Common genet Facts
Common genet Facts
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| Interesting Common genet Facts: |
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| Common genet can reach 16 to 22 inches in length and 3.25 to 5.5 pounds of weight. Tail is usually 13 to 20 inches long. Males are larger than females. |
| Common genet has yellowish-brown or pale grey fur covered with black dots arranged in 3 to 4 rows on its back. Chin and throat are white colored. 8 to 13 black rings cover white-tipped tail |
| Common genet has small head, pointed muzzle, large eyes, rounded ears and slender body with short legs. |
| Common genet has retractable claws (they can be hidden inside the paws) on its feet that facilitate climbing on the trees. |
| Common genet is nocturnal creature (active during the night). |
| Common genet rests during the day inside the hollow trees and dense thicket. |
| Common genet is a carnivore (meat-eater). Its diet is based on small mammals (forest mice are their favorite type of food), birds, lizards and insects. |
| Natural enemies of common genets are leopards, pythons, owls and humans. |
| Common genet has a mane (long hair) that stretches from the shoulders to the tail. In the case of danger, common genet is able to erect its mane to create impression of large body. |
| Common genet is solitary and territorial animal. It occupies territory of 3.1 square miles. Territories of animals of opposite sex often overlap. Males mark their territory with urine, females with scent. |
| Common genet produces various sounds for communication. Hiccup-like calls are exchanged between mother and her babies or between partners during the mating season. Young genets often purr and produce mew calls. Threatened genets produce clicks and growls. |
| Mating season of common genet takes place from January to September (with peak during the February and March). |
| Pregnancy in females lasts around 75 days and ends with 2 to 3 (up to 4) babies. Female gives birth in the crevices of rocks or inside the hollow trees. Babies spend first 45 days of the life in a natal den. |
| Young common genets depend on the mother's milk until the age of 4 months. 7-week-old common genets are ready to enrich their milk-based diet with meat. Common genets reach sexual maturity at the age of 2 years. |
| Common genet can survive up to 8 years in the wild and around 13 years in the captivity. |
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