Ethiopian gorse cat
| Ethiopian gorse cat | ||||||||||||
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Ethiopian genet ( Genetta abyssinica ) |
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Genetta abyssinica | ||||||||||||
| ( Rüppell , 1836) |
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The Ethiopian genet ( Genetta abyssinica ) is a species of predator from the crawling cat family (genus genus ). The distribution area of the Ethiopian genet is limited to parts of Ethiopia and the neighboring states.
features
The Ethiopian genet reaches a head-torso length of 40.8 to 43 centimeters, the tail length is 38 to 40.3 centimeters and the weight is 1.3 to 2 kilograms. The fur is short and soft. The species has a creamy white to yellow basic color, the belly is pale gray. The animals in the lowlands are lighter and paler in color than the animals in the highlands of the distribution area. The back spots are elongated and merge into five stripes. The spots on the lower flanks are also elongated and form stripes rather than spots. The neck stripes are clearly defined and merge into two dark lines in the neck. The dark line along the spine is clearly laid out and interrupted by a light line; the hair on the center line does not form a comb. The tail has seven to nine light rings, which are interrupted by dark rings; the tip of the tail is black. Front and rear legs are light gray with dark spots; the feet are unspotted. The face is also clearly drawn. It shows a well-formed, dark mask and a gray line around the muzzle, as well as white spots below and above the eyes.
distribution and habitat
The distribution area of the Ethiopian genet is limited to parts of Ethiopia and the neighboring states. It occurs in northern Somalia , in Eritrea , Djibouti and the southeast of Sudan .
The species' habitats are very different. On the one hand, it occurs in the montane dry forests, whose vegetation is dominated by Erica arborea , Hypericum revolutum and Rosa abyssinica . It also lives in the montane marshland and grassland as well as in the steppe and semi-desert areas in the lowlands. The height distribution extends up to 3,750 meters.
Way of life
The Ethiopian genet is primarily nocturnal, but can rarely be observed during the day. It is assumed that the activity during the day is a regional adaptation to the diurnal lifestyle of some rodents in the highlands. She also probably lives primarily as a loner.
Like all genet cats, the species feeds predatory on small vertebrates, especially rodents. The food is supplemented by insects and fruits. Examinations of the faeces showed that the proportion of insects and fruits is higher in the lowlands than in the mountains.
Systematics
The Ethiopian gorse cat is assigned as an independent species to the gorse cats (genus Genetta ), which currently consists of 14 species. At times it was compared with the Haussa gorse cat ( Genetta thierryi ) as a separate genus Pseudogenetta to the other gorse cats.
Threat and protection
The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) classifies the species as Least Concern, although little information is available about the stocks. She justifies this with the large distribution area and the wide spread of habitats in which the species occurs. Potential declines in stocks are not viewed as threatening the existence of the company.
The main threats of this type are unclear. The loss of habitat due to the decline in acacia populations and thorn forests as well as the increasing pressure from keeping livestock in herds in the range of the species is mentioned.
supporting documents
- ↑ a b c d e f g P. Jennings, G. Veron: Family Viverridae (Civets, Genet and Oyans). In: Don E. Wilson, Russell A. Mittermeier (eds.): Handbook of the Mammals of the World. Volume 1: Carnivores. Lynx Edicions, 2009, ISBN 978-84-96553-49-1 , p. 215.
- ↑ a b c Genetta abyssinica in the Red List of Threatened Species of the IUCN 2011.2. Posted by: P. Gaubert, M. Hoffmann, 2008. Retrieved April 26, 2012.
- ↑ Don E. Wilson & DeeAnn M. Reeder (eds.): Genetta abyssinica ( Memento of March 25, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) in Mammal Species of the World. A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed).
literature
- P. Jennings, G. Veron: Family Viverridae (Civets, Genet and Oyans). In: Don E. Wilson, Russell A. Mittermeier (eds.): Handbook of the Mammals of the World. Volume 1: Carnivores. Lynx Edicions, 2009, ISBN 978-84-96553-49-1 , p. 215.
Web links
- Genetta abyssinica inthe IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2011.2. Posted by: P. Gaubert, M. Hoffmann, 2008. Retrieved April 26, 2012.