Genets

Genets - Solitary Hunters of the African Night

On a crisp winter's night, the open Land Rover came around the bend beneath a large spreading Umbrella Thorn. The tracker's spot lamp picked up some movement on a horizontal branch and we edged slowly forward. Suddenly, there in the light, was a beautiful cat-like carnivore, spotted all over with a glorious banded tail. Time stood still as a Large-spotted Genet peered down calmly at us with its radiant green eyes. Then, in a flash, it was gone. A solitary hunter in the African night.

Ancient lineage

Along with their civet relatives, genets are regarded as the most primitive and ancient of living carnivores. Fossil evidence suggest that these animals have changed little in the past 40-50 million years. Modern-day lions, leopards, hyenas, bears and wolves are thought to have evolved from a common ancestor which - in skeleton and dental structure - closely resembled a genet.

Beautiful patterns, banded tails

Genets are slender, short-legged, long-tailed carnivores belonging to the Viverid family, which also includes the mongooses. There is some uncertainty as to how many genet species exist across Africa, Europe and Asia, as taxonomists disagree on various forms. The two most frequently encountered species are the Large-spotted Genet (also known as Blotched or Rusty-spotted) and the Small-spotted Genet (also known as the Common Genet).

With their black and white coats, genets are striking animals -beautifully patterned, with long banded tails. They are among the more commonly seen nocturnal animals. The Large-spotted Genet favours well-wooded habitats in the south and eastern parts of Africa, while the Small-spotted prefers drier country in the west and north. In some places, the range of the two species overlap. Most field guides indicate that the Small-spotted genet has a white-tipped tail, while the Large-spotted has a dark tip. This may not be a foolproof distinguishing feature, however, and a better way of distinguishing the latter species (at least in southern Africa) is by the rusty-coloured centres to its large black spots.

Home range

Genets are not restricted to wildlife reserves. Like European weasels and American polecats they can live in close proximity to man, in towns and on farms. Here they can be both useful and problematic, for they feed voraciously on pests such as rats, but are also avid chicken coop raiders. Genets live a solitary life, with pairs coming together only to mate. They live in home ranges which are marked with conspicuous latrines and paste from the perineal glands. The ranges of males are larger (up to 5km²) to incorporate those of several females. A litter of two to four young (kittens) are born after a gestation of two-and-a-half months.

To eat but not be eaten

All manner of creatures make up the prey for genets, with rodents, roosting birds (up to francolin/chicken size) and reptiles being favoured. Such prey is caught after a patient stalk and ambush, then killed with a bite to the head or neck. Large moths, scorpions and beetles are also relished, and genets are not above scavenging from carrion. andBEYOND rangers at Phinda have, in recent years, been witness to some remarkable incidents which suggest that the genet is a more wily and powerful predator than imagined. In January 1999, Ashwell Glasson witnessed a Large-spotted Genet attacking and pouncing upon a Red Duiker lamb, although the outcome was unknown as the two disappeared into a thicket. Even more surprisingly, Phinda ranger Phil Stephney reported a Large-spotted Genet in the process of biting an Nyala fawn on the throat in June 2002; although the little antelope was seen to shake off its attacker. In the same month, a baby Grey Duiker was seen to be attacked by a genet, only to be chased off by its mother, by Lucky Ntuli and Gavin Lautenbach. A Large-spotted Genet would reach a maximum weight of 2kg, while newborn duikers could be up to two thirds of this; a newborn Nyala, however, would weigh up to 5kg.

In suburban areas, genets may enter gardens to search dog bowls for the family pet's left-overs, or quarrel with domestic cats. Hunting genets need also to be on the alert for predators themselves, as Leopard and Verreaux's Eagle-Owl pose a constant threat.

andBEYOND's Genet Hotspots

Genets are frequently encountered on night game drives at all safari lodges, with excellent viewing opportunities at Matetsi, Ngala, Phinda, Klein's Camp, Sandibe, Nxabega, Londolozi and Bongani.

- Duncan Butchart -

Posted: Mammals by CC Africa, Date: 21 November 2006