Crested servaline genet

Species of carnivore

Crested servaline genet
Illustration of a crested servaline genet
Conservation status

Vulnerable  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Suborder: Feliformia
Family: Viverridae
Genus: Genetta
Species:
G. cristata
Binomial name
Genetta cristata
Hayman, 1940
Crested servaline genet range
Synonyms
  • Genetta bini Rosevear, 1974[2]

The crested servaline genet (Genetta cristata), 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.[1] It was first recorded in the Mamfe Division in Cameroon and initially considered a subspecies of the servaline genet (Genetta servalina).[3] But now it is regarded as a distinct species.[4]

Characteristics

Genetta cristata skull

The crested servaline genet is a rather small and slender genet with relatively long legs and a narrow face. Its khaki colored fur is short, soft and dense with dark spots that are densely and evenly distributed. Its long tail is banded with wide black bands and thin whitish bands. Its crest on the back of the neck does not extend onto the back.[5]

Its feet are dark. It has a dark discontinuous mid-dorsal line with relatively long hairs that form a nuchal crest.[6]

Distribution and habitat

The crested servaline genet occurs in southern Nigeria from the Niger Delta east into Cameroon to the Sanaga River. It inhabits scrub, low tangled vegetation and bare ground below trees in tall deciduous forest. Occasionally it has also been recorded in secondary and montane forest.[1]

In Nigeria it is associated with primary dry forest, bush–mango plantations inside the forest, and to a lesser extent to secondary dry forest and primary flooded forest. It avoids suburban areas, pineapple plantations, bushlands and oil-palm plantations.[7] It is restricted to lower elevations from sea level to about 1,000 m (3,300 ft) elevation. Its presence has been predicted in Gabon and Republic of Congo, but not been confirmed.[8]

Threats

The crested servaline genet is threatened by loss of habitat. The major areas of its occurrence in the Cross River State Forests is being converted into agriculturally used land; oil is produced in the Niger Delta. It may also be subject to pressure from intensive hunting.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Gaubert, P.; Angelici, F.M.; Do Linh San, E. (2015). "Genetta cristata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T8998A45198406. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T8998A45198406.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ Wozencraft, W. C. (2005). "Genetta cristata". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 532–628. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
  3. ^ Hayman, R. W. (1940). Genetta servalina cristata. Page 686 in: Sanderson, I. T. (ed). The Mammals of the North Gameroons Forest Area. Being the Results of the Percy Sladen Expedition to the Mamfe Division of the British Cameroons. The Transactions of the Zoological Society of London 24 (7): 623–726.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ Kingdon, J. (1997). The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals. Academic Press. p. 269. ISBN 0-12-408355-2.
  6. ^ 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: BA Huber, BJ Sinclair, K-H Lampe (eds.) African Biodiversity: Molecules, Organisms, Ecosystems. Proceedings 5th International Symposium Tropical Biology, Museum König, Bonn. Springer Verlag.
  7. ^ Angelici, F.M. and Luiselli, L. (2005). Habitat associations and dietary relationships between two genets, Genetta maculata and Genetta cristata. Revue d'Écologie (La Terre et la Vie) 60: 341–354.
  8. ^ Gaubert, P., Papes, M. and Peterson, A.T. (2006). Natural history collections and the conservation of poorly known taxa: Ecological niche modeling in central African rainforest genets (Genetta spp.). Biological Conservation 130: 106–117.
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Extant Carnivora species
Feliformia ("cat-like" carnivorans)
  • African palm civet (Nandinia binotata)
Prionodon (Asiatic linsangs)
  • Banded linsang (P. linsang)
  • Spotted linsang (P. pardicolor)
Felidae (cats)
Pantherinae
Neofelis
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Panthera
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Felinae sensu stricto
Bay cat
lineage
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Catopuma
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Caracal
lineage
  • Serval (Leptailurus serval)
Caracal
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Leopardus
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Lynx
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Puma
lineage
Acinonyx
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  • Jaguarundi (Herpailurus yagouaroundi)
Puma
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Leopard cat
lineage
  • Pallas's cat (Otocolobus manul)
Prionailurus
  • Leopard cat (P. bengalensis)
  • Sunda leopard cat (P. javanensis)
  • Flat-headed cat (P. planiceps)
  • Rusty-spotted cat (P. rubiginosus)
  • Fishing cat (P. viverrinus)
Felis
  • Chinese mountain cat (F. bieti)
  • Domestic cat (F. catus)
  • Jungle cat (F. chaus)
  • African wildcat (F. lybica)
  • Sand cat (F. margarita)
  • Black-footed cat (F. nigripes)
  • European wildcat (F. silvestris)
Viverroidea
    • see below↓
Hemigalinae
  • Owston's palm civet (Chrotogale owstoni)
  • Otter civet (Cynogale bennettii)
  • Hose's palm civet (Diplogale hosei)
  • Banded palm civet (Hemigalus derbyanus)
Paradoxurinae
  • Binturong (Arctictis binturong)
  • Small-toothed palm civet (Arctogalidia trivirgata)
  • Sulawesi palm civet (Macrogalidia musschenbroekii)
  • Masked palm civet (Paguma larvata)
Paradoxurus
  • Asian palm civet (P. hermaphroditus)
  • Brown palm civet (P. jerdoni)
  • Golden palm civet (P. zeylonensis)

Viverrinae
sensu lato
Viverrinae
sensu stricto
  • Small Indian civet (Viverricula indica)
  • African civet (Civettictis civetta)
Viverra
  • Malabar large-spotted civet (V. civettina)
  • Large-spotted civet (V. megaspila)
  • Malayan civet (V. tangalunga)
  • Large Indian civet (V. zibetha)
Genettinae
Poiana
(African linsangs)
  • Central African oyan (P. richardsonii)
  • West African oyan (P. leightoni)
Genetta
(genets)
  • Abyssinian genet (G. abyssinica)
  • Angolan genet (G. angolensis)
  • Bourlon's genet (G. bourloni)
  • Crested servaline genet (G. cristata)
  • Common genet (G. genetta)
  • Johnston's genet (G. johnstoni)
  • Letaba genet (G. letabae)
  • Rusty-spotted genet (G. maculata)
  • Pardine genet (G. pardina)
  • Aquatic genet (G. piscivora)
  • King genet (G. poensis)
  • Servaline genet (G. servalina)
  • Hausa genet (G. thierryi)
  • Cape genet (G. tigrina)
  • Giant forest genet (G. victoriae)
  • South African small-spotted genet (G. felina)
Herpestoidea
    • see below↓
Hyaenidae
(hyenas)
Proteles
  • Aardwolf (P. cristata)
Hyaeninae
(bone-crushing hyenas)
  • Striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena)
  • Brown hyena (Parahyaena brunnea)
Crocuta
  • Spotted hyena (C. crocuta)
Herpestidae sensu lato
Eupleridae
(Malagasy
carnivorans)
Euplerinae
  • Fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox)
  • Malagasy civet (Fossa fossana)
Eupleres
  • Eastern falanouc (E. goudotii)
  • Western falanouc (E. major)
Galidiinae
  • Ring-tailed vontsira (Galidia elegans)
Galidictis
  • Broad-striped Malagasy mongoose (G. fasciata)
  • Grandidier's mongoose (G. grandidieri)
  • Narrow-striped mongoose (Mungotictis decemlineata)
Salanoia
  • Brown-tailed mongoose (S. concolor)
  • Durrell's vontsira (S. durrelli)
Herpestidae
sensu stricto

(mongooses)
Mungotinae
Suricata
  • Meerkat (S. suricatta)
  • Liberian mongoose (Liberiictus kuhni)
Mungos
  • Gambian mongoose (M. gambianus)
  • Banded mongoose (M. mungo)
  • Pousargues's mongoose (Dologale dybowskii)
Helogale
  • Ethiopian dwarf mongoose (H. hirtula)
  • Common dwarf mongoose (H. parvula)
Crossarchus
  • Alexander's kusimanse (C. alexandri)
  • Angolan kusimanse (C. ansorgei)
  • Common kusimanse (C. obscurus)
  • Flat-headed kusimanse (C. platycephalus)
Herpestinae
  • Marsh mongoose (Atilax paludinosus)
  • Long-nosed mongoose (Xenogale naso)
Urva
  • Small Indian mongoose (U. auropunctata)
  • Short-tailed mongoose (U. brachyura)
  • Indian grey mongoose (U. edwardsii)
  • Indian brown mongoose (U. fusca)
  • Javan mongoose (U. javanica)
  • Collared mongoose (U. semitorquata)
  • Ruddy mongoose (U. smithii)
  • Crab-eating mongoose (U. urva)
  • Stripe-necked mongoose (U. vitticolla)
  • White-tailed mongoose (Ichneumia albicauda)
  • Yellow mongoose (Cynictis penicillata)
  • Selous's mongoose (Paracynictis selousi)
  • Meller's mongoose (Rhynchogale melleri)
Bdeogale
  • Bushy-tailed mongoose (B. crassicauda)
  • Jackson's mongoose (B. jacksoni)
  • Black-footed mongoose (B. nigripes)
Herpestes
  • Angolan slender mongoose (H. flavescens)
  • Egyptian mongoose (H. ichneumon)
  • Somalian slender mongoose (H. ochracea)
  • Cape gray mongoose (H. pulverulenta)
  • Common slender mongoose (H. sanguinea)
Caniformia ("dog-like" carnivorans)
Canidae (dogs)
Urocyon
  • Gray fox (U. cinereoargenteus)
  • Island fox (U. littoralis)
Vulpini
  • Bat-eared fox (Otocyon megalotis)
Nyctereutes
  • Common raccoon dog (N. procyonoides)
  • Japanese raccoon dog (N. viverrinus)
Vulpes
(foxes)
  • Bengal fox (V. bengalensis)
  • Blanford's fox (V. cana)
  • Cape fox (V. chama)
  • Corsac fox (V. corsac)
  • Tibetan fox (V. ferrilata)
  • Arctic fox (V. lagopus)
  • Kit fox (V. macrotis)
  • Pale fox (V. pallida)
  • Rüppell's fox (V. rueppelli)
  • Swift fox (V. velox)
  • Red fox (V. vulpes)
  • Fennec fox (V. zerda)
Canini
(true dogs)
Cerdocyonina
(zorro)
  • Maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus)
Speothos
  • Bush dog (S. venaticus)
  • Short-eared dog (Atelocynus microtis)
  • Crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous)
Lycalopex
  • Culpeo (L. culpaeus)
  • Darwin's fox (L. fulvipes)
  • South American gray fox (L. griseus)
  • Pampas fox (L. gymnocercus)
  • Sechuran fox (L. sechurae)
  • Hoary fox (L. vetulus)
Canina
(wolf-like canids)
Lupulella
  • Side-striped jackal (L. adustus)
  • Black-backed jackal (L. mesomelas)
  • African wild dog (Lycaon pictus)
  • Dhole (Cuon alpinus)
Canis
  • Golden jackal (C. aureus)
  • Domestic dog (C. familiaris)
  • Coyote (C. latrans)
  • African wolf (C. lupaster)
  • Wolf (C. lupus)
  • Eastern wolf (C. lycaon)
  • Red wolf (C. rufus)
  • Ethiopian wolf (C. simensis)
Ursidae
(bears)
Ailuropoda
  • Giant panda (A. melanoleuca)
Tremarctos
  • Spectacled bear (T. ornatus)
Ursinae
  • Sloth bear (Melursus ursinus)
  • Sun bear (Helarctos malayanus)
Ursus
  • American black bear (U. americanus)
  • Asian black bear (U. thibetanus)
  • Brown bear (U. arctos)
  • Polar bear (U. maritimus)
Mustelida
Pinnipedia (seals)
    • see below↓
Musteloidea
    • see below↓
Pinnipedia (seals)
Odobenidae
  • Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus)

Otariidae
(eared seals:
fur seals,
sea lions)
Callorhinus
  • Northern fur seal (C. ursinus)
Otariinae
  • Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus)
Zalophus
  • California sea lion (Z. californianus)
  • Galápagos sea lion (Z. wollebaeki)
  • South American sea lion (Otaria flavescens)
Neophoca
  • Australian sea lion (N. cinerea)
  • New Zealand sea lion (Phocarctos hookeri)
Arctocephalus
  • South American fur seal (A. australis)
  • Australasian fur seal (A. forsteri)
  • Galápagos fur seal (A. galapagoensis)
  • Antarctic fur seal (A. gazella)
  • Juan Fernández fur seal (A. philippii)
  • Brown fur seal (A. pusillus)
  • Guadalupe fur seal (A. townsendi)
  • Subantarctic fur seal (A. tropicalis)
Phocidae
(earless seals
or true seals)
Phocinae
("northern seals")
  • Bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus)
  • Hooded seal (Cystophora cristata)
Phocini
  • Harp seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus)
  • Ribbon seal (Histriophoca fasciata)
  • Grey seal (Halichoerus grypus)
Phoca
  • Spotted seal (P. largha)
  • Harbor seal (P. vitulina)
Pusa
  • Caspian seal (P. caspica)
  • Ringed seal (P. hispida)
  • Baikal seal (P. sibirica)
Monachinae
("southern seals")
Monachini
(monk seals)
  • Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus)
Neomonachus
  • Hawaiian monk seal (N. schauinslandi)
Mirounga
(elephant seals)
  • Northern elephant seal (M. angustirostris)
  • Southern elephant seal (M. leonina)
Lobodontini
(Antarctic seals)
  • Leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx)
  • Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddellii)
  • Crabeater seal (Lobodon carcinophagus)
  • Ross seal (Ommatophoca rossi)
Ailuridae
  • Red panda (Ailurus fulgens)
Mephitidae
(skunks)
Conepatus
(hog-nosed skunks)
  • Molina's hog-nosed skunk (C. chinga)
  • Humboldt's hog-nosed skunk (C. humboldtii)
  • American hog-nosed skunk (C. leuconotus)
  • Striped hog-nosed skunk (C. semistriatus)
Mephitis
  • Hooded skunk (M. macroura)
  • Striped skunk (M. mephitis)
Mydaus
(stink badgers)
  • Sunda stink badger (M. javanensis)
  • Palawan stink badger (M. marchei)
Spilogale
(spotted skunks)
  • Southern spotted skunk (S. angustifrons)
  • Western spotted skunk (S. gracilis)
  • Eastern spotted skunk (S. putorius)
  • Pygmy spotted skunk (S. pygmaea)
Procyonidae
  • Kinkajou (Potos flavus)
Bassariscus
  • Ringtail (B. astutus)
  • Cacomistle (B. sumichrasti)
Procyon
(raccoons)
  • Crab-eating raccoon (P. cancrivorus)
  • Raccoon (P. lotor)
  • Cozumel raccoon (P. pygmaeus)
Bassaricyon
(olingos)
  • Eastern lowland olingo (B. alleni)
  • Northern olingo (B. gabbii)
  • Western lowland olingo (B. medius)
  • Olinguito (B. neblina)
Nasuina
(coatis)
Nasua
  • South American coati (N. nasua)
  • White-nosed coati (N. narica)
Nasuella
  • Eastern mountain coati (N. meridensis)
  • Western mountain coati (N. olivacea)
Mustelidae
    • see below↓
  • American badger (Taxidea taxus)
Mellivora
  • Honey badger (M. capensis)
Melinae
(Eurasian badgers)
Arctonyx
  • Northern hog badger (A. albogularis)
  • Greater hog badger (A. collaris)
  • Sumatran hog badger (A. hoevenii)
Meles
  • Japanese badger (M. anakuma)
  • Caucasian badger (M. canescens)
  • Asian badger (M. leucurus)
  • European badger (M. meles)
Melogale
(ferret-badgers)
  • Vietnam ferret-badger (M. cucphuongensis)
  • Bornean ferret badger (M. everetti)
  • Chinese ferret-badger (M. moschata)
  • Javan ferret-badger (M. orientalis)
  • Burmese ferret-badger (M. personata)
  • Formosan ferret-badger (M. subaurantiaca)
Guloninae
  • Tayra (Eira barbara)
Pekania
  • Fisher (P. pennanti)
Gulo
  • Wolverine (G. gulo)
Martes
(martens)
  • American marten (M. americana)
  • Pacific marten (M. caurina)
  • Yellow-throated marten (M. flavigula)
  • Beech marten (M. foina)
  • Nilgiri marten (M. gwatkinsii)
  • European pine marten (M. martes)
  • Japanese marten (M. melampus)
  • Sable (M. zibellina)
Ictonychinae
Lyncodontini
  • Patagonian weasel (Lyncodon patagonicus)
Galictis
(grisons)
  • Lesser grison (G. cuja)
  • Greater grison (G. vittata)
Ictonychini
(African polecats)
Vormela
  • Marbled polecat (V. peregusna)
  • African striped weasel (Poecilogale albinucha)
Ictonyx
  • Saharan striped polecat (I. libycus)
  • Striped polecat (I. striatus)
Lutrinae
(otters)
  • Giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis)
Lontra
  • North American river otter (L. canadensis)
  • Marine otter (L. felina)
  • Neotropical otter (L. longicaudis)
  • Southern river otter (L. provocax)
Enhydra
  • Sea otter (E. lutris)
  • Spotted-necked otter (Hydrictis maculicollis)
Lutra
  • Eurasian otter (L. lutra)
  • Hairy-nosed otter (L. sumatrana)
Lutrogale
  • Smooth-coated otter (L. perspicillata)
Aonyx
  • African clawless otter (A. capensis)
  • Asian small-clawed otter (A. cinereus)
  • Congo clawless otter (A. congicus)
Mustelinae
Neogale
  • Amazon weasel (N. africana)
  • Colombian weasel (N. felipei)
  • Long-tailed weasel (N. frenata)
  • American mink (N. vison)
Mustela
(weasels)
  • Sichuan weasel (M. aistoodonnivalis)
  • Mountain weasel (M. altaica)
  • Stoat/Beringian ermine (M. erminea)
  • Steppe polecat (M. eversmannii)
  • Ferret (M. furo)
  • Haida ermine (M. haidarum)
  • Japanese weasel (M. itatsi)
  • Yellow-bellied weasel (M. kathiah)
  • European mink (M. lutreola)
  • Indonesian mountain weasel (M. lutreolina)
  • Black-footed ferret (M. nigripes)
  • Least weasel (M. nivalis)
  • Malayan weasel (M. nudipes)
  • European polecat (M. putorius)
  • American ermine (M. richardsonii)
  • Siberian weasel (M. sibirica)
  • Back-striped weasel (M. strigidorsa)
Taxon identifiers
Genetta cristata