Spotted Genets (Genetta tigrana/genetta)

Genus: Genetta
Species: Tigrana/Genetta
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Viverridae

Head and body length ranges from 49 to 60cm and tail length from 42 to 54cm. Genetta tigrina is a short-legged, long-bodied viverrid with a white-ringed, black-tipped tail and a dorsal stripe that runs from the shoulders to the base of the tail. The color of the spots and dark markings of the pelage varies from black with a few interspersed rust-colored hairs to uniformly rust-colored. The background color of the upper parts can be white, grey, or buff. The blotched genet displays both geographic variation and polymorphism. Animals from the dryer areas of south Africa are characterized by lighter color tones and more subtle patterns, whereas those from moister areas are darker with more striking patterns. Both reddish and greyish individuals occur together within a locality and probably within a litter.

Behaviour

Genets are nocturnal and solitary. They move from their daytime rests one or two hours after sunset and are active until 0200 hours. The only social groups seen are the courting pair and the mother with young. These animals are quite arboreal; they are nimble climbers and often rest in clumps of foliage high in the tops of trees during the day. Other day rests include house roofs, farm outbuildings, hay bales, hollow trees and logs, tree roots, boulders, and abandoned antbear and springhaas burrows. Genetta tigrina often hunts in trees. It has been seen leaping to the ground from the height of several meters and can jump long distances from one tree to another. It hunts by stalking and then pouncing and kills by repeatedly biting the victim, which it holds with its front claws.

Vocalization

The vocalizations of blotched genets resemble those of cats. They purr, mew, hiss, and "spit." Other forms of communication include musky odors released from the anal glands of stressed animals.