Letaba genet

Letaba genet
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Suborder:	Feliformia
Family:	Viverridae
Genus:	Genetta
Species:	G. letabae
Binomial name
	Genetta letabae; Thomas and Schwann, 1906
Synonyms
	G. zuluensis Roberts, 1924;

The Letaba genet (Genetta letabae) is a genet native to Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Eswatini. It is the only species of genet that occurs in Lesotho and Eswatini. It was first described in 1906 by Oldfield Thomas and Harold Swann based on a specimen from South Africa. It was formerly classified as a subspecies of the rusty-spotted genet and was recognised as a distinct species in 2005.

Taxonomy

The Letaba genet was first described in 1906 by Oldfield Thomas and Harold Schwann on the basis of a zoological specimen collected in Knysna, South Africa.^[1] It was initially classified as a subspecies of the rusty-spotted genet (Genetta maculata), but was re-classified in 2005 as a distinct species under the name Genetta letabae.^[2]

Distribution and habitat

Letaba genet is a genet native to Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Eswatini. It is the only species of genet that occurs in Lesotho and Eswatini. It inhabits woodlands, forests, and grasslands across the range.^[2]

Description

Letaba genet has ground colored fur across the body with spots. The fur gets darker on the posterior regions, with the reduction in the number of spots. The body is 1.1 to 1.4 times longer than the tail. The tail consists of shorter tail hair, six to nine circular rings, and ends in a dark tip. The skull size is similar to rusty-spotted genet, while the Letaba genet has wider space between the eyes.^[2] The feet are darker, with depressions in the feet. The females have two pairs of teats^[2]

References

^ Thomas, O. & Schwann, H. (1906). "The Rudd Exploration of South Africa.—IV. List of Mammals obtained by Mr. Grant at Knysna". Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. 76 (1–2): 159–168. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1906.tb08427.x.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d 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" (PDF). 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.

[1] Thomas, O. & Schwann, H. (1906). "The Rudd Exploration of South Africa.—IV. List of Mammals obtained by Mr. Grant at Knysna". Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. 76 (1–2): 159–168. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1906.tb08427.x.

[Gaubert2005-2] 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" (PDF). 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.

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