Ibiza common genet, Ibiza genet, European genet, Small-spotted genet
The Common genet (Genetta genetta) is a small feliform mammal. It isnative to Africa and was introduced to southwestern Europe.
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NocturnalNocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal",...
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CrepuscularCrepuscular animals are those that are active primarily during twilight (that is, the periods of dawn and dusk). This is distinguished from diurnal...
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CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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AltricialAltricial animals are those species whose newly hatched or born young are relatively immobile. They lack hair or down, are not able to obtain food ...
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ViviparousAmong animals, viviparity is the development of the embryo inside the body of the parent. The term 'viviparity' and its adjective form 'viviparous'...
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ArborealArboreal locomotion is the locomotion of animals in trees. In habitats in which trees are present, animals have evolved to move in them. Some anima...
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PredatorPredators are animals that kill and eat other organisms, their prey. Predators may actively search for or pursue prey or wait for it, often conceal...
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TerritorialA territory is a sociographical area that which an animal consistently defends against the conspecific competition (or, occasionally, against anima...
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SolitaryNo
Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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starts withThe 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 (2.8 in) in length. 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. The Common genet has an erectile crest of hair from the shoulder to the base of the tail, a white tail tip, and black hind feet.
Common genets live in a wide range, including savanna parts of sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa, the Mediterranean Islands, Arabia, Oman, and Yemen. They favor dry areas like Mediterranean woodland and rocky hills where crevices in the trees and rocks provide food, shelter, and security from predators. These animals tend to live where there is a plentiful supply of their favorite prey, the wood mouse.
Common genets are solitary creatures. Males and females have small home ranges, ranging in size from under 0.4 square miles (1 km2) up to as much as 0.8 square miles (2 km2). Preferring an independent style of life, their home ranges overlap, however. Fully nocturnal, they are extremely active under total darkness but rest during the day. They are good climbers but they spend the majority of their time down on the ground, only climbing trees to search for food or escape from danger. When they walk, they hold their bodies low to the ground, their tails horizontal. When traveling long distances, they generally follow roads, dry streambeds, or game tracks. Common genets communicate using body language and smell. Mothers and their young will call to each other, as well as communicate using olfactory and visual cues. They also produce various sounds to communicate. A mother and her babies exchange hiccup-like calls. Young genets will often purr and mew. When threatened, they make clicks and growls.
Common genets, being carnivorous, eat most small animals they can catch, such as mice, rats, insects, birds and small reptiles.
Little is known about the mating system of Common genets. The breeding season varies according to the region. In east, west, and southern Africa, Common genets breed in the wet seasons. In Europe and North Africa, they breed in spring and autumn. Typically between 1 and 4 young are born, after a gestation period of about 10 to 11 weeks. The young are blind and helpless when they are born. They start to eat meat at about 7 weeks old, being fully weaned by four months old. At 5 months, they are skilled enough to hunt on their own. At 19 months old, the young start marking, and they are thought to become reproductively mature when 2 years old.
The Common genet is currently not considered to be under serious threat. However, it is commonly hunted for its attractive fur in many countries, and in some areas is also hunted to be used in traditional ‘medicines’. Clearing of woodland for development may have some impact on this species, and domestic dogs kill them.
Common genet is the one of the most common and widely distributed small carnivores in its native range in Africa. In Europe, this species is moderately abundant. But no estimate of population size is available for this species. Currently the Common genet is classified by the ICUN as Least Concern (LC) and its numbers today remain stable.
Common genets help to control vermin populations, and, as they often live near a human community, this is of assistance as regards pest problems with crops.
