Rusty-spotted genet

Rusty-spotted genet
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Family:	Viverridae
Genus:	Genetta
Species:	G. maculata
Binomial name
Genetta maculata (Gray, 1830)
Rusty-spotted genet range
Synonyms
aequatorialis Heuglin, 1866 albiventris Roberts, 1932 deorum Funaioli and Simonetta, 1960 erlangeri Matschie, 1902 fieldiana Du Chaillu, 1860 gleimi Matschie, 1902 insularis Cabrera, 1921 letabae Thomas and Schwann, 1906 matschiei Neumann, 1902 pumila Hollister, 1916 schoutedeni Crawford-Cabral, 1970 schraderi Matschie, 1902 soror Schwarz, 1929 stuhlmanni Matschie, 1902 suahelica Matschie, 1902 zambesiana Matschie, 1902 zuluensis Roberts, 1924

The rusty-spotted genet (Genetta maculata) is a genet that is also called panther genet and large-spotted genet. It is widely distributed in sub-Saharan Africa, considered common and therefore listed as Least Concern in the IUCN Red List.

Characteristics

The rusty-spotted genet has short whitish grey to pale yellow coloured fur with dark spots and a continuous dark line across the back. The spots of the upper two dorsal rows are round or square, brown in the center and darker outside. In head-to-body length it ranges from 42 to 52 cm (17 to 20 in). Its 40 to 53 cm (16 to 21 in) long tail is ringed and has a dark tip. Its feet are of the same colour as the fur. It weighs from 1.3 to 3 kg (2.9 to 6.6 lb).