Rusty-spotted genet

Species of carnivore

Rusty-spotted genet
Conservation status

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Suborder: Feliformia
Family: Viverridae
Genus: Genetta
Species:
G. maculata
Binomial name
Genetta maculata
(Gray, 1830)
Rusty-spotted genet range

The rusty-spotted genet (Genetta maculata),[2] also called panther genet and large-spotted genet, is a genet that is widely distributed in sub-Saharan Africa. It is considered common and therefore listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.[1]

Characteristics

The rusty-spotted genet has short whitish grey to pale yellow coloured fur with dark spots and a continuous dark line across the back. The spots of the upper two dorsal rows are round or square, brown in the center and darker outside. In head-to-body length it ranges from 42 to 52 cm (17 to 20 in). Its 40 to 53 cm (16 to 21 in) long tail is ringed and has a dark tip. Its feet are of the same colour as the fur. It weighs from 1.3 to 3 kg (2.9 to 6.6 lb).[3]

Behaviour and ecology

Research in southeastern Nigeria revealed that the rusty-spotted genet has an omnivorous diet. It feeds on rodents like giant pouched rats (Cricetomys), Nigerian shrew (Crocidura nigeriae), Temminck's mouse (Mus musculoides), Tullberg's soft-furred mouse (Praomys tulbergi), Peters's striped mouse (Hybomys univittatus), typical striped grass mouse (Lemniscomys striatus), red-eyed dove (Streptopelia semitorquata), common agama (Agama agama), Mabuya skinks, Myriapoda, spiders, Orthoptera and Coleoptera as well as eggs, fruits, berries and seeds.[4]

Taxonomy

In 1830, John Edward Gray first described a rusty-spotted genet using the name Viverra maculata based on a zoological specimen that lived in the menagerie at the Tower of London.[5] In the 19th and 20th centuries, several taxonomists proposed the following species and subspecies for specimens obtained by natural history museums:[2]

  • fieldiana Du Chaillu, 1860[6]
  • aequatorialis Heuglin, 1866[7]
  • erlangeri, gleimi, schraderi, stuhlmanni, suahelica, zambesiana Matschie, 1902[8]
  • matschiei Neumann, 1902[9]
  • pumila Hollister, 1916[10]
  • insularis Cabrera, 1921[11]
  • rubiginosa zuluensis Roberts, 1924[12]
  • soror Schwarz, 1929[13]
  • rubiginosa albiventris Roberts, 1932[14]
  • deorum Funaioli and Simonetta, 1960[15]
  • pardina schoutedeni Crawford-Cabral, 1970[16]

Genetta letabae (Thomas and Schwann, 1906),[17] formerly considered a subspecies, is now thought to be a separate species.[18]

References

  1. ^ a b Angelici, F.M.; Gaubert, P.; Do Linh San, E. (2016). "Genetta maculata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T41699A45218948. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T41699A45218948.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b Wozencraft, W. C. (2005). "Genetta maculata". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 556. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
  3. ^ Gaubert, P.; Taylor, P. J. & Veron, G. (2005). "Integrative taxonomy and phylogenetic systematics of the genets (Carnivora, Viverridae, Genetta): a new classification of the most speciose carnivoran genus in Africa" (PDF). In Huber, B. A.; Sinclair, B. J. & Lampe, K.-H. (eds.). African Biodiversity: Molecules, Organisms, Ecosystems. Proceedings of the 5th International Symposium of Tropical Biology. Bonn: Museum König. pp. 371–383.
  4. ^ Angelici, F. M. (2000). "Food habits and resource partitioning of carnivores (Herpestidae, Viverridae) in the rainforests of southeastern Nigeria: preliminary results" (PDF). Revue d'Écologie (La Terre et la Vie). 55: 67–76. doi:10.3406/revec.2000.2314.
  5. ^ Gray, J. E. (1830). "Fam. Felidae. Gen. Viverra". Spicilegia zoologica; or, original figures and short systematic descriptions of new and unfigured animals. London: Treüttel, Würtz. p. 9.
  6. ^ Du Chaillu, P. (1860). "Descriptions of five new species of mammals discovered in western equatorial Africa". Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History. 7 (29): 298−304.
  7. ^ Heuglin, T. (1866). "Genetta aequatorialis Heugl". Systematische Übersicht der Säugethiere Nordost-Afrika's mit Einschluss der arabischen Küste, des rothen Meeres, der Somáli-und der Nilquellen-Länder, südwärts bis zum vierten Grade nördlicher Breite. Wien: Kaiserliche Akademie der Wissenschaften. p. 23.
  8. ^ Matschie, P. (1902). "Über die individuellen und geographischen Abänderungen der Ginsterkatzen". In Matschie, P. (ed.). Verhandlungen des V. Internationalen Zoologen-Congresses. Jena: Gustav Fischer. pp. 1128–1144.
  9. ^ Neumann, O. R. (1902). "Über einige neue Arten der Ginsterkatzen". Sitzungsberichte der Gesellschaft Naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin. 8: 181–184.
  10. ^ Hollister, N. (1916). "Descriptions of a new genus and eight new species and subspecies of African mammals" (PDF). Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections. 66: 1−8.
  11. ^ Cabrera, A. (1921). "Algunos carnívoros africanos nuevos". Boletín de la Real Sociedad Española de Historia Natural. 21: 261−264.
  12. ^ Roberts, A. (1924). "Some additions to the list of South African mammals" (PDF). Annals of the Transvaal Museum. 10 (2): 59−76.
  13. ^ Schwarz, E. (1929). "On two new genets from the upper Congo". Annals and Magazine of Natural History. Series 10. 3 (13): 47−48. doi:10.1080/00222932908672935.
  14. ^ Roberts, A. P. (1932). "reliminary description of fifty-seven new forms of South African mammals" (PDF). Annals of the Transvaal Museum. 15 (1): 1−19.
  15. ^ Funaioli, U.; Simonetta, A.M. (1960). "Spedizione biologica in Somalia, 1959. Risultati zoologici. Carnivora". Monitore Zoologico Italiano. 68: 58−79.
  16. ^ Crawford-Cabral, J. (1970). "As genetas da Africa Central". Boletim do Instituto de Investigação Científica de Angola. 7: 3–23.
  17. ^ Thomas, O.; Schwann, H. (1906). "The Rudd exploration of South Africa. − V. List of mammals obtained by Mr. Grant in North East Transvaal". Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London: 575−591.
  18. ^ Gaubert, P.; Taylor, P. J. & Veron, G. (2005). "Integrative taxonomy and phylogenetic systematics of the genets (Carnivora, Viverridae, Genetta): a new classification of the most speciose carnivoran genus in Africa" (PDF). In Huber, B. A.; Sinclair, B. J. & Lampe, K.-H. (eds.). African Biodiversity: Molecules, Organisms, Ecosystems. Proceedings of the 5th International Symposium of Tropical Biology, Museum König, Bonn. Springer. pp. 371–383.
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Extant Carnivora species
Feliformia ("cat-like" carnivorans)
  • African palm civet (Nandinia binotata)
Prionodon (Asiatic linsangs)
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lineage
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Prionailurus
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Felis
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  • European wildcat (F. silvestris)
Viverroidea
    • see below↓
Hemigalinae
  • Owston's palm civet (Chrotogale owstoni)
  • Otter civet (Cynogale bennettii)
  • Hose's palm civet (Diplogale hosei)
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Paradoxurinae
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Paradoxurus
  • Asian palm civet (P. hermaphroditus)
  • Brown palm civet (P. jerdoni)
  • Golden palm civet (P. zeylonensis)

Viverrinae
sensu lato
Viverrinae
sensu stricto
  • Small Indian civet (Viverricula indica)
  • African civet (Civettictis civetta)
Viverra
  • Malabar large-spotted civet (V. civettina)
  • Large-spotted civet (V. megaspila)
  • Malayan civet (V. tangalunga)
  • Large Indian civet (V. zibetha)
Genettinae
Poiana
(African linsangs)
  • Central African oyan (P. richardsonii)
  • West African oyan (P. leightoni)
Genetta
(genets)
  • Abyssinian genet (G. abyssinica)
  • Angolan genet (G. angolensis)
  • Bourlon's genet (G. bourloni)
  • Crested servaline genet (G. cristata)
  • Common genet (G. genetta)
  • Johnston's genet (G. johnstoni)
  • Letaba genet (G. letabae)
  • Rusty-spotted genet (G. maculata)
  • Pardine genet (G. pardina)
  • Aquatic genet (G. piscivora)
  • King genet (G. poensis)
  • Servaline genet (G. servalina)
  • Hausa genet (G. thierryi)
  • Cape genet (G. tigrina)
  • Giant forest genet (G. victoriae)
  • South African small-spotted genet (G. felina)
Herpestoidea
    • see below↓
Hyaenidae
(hyenas)
Proteles
  • Aardwolf (P. cristata)
Hyaeninae
(bone-crushing hyenas)
  • Striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena)
  • Brown hyena (Parahyaena brunnea)
Crocuta
  • Spotted hyena (C. crocuta)
Herpestidae sensu lato
Eupleridae
(Malagasy
carnivorans)
Euplerinae
  • Fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox)
  • Malagasy civet (Fossa fossana)
Eupleres
  • Eastern falanouc (E. goudotii)
  • Western falanouc (E. major)
Galidiinae
  • Ring-tailed vontsira (Galidia elegans)
Galidictis
  • Broad-striped Malagasy mongoose (G. fasciata)
  • Grandidier's mongoose (G. grandidieri)
  • Narrow-striped mongoose (Mungotictis decemlineata)
Salanoia
  • Brown-tailed mongoose (S. concolor)
  • Durrell's vontsira (S. durrelli)
Herpestidae
sensu stricto

(mongooses)
Mungotinae
Suricata
  • Meerkat (S. suricatta)
  • Liberian mongoose (Liberiictus kuhni)
Mungos
  • Gambian mongoose (M. gambianus)
  • Banded mongoose (M. mungo)
  • Pousargues's mongoose (Dologale dybowskii)
Helogale
  • Ethiopian dwarf mongoose (H. hirtula)
  • Common dwarf mongoose (H. parvula)
Crossarchus
  • Alexander's kusimanse (C. alexandri)
  • Angolan kusimanse (C. ansorgei)
  • Common kusimanse (C. obscurus)
  • Flat-headed kusimanse (C. platycephalus)
Herpestinae
  • Marsh mongoose (Atilax paludinosus)
  • Long-nosed mongoose (Xenogale naso)
Urva
  • Small Indian mongoose (U. auropunctata)
  • Short-tailed mongoose (U. brachyura)
  • Indian grey mongoose (U. edwardsii)
  • Indian brown mongoose (U. fusca)
  • Javan mongoose (U. javanica)
  • Collared mongoose (U. semitorquata)
  • Ruddy mongoose (U. smithii)
  • Crab-eating mongoose (U. urva)
  • Stripe-necked mongoose (U. vitticolla)
  • White-tailed mongoose (Ichneumia albicauda)
  • Yellow mongoose (Cynictis penicillata)
  • Selous's mongoose (Paracynictis selousi)
  • Meller's mongoose (Rhynchogale melleri)
Bdeogale
  • Bushy-tailed mongoose (B. crassicauda)
  • Jackson's mongoose (B. jacksoni)
  • Black-footed mongoose (B. nigripes)
Herpestes
  • Angolan slender mongoose (H. flavescens)
  • Egyptian mongoose (H. ichneumon)
  • Somalian slender mongoose (H. ochracea)
  • Cape gray mongoose (H. pulverulenta)
  • Common slender mongoose (H. sanguinea)
Caniformia ("dog-like" carnivorans)
Canidae (dogs)
Urocyon
  • Gray fox (U. cinereoargenteus)
  • Island fox (U. littoralis)
Vulpini
  • Bat-eared fox (Otocyon megalotis)
Nyctereutes
  • Common raccoon dog (N. procyonoides)
  • Japanese raccoon dog (N. viverrinus)
Vulpes
(foxes)
  • Bengal fox (V. bengalensis)
  • Blanford's fox (V. cana)
  • Cape fox (V. chama)
  • Corsac fox (V. corsac)
  • Tibetan fox (V. ferrilata)
  • Arctic fox (V. lagopus)
  • Kit fox (V. macrotis)
  • Pale fox (V. pallida)
  • Rüppell's fox (V. rueppelli)
  • Swift fox (V. velox)
  • Red fox (V. vulpes)
  • Fennec fox (V. zerda)
Canini
(true dogs)
Cerdocyonina
(zorro)
  • Maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus)
Speothos
  • Bush dog (S. venaticus)
  • Short-eared dog (Atelocynus microtis)
  • Crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous)
Lycalopex
  • Culpeo (L. culpaeus)
  • Darwin's fox (L. fulvipes)
  • South American gray fox (L. griseus)
  • Pampas fox (L. gymnocercus)
  • Sechuran fox (L. sechurae)
  • Hoary fox (L. vetulus)
Canina
(wolf-like canids)
Lupulella
  • Side-striped jackal (L. adustus)
  • Black-backed jackal (L. mesomelas)
  • African wild dog (Lycaon pictus)
  • Dhole (Cuon alpinus)
Canis
  • Golden jackal (C. aureus)
  • Domestic dog (C. familiaris)
  • Coyote (C. latrans)
  • African wolf (C. lupaster)
  • Wolf (C. lupus)
  • Eastern wolf (C. lycaon)
  • Red wolf (C. rufus)
  • Ethiopian wolf (C. simensis)
Ursidae
(bears)
Ailuropoda
  • Giant panda (A. melanoleuca)
Tremarctos
  • Spectacled bear (T. ornatus)
Ursinae
  • Sloth bear (Melursus ursinus)
  • Sun bear (Helarctos malayanus)
Ursus
  • American black bear (U. americanus)
  • Asian black bear (U. thibetanus)
  • Brown bear (U. arctos)
  • Polar bear (U. maritimus)
Mustelida
Pinnipedia (seals)
    • see below↓
Musteloidea
    • see below↓
Pinnipedia (seals)
Odobenidae
  • Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus)

Otariidae
(eared seals:
fur seals,
sea lions)
Callorhinus
  • Northern fur seal (C. ursinus)
Otariinae
  • Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus)
Zalophus
  • California sea lion (Z. californianus)
  • Galápagos sea lion (Z. wollebaeki)
  • South American sea lion (Otaria flavescens)
Neophoca
  • Australian sea lion (N. cinerea)
  • New Zealand sea lion (Phocarctos hookeri)
Arctocephalus
  • South American fur seal (A. australis)
  • Australasian fur seal (A. forsteri)
  • Galápagos fur seal (A. galapagoensis)
  • Antarctic fur seal (A. gazella)
  • Juan Fernández fur seal (A. philippii)
  • Brown fur seal (A. pusillus)
  • Guadalupe fur seal (A. townsendi)
  • Subantarctic fur seal (A. tropicalis)
Phocidae
(earless seals
or true seals)
Phocinae
("northern seals")
  • Bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus)
  • Hooded seal (Cystophora cristata)
Phocini
  • Harp seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus)
  • Ribbon seal (Histriophoca fasciata)
  • Grey seal (Halichoerus grypus)
Phoca
  • Spotted seal (P. largha)
  • Harbor seal (P. vitulina)
Pusa
  • Caspian seal (P. caspica)
  • Ringed seal (P. hispida)
  • Baikal seal (P. sibirica)
Monachinae
("southern seals")
Monachini
(monk seals)
  • Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus)
Neomonachus
  • Hawaiian monk seal (N. schauinslandi)
Mirounga
(elephant seals)
  • Northern elephant seal (M. angustirostris)
  • Southern elephant seal (M. leonina)
Lobodontini
(Antarctic seals)
  • Leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx)
  • Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddellii)
  • Crabeater seal (Lobodon carcinophagus)
  • Ross seal (Ommatophoca rossi)
Ailuridae
  • Red panda (Ailurus fulgens)
Mephitidae
(skunks)
Conepatus
(hog-nosed skunks)
  • Molina's hog-nosed skunk (C. chinga)
  • Humboldt's hog-nosed skunk (C. humboldtii)
  • American hog-nosed skunk (C. leuconotus)
  • Striped hog-nosed skunk (C. semistriatus)
Mephitis
  • Hooded skunk (M. macroura)
  • Striped skunk (M. mephitis)
Mydaus
(stink badgers)
  • Sunda stink badger (M. javanensis)
  • Palawan stink badger (M. marchei)
Spilogale
(spotted skunks)
  • Southern spotted skunk (S. angustifrons)
  • Western spotted skunk (S. gracilis)
  • Eastern spotted skunk (S. putorius)
  • Pygmy spotted skunk (S. pygmaea)
Procyonidae
  • Kinkajou (Potos flavus)
Bassariscus
  • Ringtail (B. astutus)
  • Cacomistle (B. sumichrasti)
Procyon
(raccoons)
  • Crab-eating raccoon (P. cancrivorus)
  • Raccoon (P. lotor)
  • Cozumel raccoon (P. pygmaeus)
Bassaricyon
(olingos)
  • Eastern lowland olingo (B. alleni)
  • Northern olingo (B. gabbii)
  • Western lowland olingo (B. medius)
  • Olinguito (B. neblina)
Nasuina
(coatis)
Nasua
  • South American coati (N. nasua)
  • White-nosed coati (N. narica)
Nasuella
  • Eastern mountain coati (N. meridensis)
  • Western mountain coati (N. olivacea)
Mustelidae
    • see below↓
  • American badger (Taxidea taxus)
Mellivora
  • Honey badger (M. capensis)
Melinae
(Eurasian badgers)
Arctonyx
  • Northern hog badger (A. albogularis)
  • Greater hog badger (A. collaris)
  • Sumatran hog badger (A. hoevenii)
Meles
  • Japanese badger (M. anakuma)
  • Caucasian badger (M. canescens)
  • Asian badger (M. leucurus)
  • European badger (M. meles)
Melogale
(ferret-badgers)
  • Vietnam ferret-badger (M. cucphuongensis)
  • Bornean ferret badger (M. everetti)
  • Chinese ferret-badger (M. moschata)
  • Javan ferret-badger (M. orientalis)
  • Burmese ferret-badger (M. personata)
  • Formosan ferret-badger (M. subaurantiaca)
Guloninae
  • Tayra (Eira barbara)
Pekania
  • Fisher (P. pennanti)
Gulo
  • Wolverine (G. gulo)
Martes
(martens)
  • American marten (M. americana)
  • Pacific marten (M. caurina)
  • Yellow-throated marten (M. flavigula)
  • Beech marten (M. foina)
  • Nilgiri marten (M. gwatkinsii)
  • European pine marten (M. martes)
  • Japanese marten (M. melampus)
  • Sable (M. zibellina)
Ictonychinae
Lyncodontini
  • Patagonian weasel (Lyncodon patagonicus)
Galictis
(grisons)
  • Lesser grison (G. cuja)
  • Greater grison (G. vittata)
Ictonychini
(African polecats)
Vormela
  • Marbled polecat (V. peregusna)
  • African striped weasel (Poecilogale albinucha)
Ictonyx
  • Saharan striped polecat (I. libycus)
  • Striped polecat (I. striatus)
Lutrinae
(otters)
  • Giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis)
Lontra
  • North American river otter (L. canadensis)
  • Marine otter (L. felina)
  • Neotropical otter (L. longicaudis)
  • Southern river otter (L. provocax)
Enhydra
  • Sea otter (E. lutris)
  • Spotted-necked otter (Hydrictis maculicollis)
Lutra
  • Eurasian otter (L. lutra)
  • Hairy-nosed otter (L. sumatrana)
Lutrogale
  • Smooth-coated otter (L. perspicillata)
Aonyx
  • African clawless otter (A. capensis)
  • Asian small-clawed otter (A. cinereus)
  • Congo clawless otter (A. congicus)
Mustelinae
Neogale
  • Amazon weasel (N. africana)
  • Colombian weasel (N. felipei)
  • Long-tailed weasel (N. frenata)
  • American mink (N. vison)
Mustela
(weasels)
  • Sichuan weasel (M. aistoodonnivalis)
  • Mountain weasel (M. altaica)
  • Stoat/Beringian ermine (M. erminea)
  • Steppe polecat (M. eversmannii)
  • Ferret (M. furo)
  • Haida ermine (M. haidarum)
  • Japanese weasel (M. itatsi)
  • Yellow-bellied weasel (M. kathiah)
  • European mink (M. lutreola)
  • Indonesian mountain weasel (M. lutreolina)
  • Black-footed ferret (M. nigripes)
  • Least weasel (M. nivalis)
  • Malayan weasel (M. nudipes)
  • European polecat (M. putorius)
  • American ermine (M. richardsonii)
  • Siberian weasel (M. sibirica)
  • Back-striped weasel (M. strigidorsa)
Taxon identifiers
Genetta maculata


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