Genetta tigrina (Schreber, 1776)

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2009, Viverridae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 1 Carnivores, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 174-232 : 191

22.

Cape Genet

Genetta tigrina

French: Genette tigrine / German: Stdliche GroRfleckgenette / Spanish: Gineta manchada

Other common names: South African Large-spotted Genet

Taxonomy. Viverra tigrina Schreber, 1776 ,

Cape of Good Hope, South Africa.

Has been considered conspecific with G. maculata . Two subspecies are recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

G. t. tigrina Schreber, 1776 — South Africa (Southern region of Western Cape to Fastern Cape Provinces).

G. t. methi Roberts, 1948 — South Africa (S of Umzigaba River, Pondoland), and Lesotho.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 46-58 cm (males), 42:7-56 cm (females), tail 39-45. 9 cm (males), 38-5—43-2 cm (females), hindfoot 8-9 cm (males), 7.7-8. 5 cm (females), ear 3.6-5. 5 cm (males), 3.9-4. 3 cm (females); weight 1.6-2. 1 kg (males), 1.4-1. 9 kg (females). Both sexes are similar in color and size. The coat is whitish-yellow or gray; the ventral pelage is gray to whitish-gray. The nuchal stripes are well defined. The continuous black mid-dorsal line begins behind the shoulder; there is a short dorsal erectile crest. There are large spots on the thigh and shoulder. The face has a well-marked mask, a thin dark vertical line on the muzzle, and white sub-ocular spots; the white supra-ocular spots are less contrasting. The tail has seven to eight pale rings alternating with dark rings. The width of the pale rings relative to the dark rings in the middle of the tail is 50-75%. Dark hairs cover the last pale ring; the tip of the tail is dark. The hindlimbs are dark, with a thin row of pale hairs on the anterior surface. The posterior part of the forelimbs is dark. The upper parts of the forefeet and hindfeet are lightly spotted. There are two pairs of teats. The skull has a thin sagittal crest. The posterior chamber of the auditory bulla is flattened in comparison with the anterior chamber and has a continuous curve line on the external side. The maxillary-palatine is anterior to the main cusp of P?. The ratio between the inter-orbital constriction and frontal width is 1 + 0-05. Dental formula: 13/3,C1/1,P 4/4, M 2/2 = 40.

Habitat. Forests, lowland and mountain fynbos (heathland); often associated with dense vegetation cover. Frequents riparian zones and is sometimes found in scrub and open grasslands.

Food and Feeding. Diet includes rodents (Namaqua Micaelamys , Micaelamys namaquensis and Southern African Vlei Rat, Otomys irroratus), birds (Egyptian goose Alopochen aegyptiacus and Columbidae ), insects (Coleoptera and Orthoptera), spiders, pill millipedes, freshwater crabs, earthworms, and plants (seeds, leaves, and grass). Also seen feeding in rubbish dumps. In the Eastern Cape Province, 372 scats contained invertebrates (arthropods, myriapods molluscs, and annelids), vertebrates (small mammals, birds, reptiles, and fish), fruit, and other plants. By volume, the dominant food items were insects and grass. There was some variation in diet between habitats and seasons, which appeared to be dependent on prey availability. Birds appeared under-represented in the diet, but peaked during the winter and spring.

Activity patterns. Appears to be nocturnal: active at night during a survey in the former Cape Province. One individual has been observed resting during the day in a hollow oak tree, three metres above the ground

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Appears to be solitary, but females may be accompanied by a mate or the young of a recentlitter. Home ranges in Kwa-Zulu-Natal were 50-100 ha.

Breeding. Possibly gives birth to young from January to February: a lactating female caught inJanuary had recently given birth. Ajuvenile male collected in March weighed 300 g and was estimated to be six weeks old.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Considered common, with no known major threats. However,it is sometimes killed by farmers in retaliation for preying on small domestic stock and poultry, so in some areas trapping, poisoning, and shooting may be having an affect on local numbers.

Bibliography. Coetzee (1977), Crawford-Cabral (1981), Crawford-Cabral & Pacheco (1992), Gaubert (2003a, In press d), Gaubert, Taylor & Veron (2005), Meester et al. (1986), Roberts et al. (2007), Schlawe (1981), Stuart (1981, 1990), Wozencraft (2005).

Figures

15. Johnston's Genet (Genetta johnstoni), 16. Rusty-spotted Genet (Genetta maculata), 17. Pardine Genet (Genetta pardina), 18. Aquatic Genet (Genetta piscivora), 19. King Genet (Genetta poensis), 20. Servaline Genet (Genetta servalina), 21. Hausa Genet (Genetta thierryi), 22. Cape Genet (Genetta tigrina), 23. Giant Genet (Genetta victoriae)

Subspecies and Distribution. G. t. tigrina Schreber, 1776 — South Africa (Southern region of Western Cape to Fastern Cape Provinces). G. t. methi Roberts, 1948 — South Africa (S of Umzigaba River, Pondoland), and Lesotho .