Genet

Genets are Old World mammals. They are viverrids, in the same family as civet cats. They are feliform carnivores of the family Viverridae. 

The closest relatives of genets are the civets, linsangs, fossa, and mongooses.Jakowska, Sophie 2011. Genets. Retrieved September 30, 2011 from http://science.jrank.org/pages/2995/Genets.html Almost all species are in the genus Genetta.but the aquatic genet is sometimes put in its own genus Osbornictis. The common genet, Genetta genetta, is the only viverrid living in Europe.Galantinho A. & Mira A. 2009. The influence of human, livestock, and ecological features on the occurrence of the genet (Genetta genetta): a case study on Mediterranean farmland. Sakura-mura, Iboraki, Japan: Ecological Research (Ecological Society of Japan) 24, 671-685. Other species live in Africa. Fossils of the genus have been found from the Pliocene.

Genets have long tails, about one to one and a half times the length of their bodies. These longs tails are a counterweight which helps them keep their balance as they leap from tree limb to tree limb.  They are not strictly terrestrial, and spend much of their time in trees. Genets have semi-retractable claws, which they use for climbing and holding prey, but not for fighting.Genet. African Wildlife Foundation. Retrieved 2011-11-26. http://www.awf.org/content/wildlife/detail/genet

Genets are highly agile creatures, with quick reflexes and exceptional climbing skills, and are the only viverrids that are able to stand bipedally. They are able to walk, trot, run, climb up and down trees, and jump.

They often feed on small mammals, such as rodents, shrews, and bats.Virgos, Emilio; Llorente, M. & Cortes Y. 1999. Geographical variation in genet (Genetta genetta L) diet: a literature review. Mammal Review, 29(2), 117-126., p. 117. Small rodents are captured by the back and killed with a bite at the head, then eaten starting with the head. They also eat birds, bird eggs, centipedes, millipedes, scorpions, and various fruits, including figs and olives.

Species
 Angolan genet

 References 

Category:Viverrids