Poiana richardsonii (Thomson, 1842)

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2009, Viverridae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 1 Carnivores, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 174-232 : 182

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.5714564

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5714842

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/FC03440B-FFEA-FF8A-EF8F-44B0F74CFD9D

treatment provided by

Conny

scientific name

Poiana richardsonii
status

 

8. View Plate 13: Viverridae

Central African Oyan

Poiana richardsonii View in CoL

French: Poiane de Richardson / German: Zentralafrikanischer Linsang / Spanish: Oyan

Other common names: African Linsang, Richardson's Linsang

Taxonomy. Genetta richardsonii Thomson, 1842 ,

Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea.

Has been considered conspecific with Leighton’s Oyan ( P. leightoni ). Two subspecies are recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

P. r. richardsonii Thomson, 1842 — Cameroon, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea (and Bioko I), Gabon, and PR Congo.

P. r. ochracea Thomas & Wroughton, 1907 — DR Congo. View Figure

Descriptive notes. Head—body 32.1-40 cm (males), 34.6-39. 5 cm (females), tail 35-2— 40-2 cm (males), 34.0-38 cm (females), hindfoot 5.7-6. 4 cm (males), 5.7-6. 1 cm (females), ear 2:9.3-7 cm (males), 3.3-4 cm (females); weight 510-750 g (males), 455 g (females). A small, slender genetlike carnivore, with a short, soft pelage. The coat color is yellowishto reddish-brown, with small, brownish-black spots of various shapes and sizes on the back and flanks, coalescing into stripes on the neck. These spots do not form longitudinal lines and are very small on the thighs and forelimbs. There is a dark mid-dorsal line, sometimes interrupted or absent. The ventral pelage is pale gray and unspotted. The head has a pointed muzzle, a gray rhinarium, wide rounded ears, and large yellowish-brown eyes. The feet are grayish, unmarked, and with hairy soles (except for the digital pads and a narrow bare line on the plantar surface). The tail has 9-14 alternating broad and narrow black bands, interspersed with pale rings. Dental formula: 13/3,C1/1,P4/4,M 1/2 =38.

Habitat. Lowland and montane forest.

Food and Feeding. Said to eat rodents, birds, insects, fruits, and other plant matter.

Activity patterns. Thought to be nocturnal. Has been observed sleeping on thick tangled vines in trees. On Bioko Island, at 17:10 h, an individual was observed walking in a dry, rocky streambed with little vegetation, before it fled to the forest.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Thought to be arboreal.

Breeding. A lactating female has been noted in October.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. A poorly known species and field studies are needed. There are no known major threats, but it may be undergoing localized decline due to forest loss and hunting for bushmeat and skins.

Bibliography. Bates (1905), Carpaneto & Germi (1989b), Halternorth & Diller (1985), Harrington et al. (2002), Rosevear (1974), Van Rompaey & Colyn (In press i), Wozencraft, (2005).

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Mammalia

Order

Carnivora

Family

Viverridae

Genus

Poiana

Loc

Poiana richardsonii

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier 2009
2009
Loc

Genetta richardsonii

Thomson 1842
1842
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