Where does the common genet live?
The common genet is native to Africa and was introduced to south-western Europe. It is widely distributed north of the Sahara, along the western Mediterranean coast of North Africa, in the savanna zones south of the Sahara from Senegal and Mauritania to Somalia and Tanzania, and along the coast of Arabia, Yemen and Oman. Another population lives in southern Africa. It was brought to the Mediterranean region from the Maghreb as a semi-domestic animal about 1,000 to 1,500 years ago.
What does the common genet eat?
The common genet is solitary. Adults are nocturnal and crepuscular, with their highest levels of activity following sunset and just before sunrise. It looks like a cat, but with a longer body and a pointed snout. It differs from other genets by its grey coat spotted with black and its long ringed tail with a white tip.
Is the common genet endangered?
No: the IUCN lists it as Least Concern. It inhabits a wide range of deciduous and evergreen habitats that provide plentiful shelter, such as rocky terrain. It is now well established in several regions of Europe.
