Genetta genetta
Afrikaans : Kleinkolmuskejaartkat
It is a short-legged animal with an elongated body and a white-ringed tail. Length (including tail) 1 m, mass 2 kg. The spots covering its body are generally slightly smaller than those of the large-spotted genet, but not always: the raising of the dorsal crest is more characteristic in terms of telling these two species apart. The muzzle is pointed and the ears are rounded. It has whitish or brownish grey upper parts with a pronounced dark brown spinal stripe, and on either side smallish, dark brown or blackish spots arranged in rows. The tail has about eight dark rings and usually a white tip. The strongly patterned face has a black chin. No two animals are exactly alike.
The small-spotted genet has habits similar to the large-spotted genet: it is nocturnal, scales trees, uses tree-holes, undergrowth or disused burrows as shelter in the day. In defence it will arch its back and the hair down the spine will bristle, while also emitting an unpleasant odour from a secretion in its anal glands.
Gender differences:
Sexes are similar.
Habitat:
Small-Spotted Genet are found not only in sub-Saharan Africa, but along the north coast of Africa and in Europe in open, arid terrain where there is adequate ground cover and also in well-watered woodland.
Diet:
It eats insects, mice and rats, geckos, frogs, snakes and scorpions. It stalks its prey like a cat.
Reproduction:
Genet females come into heat during the wet season(s). Gestation is usually 10-11 weeks long, and the female usually gives birth to one to three kittens, usually in the mother's daytime shelter. Young are born blind and helpless. They are weaned around eight weeks, though they take small amounts of solid food before that. Kits are sexually mature at two years. They may live up to 12 - 13 years.
Other:
The small-spotted genet is most like the large-spotted genet. Only the small-spotted genet, however, raises the hair of its dark spinal stripe in a prominent crest when it is frightened. Other distinguishing features include the black (not white) chin, the white (not black) tip to the tail and the coarse, long hair.
For more information on genets, see Large Spotted Genet
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