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Small spotted Genet

Genetta genetta

Description - Other Names - Distribution - Taxonomy

Quick stats

• Diet: - Carnivore
• Overall Length: - 0.96 m
• Weight: - Male & Female - 2.2 kg
• Lifespan - 10 years

Description

The Small-spotted Genet (Genetta genetta) and the Rusty or Large-spotted Genet (Genetta tigrina) are also widely distributed in southern Africa, but are less common than the civet.

They have long tails and their shaggy coats are spotted and striped with bold patches and blobs of black and white which offer excellent camouflage. These small animals have a mass of about two kilograms and a shoulder height of about 150 millimeters.

They are not often seen as they are most active at night where they hunt on any small creatures such as mice, rats, birds, lizards and insects. By day, they hide in sheltered crevices, hollow logs, old burrows or in thick masses of shaded vegetation.

After a gestation period of around 75 days, 2-4 young are born.

Other Names

• Klienkolmuskejaatkat
• Common Genet
• European Genet

Distribution

Distribution map
of the
Small Spotted Genet

Taxonomy

• Order - Carnivora
• Family - Viverridae
• Sub Family - Viverrinae
• Genus - Genetta
• Species - Genetta genetta

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