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- Genetta genetta Linnaeus, 1758
Genetta genetta Linnaeus, 1758
Order: Carnivora > Family: Viverridae > Genus: Genetta > Species: Genetta genetta Linnaeus, 1758
Common Name: Common Genet [English]
Type Description
Syst. Nat., 10th ed., 1:45.
Type Locality
'oriente juxta rivos', restricted by Linnaeus (1766) to 'oriente juxta rivos, Hispania', later listed by Thomas (1911a) as 'Spain'. Cabrera (1914), synonymizing G. peninsulae, further restricted the type locality to 'El Pardo, cerca de Madrid' [Spain, El Pardo, near Madrid (40°32'N, 3°46'W)].
Measurements
Head and body: 420-630 mm
Tail length: 390-530 mm
Hindfoot length: 70-97 mm
Weight: 1-2.3 kg
Tail length: 390-530 mm
Hindfoot length: 70-97 mm
Weight: 1-2.3 kg
Description
The genets are recognized by the ringed long tail and spots in rows on the side of the animal. There is only one longitudinal stripe along the back of the animal.
Distribution
Genetta genetta is adapted to arid areas from the north-African coastline down along the west coast to Senegal and east to Somalia, Kenya and Tanzania with a second area from Angola to the Congo down to South Africa. This species inhabits drier bush and woodlands to sparsely bushed near-desert and rocky, hill country where they can live without water. (Kingdon, 1989, 1997)
Key References
1. Kingdon, J. 1989. East African mammals: An atlas of evolution in Africa. (Carnivores). University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 3A:137, 142-143.
2. Kingdon, J. 1997. The Kingdon field guide to African mammals, AP Natural World Academic Press, Harcourt Brace & Company, San Diego, p. 267-268. 3. Nowak, R. M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World. Sixth ed. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 1:748-749, 751-754.
4. Swynnerton, G. H., and R. W. Hayman. 1951. A checklist of the land mammals of the Tanganyika Territory and the Zanzibar Protectorate. Journal of the East African Natural History Society, 20(6):274-392.
2. Kingdon, J. 1997. The Kingdon field guide to African mammals, AP Natural World Academic Press, Harcourt Brace & Company, San Diego, p. 267-268. 3. Nowak, R. M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World. Sixth ed. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 1:748-749, 751-754.
4. Swynnerton, G. H., and R. W. Hayman. 1951. A checklist of the land mammals of the Tanganyika Territory and the Zanzibar Protectorate. Journal of the East African Natural History Society, 20(6):274-392.