Animal Info - Crested Genet

(Other Name: Nanwuri)

Genetta cristata (G. servalina c.)

Status: Endangered

1. Profile
2. Tidbits
3. Status and Trends (IUCN Status, Countries Where Currently Found, History of Distribution)
4. Data on Biology and Ecology (Weight, Habitat, Gestation Period, Birth Rate, Diet, Behavior, Social Organization)
5. References

Profile

The crested genet weighs about 1 - 2 kg (2.2 - 4.4 lb). Based on information from hunters, it is believed that its range probably extends throughout heavily forested parts of the Niger Delta, apparently including the tidal freshwater or marsh forest zone but not the mangrove zone and probably not the coastal barrier islands. (Powell & Van Rompaey 1998)

The diet of Genetta species consists of small animals including rodents, birds, reptiles and insects. Species in the genus Genetta are active at night, usually spending the day in a rock crevice, in a burrow excavated by another animal, in a hollow tree, or on a large branch. They seem to return daily to the same shelter. They climb trees to prey on nesting and roosting birds, but much of their food is taken on the ground. (Nowak & Paradiso 1983). Genet species have been observed alone or in pairs.

The crested genet is found in the Cameroon - Nigeria border area east of the Cross River. It occurs in a minimum area of approximately 3000 sq km (1150 sq mi) in the Niger Delta alone. (Powell & Van Rompaey 1998)

Tidbits

*** The crested genet is considered by some to be a subspecies of the servaline genet, Genetta servalina.

*** Hunters distinguish the crested genet from the sympatric large-spotted genet on the basis of habitat, the crested genet being considered as the forest ("bush") type and the large-spotted genet as the riverside and/or mangrove type.

Status and Trends

IUCN Status:

1994: Endangered
1996 - 2004: Endangered (Criteria: B1+2c) (IUCN 2004)

Countries Where the Crested Genet Is Currently Found:

2004: Occurs in Cameroon and Nigeria. (IUCN 2004)

History of Distribution:

The crested genet is found in the Cameroon - Nigeria border area east of the Cross River. It occurs in a minimum area of approximately 3000 sq km (1150 sq mi) in the Niger Delta alone. (Powell & Van Rompaey 1998)

Distribution Map (14 Kb GIF) (African Mammals Databank 2004)

Data on Biology and Ecology

Weight:

The crested genet weighs about 1 - 2 kg ( 2.2 - 4.4 lb).

Habitat:

Based on information from hunters, it is believed that the crested genet's range probably extends throughout heavily forested parts of the Niger Delta. Its range appears to include the tidal freshwater or marsh forest zone but not the mangrove zone and probably not the coastal barrier islands. (Powell & Van Rompaey 1998)

The crested genet lives in the Guinean Forests of West Africa Biodiversity Hotspot (Cons. Intl. 2005).

Gestation Period:

56 - 77 days.

Birth Rate:

The number of young per litter is 1 - 4, usually 2 - 3.

Diet:

The diet of Genetta species consists of small animals including rodents, birds, reptiles and insects.

Behavior:

Species in the genus Genetta are nocturnal, usually spending the day in a rock crevice, in a burrow excavated by another animal, in a hollow tree, or on a large branch. They seem to return daily to the same shelter. They climb trees to prey on nesting and roosting birds, but much of their food is taken on the ground. (Nowak & Paradiso 1983).

Social Organization:

Genet species have been observed alone or in pairs.

References

African Mammals Databank 2004, Cons. Intl. 2005, IUCN 1994, IUCN 1996, IUCN 2000, IUCN 2003a, IUCN 2004, Kingdon 1997, Nowak & Paradiso 1983, Powell & Van Rompaey 1998

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