Common Genet
( Small spotted genet )
- Genetta genetta
- IUCN Status: Least Concern
- Trend: decreasing
![](https://welcometozambia.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/common-genet-4.jpg)
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Mammalia
- Order: Carnivora
- Suborder: Feliformia
- Family: Viverridae
- Genus: Genetta
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General Information
The common genet is the most common subspecies of genet. They are indigenous to africa and were introduced to other parts of the world
Description
The common genet has a slender, cat-like body, a small head with a pointed muzzle, large oval ears, large eyes and well-developed whiskers up to 7 cm. Its legs are short, with cat-like feet and semi-retractile claws. Its fur is dense and soft, and the coat is pale grey, with numerous black markings. The back and flanks are marked with about five rows of black spots, and a long black stripe runs along the middle of the back from the shoulders to the rump. There is also a black stripe on the forehead, and dark patches beneath the eyes, which are offset against the white fur of the chin and throat. The tail is striped, with anything from eight to thirteen rings along its length.- Length: 43 to 55 cm
- Weight: average of 2 kg
Ecology & Behaviour
The common genet is solitary. The common genet uses five distinct calls. The “hiccup” call is used to indicate friendly interactions, such as between a mother and her young, or between males and females prior to mating. Conversely, clicks, or, in younger individuals, growls, are used to indicate aggression. The remaining two calls, a “mew” and a purr, are used only by young still dependent on their mother.
It has a varied diet comprising small mammals, lizards, birds, bird eggs, amphibians, centipedes, millipedes, scorpions, insects and fruit, including figs and olives. The wood mouse is a favourite prey item, It also prey on squirrels and dormice. Genets locate their prey primarily by scent, and kill with a bite to the neck, like cats. Small rodents are captured by the back and killed with a bite at the head, then eaten starting with the head. Both male and females mark their territor and they defecate at specific latrine sites which are usually at the edge of their territory.
Conservation
It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Distribution & Habitat
It inhabits a wide range of deciduous and evergreen habitats that provide plentiful shelter such as rocky terrain with caves and dense scrub land, but also come close to settlements and agricultural land. It is rarely sighted in Zambia. It prefers to live in areas with dense vegetation, such as bushes, thickets, and evergreen oak forests. As resting sites it uses trees with dense foliage in the canopy and dense thickets overgrown with climbing plants.
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