverged at least 8.5 million years ago starting with the Hausa genet, followed by the giant genet 3.98 to 6.01 million years ago.[40]
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.[41][42] They also have perineal glands.[43]
All genet species have a dark stripe along the spine; they differ in fur color and spot pattern. Their size varies between species from 40.9 to 60 cm (16.1 to 23.6 in) in head-to-body length with 40 to 47 cm (16 to 19 in) long tails; their tails are almost as long as head and body.[1] 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.[44]
Distribution and habitat
All genet species are
indigenous to Africa. The
common genet was introduced to southwestern Europe during historical times.[1] 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.[45] 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.[46]
The
rusty-spotted genet is widely distributed in sub-Saharan woodland savannah, savannah-forest mosaic, rain forest and montane forest up to an elevation of 3,400 m (11,200 ft) in
Ethiopia.[48]
Schouteden's genet inhabits rainforest, woodland savannah and savannah-forest mosaic in
tropical Africa.[1]
Bourlon's genet lives only in the Upper Guinean rainforests in West Africa.[22]
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.[44]
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.[58]
Females have up to five young in a litter.[41] They rear their young alone.[44]
Common genet females become sexually mature at the age of two years. Once copulation has occurred, the
gestation period lasts for 10 to 11 weeks.[3] They are
diestrous and give birth twice a year, during spring and late summer to autumn.[59] Captive common genets have been known to live up to 13 years.[60] A male genet lived for 22.7 years in captivity.[61]
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.[62][63] These are also major threats for Bourlon's genet, which is classified as
Near Threatened.[64]
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.[65]
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.[66][67]
The etymological origin of the word 'genet' is uncertain; it may be a derivation of the
Arabic name djarnet.[3] The English word comes from
Old French 'genete', which came from
Spanish 'gineta'.[76]
As pets
This section needs expansion. You can help by
adding to it. (February 2021)
Pet genets are mostly common genets, rusty-spotted genets or Cape genets.[77]
^Werdelin, L.; Peigné, S. (2010).
"Carnivora". In Werdelin, L.; Sanders, W. J. (eds.). Cenozoic Mammals of Africa. Berkeley, California: University of California Press. pp. 603–657.
ISBN9780520257214.
^Linnaeus, C. (1758).
"Viverra genetta". Systema naturæ per regna tria naturæ, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis 1 (10th ed.). Stockholm: Laurentius Salvius.
^Schreber, J. C. D. (1778).
"Die Bisamkaze Viverra tigrina". Die Säugethiere in Abbildungen nach der Natur mit Beschreibungen. Vol. Dritter Theil. Erlangen: Walther. pp. 425–426.
^Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, I. (1832).
"Descriptions d'une nouvelle espèce du genre Genette. Genetta. Cuv.". Études Zoologiques: Ouvrage comprenant l'histoire et la description d'un grand nombre d'animaux récemment découverts et des observations nouvelles sur plusieurs genres déjà connus. Paris: Lequien Fils. p. 73.
^Gray, J. E. (1828).
"Viverra maculata". Spicilegia zoologica: original figures and short systematic descriptions of new and unfigured animals. London: Treuttel, Wurtz & Co. p. 9.
^Hayman, R. W. (1940). "The Mammals of the North Gameroons Forest Area. Being the Results of the Percy Sladen Expedition to the Mamfe Division of the British Cameroons". In Sanderson, I. T. (ed.). The Transactions of the Zoological Society of London. Vol. 24. pp. 623–726.
^
abcKingdon, J. 1997. The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals. Academic Press, San Diego, California.
^Crawford-Cabral, J. (1981). Análise de dados craniométricos no género Genetta G. Cuvier (Carnivora, viverridae). Lisboa: Junta de Investigações Científicas do Ultramar, Centro de Zoologia.
^Roeder, Jean-Jacques. "Marking behaviour and olfactory recognition in genets (Genetta genetta L., Carnivora-Viverridae)." Behaviour 72.3 (1980): 200-210.
^Delibes, M. & Gaubert, P. (2013). "Genetta genetta Common Genet (Small-spotted Genet)". In Kingdon, J. & Hoffmann, M. (eds.). The Mammals of Africa. Vol. V. Carnivores, Pangolins, Equids and Rhinoceroses. London, UK: Bloomsbury. pp. 223–229.
^Gaubert, 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.
^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.
^Gaubert, 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.
^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.
^Van 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.
^
abCrawford-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.
^Van 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.
^Gaubert, 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.
^Van 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.
^Angelici, 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.
^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.
^Zabala, Jabi and Iñigo Zuberogoitia. (2010). Late summer-early winter reproduction in common genets, Genetta genetta. Mammalia 74: 89–91.
^Flower, Major Stanley S. (1931). "Contributions to our Knowledge of the Duration of Life in Vertebrate Animals. V. Mammals". Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. 101 (1): 145–234.
doi:
10.1111/j.1469-7998.1931.tb06192.x.
^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