Gorse cats

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Gorse cats
Southern Gorse Cat (Genetta felina)

Southern Gorse Cat ( Genetta felina )

Systematics
Superordinate : Laurasiatheria
Order : Predators (Carnivora)
Subordination : Feline (Feliformia)
Family : Crawling cats (Viverridae)
Subfamily : Genettinae
Genre : Gorse cats
Scientific name
Genetta
G. Cuvier , 1816
Gorse cat in Maun , Botswana (2019)

The genet cats ( Genetta ), also known as Genetten , are a predominantly African genus of the crawling cats (Viverridae) with 15 species. The Kleinfleck gorse cat is the only crawling cat that lives in Europe .

description

Kleinfleck genet (
Genetta genetta )

Gorse cats have an elongated body with rather short limbs. The face is characterized by the pointed snout and the large, round ears. Their fur is usually beige or gray in color with a striking black pattern. The tail is curled. As with many spotted predators, there is obviously a solid black morph ( melanism ) in every species . Genet cats reach a head body length of 42 to 58 centimeters, a tail length of 39 to 53 centimeters and a weight of 1 to 3 kilograms.

Distribution and habitat

Gorse cats are found in almost all of Africa, southwest Asia ( Arabian Peninsula ) and southwest Europe. Their habitat are both open habitats such as grasslands and dense forests.

Way of life

Gorse cat in Kruger National Park

Gorse cats are nocturnal loners. During the day they sleep in crevices in the rock, in hollow tree trunks or in structures that they have taken over from other animals. They can climb very well, but mostly look for food on the ground.

They are territorial animals that inhabit a territory of up to eight square kilometers. The territories can overlap with those of animals of the opposite sex, but never with those of same-sex conspecifics. They can secrete a musky secretion with their anal glands , but various sounds are also used for communication.

food

Genets are omnivores that ingest small vertebrates, insects, and sometimes fruit. Sometimes they climb trees to catch bird eggs or young birds, but mostly they hunt on the ground, where they quietly approach their prey from a wait position.

Reproduction

The female gives birth to one to four (usually two or three) young animals up to twice a year after a gestation period of around 56 to 77 days. The female takes care of the animals, carries them around in her mouth and cleans them; it defends you against all intruders, even against your partner if he is still around. From the 2nd month of life, the young eat solid food. They are sexually mature at around 2 years of age. Life expectancy is not known exactly, animals in human care can live to be over 20 years.

species

Genetta maculata (
Genetta maculata ) photographed with camera trap , Limpopo , South Africa
Angola genet (
Genetta angolensis )
Gorse Cat in Maun (Botswana)

The genus of genets is divided into four sub-genera with a total of 15 species:

See also

supporting documents

  1. Don E. Wilson & DeeAnn M. Reeder (eds.): Genetta ( Memento of the original from January 18, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. in Mammal Species of the World. A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed).  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.vertebrates.si.edu

literature

  • Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World . 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore 1999, ISBN 0-8018-5789-9 (English).
  • 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 .
  • Don E. Wilson, DeAnn M. Reeder (Eds.): Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd edition) . Johns Hopkins University Press, 2005.

Web links

Commons : Genetta  - album with pictures, videos and audio files