Genetta genetta

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Common Genet

Taxonomy

Subclass : Theria
Infraclass : Placentalia
Magnorder : Boreoeutheria
Superorder : Laurasiatheria
Order : Carnivora
Suborder : Feliformia
Infraorder : Viverroidea
Family : Viverridae
Subfamily : Genettinae
Genus : Genetta

Species status

Living
Found in the wild
Listed in MSW3 2005

Authority citation

Linnaeus, C. 1758-01-01. Systema Naturæ per Regna Tria Naturæ, Secundum Classes, Ordines, Genera, Species, cum Characteribus, Differentiis, Synonymis, Locis. Tomus I. Editio Decima, Reformata. Laurentii Salvii, Stockholm, 823 pp.

Authority publication link

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25033856

Original name as described

Viverra genetta

Other common names

Common Small-spotted Genet

Type locality

El Pardo, near Madrid, Spain.

Biogeographic realm

Afrotropic · Palearctic

Country distribution

Italy · France · Portugal · Spain · Morocco · Algeria · Tunisia · Libya · Egypt · Mauritania · Mali · Senegal · Gambia · Guinea · Cote d'Ivoire · Burkina Faso · Ghana · Togo · Benin · Niger · Nigeria · Chad · Cameroon · Central African Republic · Sudan · South Sudan · Eritrea · Djibouti · Somalia · Ethiopia · Saudi Arabia · Yemen · Oman · Kenya · Uganda · Tanzania · Angola · Namibia · Botswana · Zambia · Zimbabwe · South Africa · Mozambique

Taxonomy notes

previously included G. felina

Taxonomy notes citation

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 African Biodiversity (pp. 371-383). Springer US.

IUCN Red List status

Least Concern

Species Permalink

https://www.mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1006080

Country distribution map

The map below provides a general overview. Most species inhabit only specific regions within countries. Hover over the highlighted regions to see the country name.

Names and synonyms

Present and past (if available) associated names to the species. Click on a name to view its details. If the list is long, scroll down to see more.

Genetta terrae sanctae

O. R. Neumann, 1902

Family

Viverridae

Root name

terraesanctae

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1864.8.17.17

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/24f75d92-d851-44c9-9090-d515936b5182

Authority page

183

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/7931343

Authority publication

Sitzungsberichte der Gesellschaft Naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Genetta genetta balearica

O. Thomas, 1902

Family

Viverridae

Root name

balearica

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1901.6.1.3

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/08dcba99-7d74-45be-9531-d5f9888d3c4f

Authority page

162

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/19338963

Authority publication

Annals and Magazine of Natural History

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Genetta Grantii

O. Thomas, 1902

Family

Viverridae

Root name

grantii

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1902.11.22.3

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/8bc7ec89-4af2-4904-8128-bf9eafab119e

Authority page

487

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/19339296

Authority publication

Annals and Magazine of Natural History

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Genetta genetta isabelae

M. Delibes, 1977

Family

Viverridae

Root name

isabelae

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

EBD 7.213

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

140

Authority publication

Doñana, Acta Vertebrata

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Genetta dongolana tedescoi

De Beaux, 1924

Family

Viverridae

Root name

tedescoi

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

lost (number not known)

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

267

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/57811354

Authority publication

Atti della Società Italiana di Scienze Naturali e del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale in Milano

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Genetta peninsulae

Cabrera, 1905

Family

Viverridae

Root name

peninsulae

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

MNCN 1866

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

266

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/1728285

Authority publication

Boletín de la Real Sociedad Española de Historia Natural

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Genetta Communis, var. Genetta melas

Graells, 1897

Family

Viverridae

Root name

melas

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

MNCN 351

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

174

Authority publication

Memorias de la Real Academia de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Genetta Bonaparti

Loche, 1857

Family

Viverridae

Root name

bonaparti

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

MNHN-ZM-MO-1860-674

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://coldb.mnhn.fr/catalognumber/mnhn/zm/mo-1860-674

Authority page

385

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/13712521

Authority publication

Revue et Magasin de Zoologie pure et appliquée

Genetta guardafuensis

O. R. Neumann, 1902

Family

Viverridae

Root name

guardafuensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

MNHN-ZM-MO-1884-1433

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://coldb.mnhn.fr/catalognumber/mnhn/zm/mo-1884-1433

Authority page

183

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/7931343

Authority publication

Sitzungsberichte der Gesellschaft Naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Civetta genetta

(Rafinesque, 1817)

Family

Viverridae

Root name

genetta

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

362

Authority publication

American Monthly Magazine and Critical Review

Name usages

Rafinesque (1817:362) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/35234)

Viverra senegalensis

(H. R. Schinz, 1825)

Family

Viverridae

Root name

senegalensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

346

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/51523763

Authority publication

Stuttgart

Genetta Senegalensis

Lesson, 1842

Family

Viverridae

Root name

senegalensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

59

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

  1. Smith (1842:171) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67141)
  2. Lesson (1842:59) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36812)

Vivera genetta

(Crespon, 1844)

Family

Viverridae

Root name

genetta

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

53

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/52795661

Authority publication

Nîmes

Name usages

Crespon (1844:53, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/52795661) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/38970)

Genetta genetta

(Coetzee, 1971)

Family

Viverridae

Root name

genetta

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

20

Authority publication

Washington

Name usages

  1. Coetzee (1971:20) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67173)
  2. Corbet & Hill (1980:99) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63069)
  3. Honacki, Kinman & Koeppl (1982:267) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63071)
  4. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)
  5. O'Brien, Menninger & Nash (2006:501) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/7321)
  6. Wilson & Mittermeier (2009:184) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67177)
  7. Kingdon & Hoffman (2013:224) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/27643)
  8. Mammal Diversity Database (2018:ID #41698) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67336)
  9. Mammal Diversity Database (2019:ID #41698) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67337)
  10. Mammal Diversity Database (2024, https://www.mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1006080) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67250)
  11. International Union for the Conservation of Nature (2024, https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/41698/45218636) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67246)

Genetta genetta genetta

(Coetzee, 1971)

Family

Viverridae

Root name

genetta

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

20

Authority publication

Washington

Name usages

  1. Coetzee (1971:20) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67173)
  2. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)
  3. Wilson & Mittermeier (2009:184) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67177)

Genetta genetta pulchra

(Coetzee, 1971)

Family

Viverridae

Root name

pulchra

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

20

Authority publication

Washington

Name usages

  1. Coetzee (1971:20) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67173)
  2. Wilson & Mittermeier (2009:184) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67177)

Genetta genetta senegalensis

(Coetzee, 1971)

Family

Viverridae

Root name

senegalensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

20

Authority publication

Washington

Name usages

  1. Coetzee (1971:20) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67173)
  2. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)
  3. Wilson & Mittermeier (2009:184) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67177)

Genetta genetta afra

Wozencraft, 2005

Family

Viverridae

Root name

afra

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

bonapartei

Wozencraft, 2005

Family

Viverridae

Root name

bonapartei

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

incorrectsubsequentspelling

Authority page

555

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005:555) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Genetta genetta dongolana

Wozencraft, 2005

Family

Viverridae

Root name

dongolana

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

  1. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)
  2. Wilson & Mittermeier (2009:184) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67177)

Genetta genetta grantii

D. E. Wilson & Mittermeier, 2009

Family

Viverridae

Root name

grantii

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

184

Authority publication

Barcelona

Name usages

Wilson & Mittermeier (2009:184) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67177)

Viverra genetta

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Family

Viverridae

Root name

genetta

Validity status

species

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

45

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25033856

Authority publication

Stockholm

Name usages

  1. Erxleben (1777:496, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15873293) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36060)
  2. Cuvier (1797:123, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11637205) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/38531)
  3. Daudin (1802:162, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/42033412) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/64044)
  4. Fischer (1814:xii, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/29130073) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/12226)
  5. Desmarest (1817:165, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/18035914) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/60375)

Viverra Genetta gallica

(Oken, 1816)

Family

Viverridae

Root name

gallica

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

inconsistently_binominal

Authority page

1010

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/59375757

Authority publication

Jena

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Viverra Genetta hispanica

(Oken, 1816)

Family

Viverridae

Root name

hispanica

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

inconsistently_binominal

Authority page

1010

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/59375757

Authority publication

Jena

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Genetta afra

F. Cuvier in É. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire & F. Cuvier, 1825

Family

Viverridae

Root name

afra

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

pl. 195 (p. 2)

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/44522839

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

  1. Lesson (1827:173, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/54207641) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36839)
  2. Cuvier (1842:3, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/44518526) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/60227)
  3. Lesson (1842:59) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36812)
  4. Fitzinger (1855:295) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/65926)
  5. Loche (1858:6, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/41949446) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/60564)
  6. Blyth (1863:46, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/47534674) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/37155)

Genetta vulgaris

Lesson, 1827

Family

Viverridae

Root name

vulgaris

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

nomen_novum

Authority page

173

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/54207641

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

  1. Lesson (1827:173, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/54207641) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36839)
  2. Smith (1842:171) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67141)
  3. Lesson (1842:59) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36812)
  4. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Viverra senegalensis

(J. B. Fischer, 1829)

Family

Viverridae

Root name

senegalensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

subsequent_usage

Authority page

170

Authority publication

Stuttgart

Genetta Communis

Burnett, 1830

Family

Viverridae

Root name

communis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

nomen_nudum

Authority page

349

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/3909459

Authority publication

Quarterly Journal of Science, Literature, and Art

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Viverra dongolana

(Hemprich & Ehrenberg, 1832)

Family

Viverridae

Root name

dongolana

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

dec. 2, folio k: 2

Authority publication

Berlin

Viverra leptura

(Reichenbach, 1836)

Family

Viverridae

Root name

leptura

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

270

Authority publication

book

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Viverra genetta var. barbar

(G. M. Wagner, 1841)

Family

Viverridae

Root name

barbar

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority publication

book

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Genetta Barbara

C. H. Smith, 1842

Family

Viverridae

Root name

barbara

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

171

Authority page URI

https://books.google.com/books?id=DvE_AAAAcAAJ&pg=PA171

Authority publication

Edinburgh

Name usages

  1. Smith (1842:171) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67141)
  2. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Genetta Bonapartii

Loche, 1858

Family

Viverridae

Root name

bonapartii

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

incorrectsubsequentspelling

Authority page

6

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/41949446

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

Loche (1858:6, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/41949446) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/60564)

Viverra dongalana

(Matschie, 1902)

Family

Viverridae

Root name

dongalana

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

incorrectsubsequentspelling

Authority page

1129

Authority publication

book

Genetta neumanni

Matschie, 1902

Family

Viverridae

Root name

neumanni

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

1140

Authority publication

book

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Genetta pulchra

Matschie, 1902

Family

Viverridae

Root name

pulchra

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

1139

Authority publication

book

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Genetta rhodanica

Matschie, 1902

Family

Viverridae

Root name

rhodanica

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

1139

Authority publication

book

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Genetta hararensis

O. R. Neumann, 1902

Family

Viverridae

Root name

hararensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

183

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/7931343

Authority publication

Sitzungsberichte der Gesellschaft Naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Genetta albipes

Trouessart, 1904

Family

Viverridae

Root name

albipes

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

250

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/53423131

Authority publication

Berlin

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Genetta genetta lusitanica

de Seabra, 1924

Family

Viverridae

Root name

lusitanica

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Genetta genetta pyrenaica

Bourdelle & De Zillière, 1951

Family

Viverridae

Root name

pyrenaica

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

122-124

Authority publication

Bulletin de la Société d'histoire naturelle de Toulouse

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

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