Red List of South African Species

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Least Concern (LC)
Assessors: Philippe Gaubert Emmanuel Do Linh San
Contributors: Michael Hoffmann
Reviewers: William Duckworth Michael Hoffmann

Rationale (Changed due to Same category and criteria)

Cape Genet is listed as Least Concern because although the species is restricted to the southern Fringe of Africa, it appears to be common, there are no major threats, and it is present in several protected areas across its range.

Distribution

Cape Genet is endemic to South Africa and Lesotho, in higher rainfall areas from the Western Cape to southern KwaZulu-Natal, south of 32ºS, and to the neighbouring Lesotho border (Gaubert 2013).

Population trend

Trend

There is no precise information on their abundance, but they are not uncommon. In areas of sympatry with G. genetta, trapping success seems to indicate that G. tigrina may be 3–4 times less abundant than the former species (E. Do Linh San pers. obs. 2005–2010).

Threats

Cape Genets are sometimes killed by farmers in retaliation for predation on small domestic stock and poultry, which could have an effect on numbers in some areas (Stuart 1990). Urban Genets are sometimes killed by dogs and cats, deliberately poisoned or indirectly by the consumption of poisoned rodents, and are victims of collisions with motor vehicles (C. Widdows pers. comm. 2013). However, it is believed that these sources of mortality, in addition to the non-consumptive use of this species, do not currently threaten local populations.

Uses and trade

Hides and tails are sometimes used to confection traditional Zulu clothing items. Pieces of genet skin may also be used as stick-fight charms, or to adorn hats, while parts of the body are used to treat ailments of eyes. Flesh consumption has been reported by Cunningham and Zondi (1991).

Conservation

They are present in several protected areas throughout their range, such as Table Mountain, Garden Route, and Addo Elephant National Parks (www.sanparks.org), Great Fish River River Complex (E. Do Linh San pers. obs. 2010) and Dwesa–Cwebe Wildlife Reserve (Roberts et al. 2007). Animals from Hluhluwe-Imfolozi G. R. are Central African Large-spotted Genets G. maculata (P. Gaubert pers. obs. 2014).

References 

[@book{1087,
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 year = {1986}
}
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}
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,@article{41702,
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 pages = {1--58},
 title = {Notes on the mammalian carnivores of the Cape Province, South Africa},
 volume = {1},
 year = {1981}
}
,@techreport{41702,
 address = {Pietermaritzburg, South Africa},
 author = {Cunningham, A.B. and Zondi, A.S.},
 institution = {Institute of Natural Resources, University of Natal},
 title = {Use of animal parts for the commercial trade in traditional medicines},
 year = {1991}
}
,@inbook{41702,
 address = {New York, USA},
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 booktitle = {Integrative taxonomy and phylogenetic systematics of the genets (Carnivora, Viverridae, genus <i>Genetta</i>): a new classification of the most speciose carnivoran genus in Africa},
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}
,@article{41702,
 author = {Gaubert, P.},
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}
,@article{41702,
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 pages = {97--114},
 title = {The classification of the genets (Carnivora, Viverridae, genus <i>Genetta</i>)},
 volume = {20},
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}
,@phdthesis{41702,
 author = {Gaubert, P.},
 school = {Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle},
 title = {Systématique et phylogénie du genre <i>Genetta</i> et des énigmatiques "genet-like taxa" <i>Prionodon, Poiana</i> et <i>Osbornictis</i> (Carnivora, Viverridae): caractérisation de la sous-famille des Viverrinae et étude des patrons de diversification au sein du continent africain},
 year = {2003}
}
,@article{41702,
 author = {Schlawe, L.},
 journal = {Zoologische Abhandlungen (Dresden)},
 pages = {85--182},
 title = {Material, Fundorte, Text- und Bildquellen als Grundlagen für eine Artenliste zur Revision der Gattung <i>Genetta</i> G. Cuvier, 1816},
 volume = {37},
 year = {1981}
}
,@article{41702,
 author = {Stuart, C.T.},
 journal = {Small Carnivore Conservation},
 pages = {16},
 title = {The conservation status of mustelids and viverrids in Southern Africa},
 volume = {3},
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}
,@article{41702,
 author = {Crawford-Cabral, J. and Pacheco, A.P.},
 journal = {Garcia de Orta, Série de Zoologia, Lisboa},
 pages = {7--17},
 title = {Are the Large-spotted and the Rusty-spotted genets separate species (Carnivora, Viverridae, genus <i>Genetta</i>)?},
 volume = {16},
 year = {1992}
}
,@inbook{41702,
 address = {London, UK},
 author = {},
 booktitle = {<i>Genetta tigrina</i> Cape Genet},
 editor = {Gaubert, P.},
 pages = {247--249},
 publisher = {Bloomsbury},
 title = {The Mammals of Africa. V. Carnivores, Pangolins, Equids and Rhinoceroses},
 year = {2013}
}
,@article{41702,
 author = {Gaubert, P., Taylor, P.J., Fernandes, C.A., Bruford, M.W. & Veron, G.},
 title = {Patterns of cryptic hybridization revealed using an integrative approach: a case study on genets (Carnivora, Viverridae, <i>Genetta</i> spp.) from the southern African subregion.},
 year = {2005}
}
,@electronic{41702,
 address = {www.iucnredlist.org},
 author = {IUCN},
 title = {The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2015-4},
 year = {2015}
}
,]
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