Aquatic genet

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Aquatic genet [1]
Genetta piscivora.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Suborder: Feliformia
Family: Viverridae
Genus: Genetta
Species:
G. piscivora
Binomial name
Genetta piscivora
(Allen, 1919)
Aquatic Genet area.png
Aquatic genet range

The aquatic genet (Genetta piscivora), also known as the fishing genet, is a genet that has only been recorded in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. [3] [4] Since it is only known from about 30 specimens in zoological collections, it had been listed as Data Deficient on the IUCN Red List since 1996, as it is considered one of Africa's rarest carnivores. In 2015, it has been reassessed as Near Threatened. [2]

Contents

When Allen described the aquatic genet as a new genus and species in 1919, he named it Osbornictis piscivora. [5] It was reassessed in 2004, and based on molecular evidence is now considered a Genetta species. [6]

Characteristics

The aquatic genet's long and dense fur is dark chestnut red without spots or bands. The head is pale fuscous brown with white spots on the sides of the muzzle, and above and below the eyes, which are framed with a narrow black ring. The ears are almost naked inside, edged with long whitish hairs and blackish outside. The bushy tail is black with pale brownish underfur. The soles of its feet are naked. These characteristics differ strikingly from those of other genet species. [5] Its rhinarium and olfactory bulbs are smaller than in other genets, which may indicate a poorly developed sense of smell. [3] Its trenchant teeth indicate an adaptation to piscivory. [7]

Two adult males measured from 44.5 to 49.5 cm (17.5 to 19.5 in) in head and body length with a 34 to 41.5 cm (13.4 to 16.3 in) long tail. One male weighed 1.43 kg (3.2 lb), and a female 1.5 kg (3.3 lb). [4]

Distribution and habitat

Aquatic genets have only been recorded in rainforest east of the Congo River and in the Tshopo District at elevations from 460 to 1,500 m (1,510 to 4,920 ft). They have not been recorded with certainty from Uganda. [2] [3] Based on past records, their range is predicted to be limited to closed evergreen lowland and submontane forests in the Congo Basin. [8]

Ecology and behavior

Aquatic genets are thought to be solitary and crepuscular. They primarily feed on freshwater fish, including catfish, barbels, squeakers, carps, and also crustaceans. They possibly detect the movements of the fish with their whiskers, or attract the fish by patting the surface of the water with their whiskers. [3] [4]

A pregnant female was collected in December. [9] To date, nothing else is known about their gestation, reproduction and development of offspring. [4]

Threats

It is unclear whether there are any major threats to aquatic genets. [2] They are caught in snare traps set up by Pygmy people in the Ituri Forest. [9]

Conservation

In 1979, the aquatic genet has been given full protection by the Congolese government. It is assumed to be present in the Okapi Wildlife Reserve. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Viverridae</span> Family of carnivorans

Viverridae is a family of small to medium-sized, feliform mammals. The viverrids comprise 33 species placed in 14 genera. This family was named and first described by John Edward Gray in 1821. Viverrids occur all over Africa, southern Europe, and South and Southeast Asia, across the Wallace Line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Genet (animal)</span> Genus of carnivorans

A genet is a member of the genus Genetta, which consists of 17 species of small African carnivorans. The common genet is the only genet present in Europe and occurs in the Iberian Peninsula, Italy and France.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crested servaline genet</span> Species of carnivore

The crested servaline genet, also known as the crested genet, is a genet species endemic to Nigeria and Cameroon. As the population has declined due to loss of habitat, it is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. It was first recorded in the Mamfe Division in Cameroon and initially considered a subspecies of the servaline genet. But now it is regarded as a distinct species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Servaline genet</span> Species of carnivore

The servaline genet is a genet species native to Central Africa. As it is widely distributed and considered common, it is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abyssinian genet</span> Species of carnivorans

The Abyssinian genet, also known as the Ethiopian genet, is a genet species native to Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan, and Djibouti. It is listed as Data Deficient on the IUCN Red List. It is one of the least-known genet species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angolan genet</span> Species of mammal

The Angolan genet or miombo genet is a genet species endemic to Southern Africa. It is considered common in this region and therefore listed as Least Concern in the IUCN Red List. Little is known about its ecology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Common genet</span> Species of carnivorans

The common genet is a small viverrid indigenous to Africa that was introduced to southwestern Europe. It is widely distributed north of the Sahara, in savanna zones south of the Sahara to southern Africa and along the coast of Arabia, Yemen and Oman. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rusty-spotted genet</span> Species of carnivore

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnston's genet</span> Species of carnivore

Johnston's genet is a genet species native to the Upper Guinean forests. As it is threatened by deforestation and conversion of rainforest to agriculturally and industrially used land, it is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giant forest genet</span> Species of carnivoran

The giant forest genet, also known as the giant genet, is a genet species endemic to the Congo Basin. As it is considered as widely distributed and common, it is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liberian mongoose</span> Species of mongoose from West Africa

The Liberian mongoose is a mongoose species native to Liberia and Ivory Coast. It is the only member of the genus Liberiictis. Phylogenetic analysis shows it is closely related to other small, social mongooses and that the banded mongoose is its closest relative.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cape genet</span> Species of carnivorans

The Cape genet, also known as the South African large-spotted genet, is a genet species endemic to South Africa. As it is common and not threatened, it is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Like other genets, it is nocturnal and arboreal, preferring to live in the riparian zones of forests, as long as these are not marshy areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hausa genet</span> Species of carnivoran

The Hausa genet is a genet species native to West African savannas. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central African oyan</span> Species of carnivore

The Central African oyan, also called Central African linsang, is a linsang species native to Central Africa.

<i>Herpestes</i> Genus within the mongoose family

Herpestes is a genus within the mongoose family Herpestidae. Several species in the family are known as slender mongooses. It is the type genus of the family, and comprises 5-6 living species, each with several subspecies. Fossil remains of three prehistoric species were excavated in France, and described in 1853.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Viverrinae</span> Subfamily of carnivores

The Viverrinae represent the largest subfamily of the Viverridae comprising three genera, which are subdivided into six species native to Africa and Southeast Asia. This subfamily was denominated and first described by John Edward Gray in 1864.

The Letaba genet is a genet native to Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Eswatini. It is Lesotho and Eswatini's only endemic species of genet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Genettinae</span> Subfamily of carnivorans

Genettinae is a subfamily of the feliform viverrids. It contains all of the genet species and the oyan species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South African small-spotted genet</span> Species of mammal endemic to Southern Africa

The South African small-spotted genet is a species of genet endemic to Southern Africa.

References

  1. ↑ Wozencraft, W. C. (2005). "Genetta piscivora". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 556. ISBN   978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC   62265494.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Gaubert, P.; Do Linh San, E. (2015). "Genetta piscivora". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2015: e.T15628A45201673. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T15628A45201673.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Van Rompaey, H. (1988). "Osbornictis piscivora". Mammalian Species (309): 1–4. doi: 10.2307/3504099 . JSTOR   3504099.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Van Rompaey, H. and Colyn, M. (2013). Genetta piscivora Aquatic Genet. In: J. Kingdon and M. Hoffmann (eds.) The Mammals of Africa. V. Carnivores, Pangolins, Equids and Rhinoceroses, pp. 239–240. Bloomsbury, London, UK.
  5. 1 2 Allen, J. A. (1919). Preliminary notes on African Carnivora. Journal of Mammalogy 1 (1): 23–31.
  6. ↑ Gaubert, P., Tranier, M., Delmas, A. S., Colyn, M., Veron, G. (2004). First molecular evidence for reassessing phylogenetic affinities between genets (Genetta) and the enigmatic genet-like taxa Osbornictis, Poiana and Prionodon (Carnivora, Viverridae). Zoologica Scripta 33: 117–129.
  7. ↑ Gaubert, P., Taylor, P. J., & Veron, G. (2005). Integrative taxonomy and phylogenetic systematics of the genets (Carnivora, Viverridae, Genetta): a new classification of the most speciose carnivoran genus in Africa. In: Huber, B. A., Sinclair, B. J., Lampe, K.-H. (eds.) African Biodiversity: Molecules, Organisms, Ecosystems. Proceedings of the 5th International Symposium of Tropical Biology, Museum König, Bonn. Springer. Pp. 371–383.
  8. ↑ Papeş, M., & Gaubert, P. (2007). Modelling ecological niches from low numbers of occurrences: assessment of the conservation status of poorly known viverrids (Mammalia, Carnivora) across two continents. Diversity and distributions 13(6): 890–902.
  9. 1 2 Hart, J. A. & Timm, R. M. (1978). Observations on the aquatic genet in Zaire. Carnivore 1: 130–132.
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