South African small-spotted genet

The South African small-spotted genet (Genetta felina) is a species of genet endemic to Southern Africa.[2]

South African small-spotted genet
Female South African small-spotted genet at Nossob Camp, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in the Northern Cape, South Africa
Least Concern (The Red List of Mammals of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Suborder: Feliformia
Family: Viverridae
Genus: Genetta
Species:
G. felina
Binomial name
Genetta felina
(Thunberg, 1811)
Synonyms
  • macrura (Jentink, 1892)
  • bella Matschie, 1902
  • pulchra Matschie, 1902
  • ludia O. Thomas & Schwann, 1906

Taxonomy

Genetta felina was first described in 1811 by Carl Peter Thunberg. It was considered a subspecies of the common genet (Genetta genetta) but since MSW3 in 2005, was split off and classified as its own species.[2] Its classification is disputed.[3]

Distribution

Genetta felina is found in South Africa, Angola, Botswana, Namibia and Zambia.[2] It lives in woodland savanna, grassland, thickets, and dry vlei areas that border deserts.[2]

Appearance

The South African small-spotted genet is identified by the white tip on its tail, dark feet and dark chin.[2]

References
  1. "The Red List of Mammals of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland: Small-spotted Genet" (PDF). Endangered Wildlife Trust. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2023-05-09.
  2. Gaubert, Philippe; Taylor, Peter J.; Veron, Geraldine (2005), "Integrative Taxonomy and Phylogenetic Systematics of the Genets (Carnivora, Viverridae, Genetta): A New Classification of the Most Speciose Carnivoran Genus in Africa", African Biodiversity, Boston, MA: Springer US, pp. 371–383, doi:10.1007/0-387-24320-8_37, ISBN 978-0-387-24315-3, retrieved 2023-05-09
  3. Ferguson, Adam W.; Roble, Houssein R.; McDonough, Molly M. (2019-03-01). "Noteworthy record of the Ethiopian genet, Genetta abyssinica, (Carnivora, Viverridae) from Djibouti informs its phylogenetic position within Genetta". Mammalia. 83 (2): 180–189. doi:10.1515/mammalia-2017-0081. ISSN 1864-1547. S2CID 90946409.
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