GENETS AND CIVETS
SMALL-SPOTTED GENET Genetta genetta
Identification This small carnivore has a long, elegant body and tail,
with short legs, a relatively long, pointed snout and large, rounded,
membranous ears. The tail is thickly haired, with black and white rings
along its length. The coat colour is grey to greyish-white, with a liberal
scattering of dark to black spots and bars. There are black and white
markings on the face.
Size Shoulder height 18 cm.
Weight 1.5–2.6 kg.
Habitat and Behaviour This genet occupies wooded and rocky areas,
including those in semi-desert country. Nearly always nocturnal, it
lies up in dense cover during the day. A mainly solitary hunter, it takes
a wide range of food that includes invertebrates, small mammals
(especially rodents), reptiles, amphibians and birds. On occasion it will
also eat wild fruits and berries. After a gestation of about 70 days, a
litter of 2–5 young each weighing 50–80 g is dropped in a rock crevice
or hole, or among dense vegetation. The Small-spotted Genet has not
been studied in any detail in the region.
Distribution and Status Some controversy exists as to whether the
genet in the region should be called G. genetta or G. felina. It occurs
from northern Western Sahara (Morocco), across the Atlas ranges
and coastal plain to north-western Egypt. It also occurs in the Red
Sea Hills in Sudan and possibly in the same range in Egypt. It has an
extensive sub-Saharan distribution. In the Arabian Peninsula it occurs
through the coastal mountains and hills south of Jiddah, Saudi Arabia,
extending southwards into the highlands of Yemen. It is also present in
the Dhofar of southern Oman. It is almost certain that this population
and that in south-west Yemen are linked.
Conservation Areas This species may occur in several conservation
areas, but no specific information is available.