Pucheran, 1855

(Eng) Servaline genet

(Fre) Genette servaline

The classification adopted here follows the one proposed by Crawford-Cabral (1981) and Rosevear (1974), which is preferred by the IUCN-SSC Mustelid and Viverrid Specialist Group (Van Rompaey, pers. comm.). According to this classification, G. cristata is considered a separate species, instead of a subspecies of G. servalina. G. servalina (sensu Wilson & Reeder, 1993) is thus split into two different species, G. servalina (forest zone south-east of the Sanaga River) and G. cristata (north west of the Sanaga River).

Not listed.

Almost nothing is known on the ecology of the servaline genet. Notes on its presence and some information on the habitat in which it was observed are reported in Rahm & Christiaensen (1966), who surveyed the mammal fauna of eastern former Zaire. General information its ecology is in found Kingdon (1971-77, 1997).

Known extent of occurrence

The servaline genet has been recorded from Cameroon to East Africa being limited by the Sanaga River to the north (Crawford-Cabral, 1980-81). A first map describing its geographic range was acquired from Kingdon (1971-77), then updated using information in Crawford-Cabral (1980-81) and Kingdon (1997). Areas north-west of the Sanaga River (where G. cristata should occur) were excluded; the Angolan border was taken as the southernmost limit of the extent of occurrence, as this species does not seem to occur in Angola (Van Rompaey, pers. comm.). Recently this species has been found also on the Island of Zanzibar (Van Rompaey & Colyn, 1998).

This species occurs in forests, both montane and lowland (Kingdon, 1971-77, 1997).

Based on these environmental preferences, the following scores were assigned (Fig. 3.6.10.b) (3.6.10.a):

The output of the probabilistic-continuous (PC) distribution model is shown in Fig. 3.6.10.c.

The species is poorly known and habitat requirements are scarcely defined even though the Index of Accordance (87.6%) indicates high reliability for the CD model. The species is believed to be closely associated to forests and riverine galleries and both models match the EO fairly well. Suitable areas amount to about 51% of the total EO and moderately suitable areas to 29%. Unsuitable areas are more widespread in southern former Zaire and western Tanzania. The small isolated area in southern Tanzania appears sufficiently suitable. As expected for the selected vegetation types, fragmentation is high (as shown by the number of patches, their MPS and PSSD) and patches are highly interspersed with less suitable areas. About 6% of the total AO is included in existing protected areas, but the species is not classified in the IUCN threat category system.