What Are The Two Species Of Genet That Occur In South Africa?
The two South African genet species are the small-spotted genet and the large-spotted genet. They are very similar in appearance and habits, and, in spite of their names, the size of their spots are not a fool-proof means of identification. The genet is a small, slender, short-legged carnivore with light brown to grey fur that is marked with rust coloured, dark brown or black spots and bars. The best way to distinguish the two species in the field is by the colour of the tip of their tail. In the small-spotted genet the tail tip is white, while the larger-spotted genet sports a black tip to its tail. Additionally, both species have a black or dark brown stripe down the back. In the case of the small-spotted genet, the band contains a ridge of long hair along the animal’s spine which it raises into a crest as a threat display.
