Servaline Genet
Genetta servalina
Classification Description Distribution Diet Reproduction Behavior Links Contact
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Viverridae
Genus: Genetta
Species: servalina
The average Servaline genet is about 16 to 24 inches long not including the tail which is anywhere from 15 to 20 inches in length. Males weigh between five and ten pounds and females weigh between two and eight pounds. They have a dark spotted/marbled pattern on a yellowish orange background with small heads and relatively large ears and eyes for nocturnal hunting. The males and females both live an average of 10 to 20 years. The natural predators of the Servaline genet are owls, larger carnivorous mammals, and pythons. They are not listed as having any special status concerning conservation.
The Servaline genet ranges from southern Nigeria to western Kenya
In the wild: Rodents, small reptiles, eggs, birds, insects, fruits, and vegetables.
In captivity: Cat food, mink pellets, chicken, mice, crickets, fruits, and vegetables.
Sexual maturity: Two years
Breeding season: Year round but usually follows a rainy period
Gestation: 56 - 76 days
Litter size: one to five altricial kittens
The kittens eyes open at about 10 days and they are nursed for about eight weeks but may take solid food before then. They cannot fully defend themselves until about seven or eight months of age and are not fully grown until 11 months old.
Servaline genets are nocturnal and arboreal and are almost never seen during the day except in very rainy weather. They are mostly solitary except when mating or when the females have young. Females are more territorial than males and both sexes will secrete a foul smelling fluid from their anal glands when stressed or scared. They kill prey quickly like cats with a bite to the neck and take the prey into a tree.
Page created by Maritza Kelly
Pensacola Junior College Zoo Animal Technology Program
Fall 2004
For more information please contact the Small Carnivore Taxon Advisory Group Education Liason
