habitat_narrative
Terrestrial
The Rusty-spotted Genet is present in a variety of habitats, including rainforest, swampy areas, riverine vegetation, open and closed woodlands, moist forests, savannahâforest mosaics, thickets and even grassy savannah, but avoids extremely dry savannah and truly arid regions (Angelici & Gaubert 2013). It also occurs in cultivated areas (plantations), farmlands and suburban areas. An ecological study found that the presence of this species in Nigeria is positively correlated with âderived savannahâ, âoil palm plantationsâ and other altered habitats, but negatively correlated with various types of forests (Angelici & Luiselli 2005), suggesting that the species adapts well to humanâmodified habitats. Resting sites are often located in trees, but also in dense shrubs, disused burrows of other animals such as Aardvark (Orycteropus afer) or Springhare (Pedetes spp.), rock crevices and overhangs, and even inhabited or abandoned man-made structures (Angelici & Gaubert 2013; R. Roux et al. unpubl. data). Rusty-spotted Genets are both terrestrial (Photo 1) and arboreal (Photo 2) and can sometimes be seen taking shelter in trees or other elevated areas (Angelici & Gaubert 2013).This species is mainly carnivorous, but will also eat vegetable matter such as fruits, seeds and berries (Angelici & Gaubert 2013). Mainly mammals and insects are caught, but centipedes and millipedes, spiders, scorpions, amphibians and reptiles (including lizards and snakes) as well as small birds and eggs are also hunted (Angelici & Luiselli 2005; Martinoli et al. 2006; Angelici & Gaubert 2013). These genets will catch mammals up to the size of a hare and even aquatic animals such as gastropods and fish (Angelici & Gaubert 2013). They will also scavenge on human leftovers. The Rusty-spotted Genet is an opportunistic feeder and will eat whatever is mostly available in its area during the season. In Tanzania, fruits were an important food source (Martinoli et al. 2006), probably due to their availability being higher than in South Africa. The percentage occurrence of a range of food items in the stomachs of 136 Rusty-spotted Genets in Zimbabwe (Smithers & Wilson 1979) and 30 in Botswana (Smithers 1971) was assessed. Results showed that, in Zimbabwe, 68% of the stomach contents consisted of murids, followed by 40% insects and 15% birds (Smithers & Wilson 1979). In Botswana, insects were the main food source comprising 90% of the diet followed by 47% murids, 27% arachnids and 17% fruits (Smithers 1971). Here only 7% birds occurred (Smithers 1971). Insects that are eaten are usually Coleoptera, Orthoptera and Isoptera (Angelici & Gaubert 2013). A first scat analysis study for the species in South Africa is currently being carried out on Telperion Nature Reserve, Mpumalanga, South Africa (J. Zemouche et al. unpubl. data).
Rusty-spotted Genets are mainly nocturnal and spend the day in their resting sites (Angelici & Gaubert 2013). They are more active during the first half of the night and often have a short resting bout halfway through their active period (R. Roux et al. unpubl. data). Activity usually starts with sunset and ends before sunrise (R. Roux et al. unpubl. data). Males are more active than females (R. Roux et al. unpubl. data), possibly due to higher metabolic requirements and/or different reproductive strategies. During winter nights in Telperion Nature Reserve, the Rusty-spotted Genet terminated its activity earlier than in summer due to the cold temperatures (R. Roux et al. unpubl. data). Predation risk may play an important role in the spatial ecology, as Rusty-spotted Genets select areas with enough vegetation cover and often in proximity of safe refuges while they are out hunting (R. Roux pers. obs. 2015â2016).
The Rusty-spotted Genet is solitary and territorial although home ranges can sometimes overlap (Carpenter 1970). In Kenya, the home ranges of five radio-tracked genets varied between 0.1 and 1.0 km2 (Angelici & Gaubert 2013). In Telperion Nature Reserve, the home ranges of 15 individuals were found to be on average 2.7 km2 (range 2.1â7.0 km2) in size (R. Roux et al. unpubl. data; Photo 3). Carpenter (1970) reported that male home ranges are usually larger than that of females, but no difference or even the opposite tendency was observed in Telperion. It is not clear to what extent these genets defend their territories, but they do mark them with secretions from the perineal glands, urine and faeces (Angelici & Gaubert 2013). Rusty-spotted Genets share latrine sites with other individuals (Blomsterberg 2016) and possibly also with other species such as African Civets (Civettictis civetta) and several mongoose species (Engel 2000). They could use these latrine sites for olfactory communication although specific scent-marking behaviour was not observed by Blomsterberg (2016). The breeding peak is from October to December, but a second peak can occur between March and May (Angelici & Gaubert 2013). Two to five kittens are generally born (Skinner & Chimimba 2005). Males may produce grumbling and coughing calls when courting a female and meowing has been recorded during mating (Dücker 1965). Soft growls and hissing were observed when wild Rusty-spotted Genets were captured in Telperion Nature Reserve (R. Roux pers. obs. 2015â2016).
Ecosystem and cultural services: None have been described specifically. However, it is likely that, together with other small carnivores, this species plays a role in controlling rodent and arthropod populations, notably in agricultural areas. Rusty-spotted Genets, together with the two other genet species occurring in the assessment region, have the potential to become a symbol/indicator of urban wildlife and integration of development with natural landscapes.
