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P. GAUBERT
Département Systématique et Evolution Unité OSEB
Laboratoire de Zoologie : Mammifères et Oiseaux,
Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle,
55 rue Buffon, 75005 Paris, France.
E-mail : gaubert@mnhn.fr
MAMMALIA, t. 67, n° 1 • 2003 • 85-108 85
Description of a new species of genet
(Carnivora ; Viverridae ; genus Genetta)
and taxonomic revision of forest forms related
to the Large-spotted Genet complex
SUMMARY
The Large-spotted Genet complex has long constituted a taxonomic
imbroglio. The repeated lack of direct examination of the type material, cou-
pled with an apparent morphological homogeneity between taxa and high
intraspecific variability of coat pattern, have made assessing the taxonomic sta-
tus of forest forms related to the complex very difficult. I re-investigated the
question using new species-discriminative discrete characters established by
examination of nearly 4400 specimens of Viverrinae, including type material.
The species status of Genetta pardina, G. maculata and G. tigrina is confirmed,
although precise limits of distribution remain equivocal. Genetta poensis
Waterhouse, 1838, is considered a valid species on the basis of morphological
characters and new distribution data. A new species restricted to the Upper
Guinean Block, Genetta bourloni sp. n., is described. The taxa stuhlmanni, fiel-
diana and insularis are considered synonymous with G. maculata, as well as
bini with G. cristata, and dubia with G. pardina. The forms genettoides and
schoutedeni are morphologically re-defined, but the clarification of their taxo-
nomic status requires further investigations.
RÉSUMÉ
Les Genettes à grandes taches constituent un complexe d’espèces dont la
taxinomie reste confuse. L’absence répétée d’observation directe du matériel
type couplée à une grande variabilité des caractères du pelage ont rendu diffi-
cile l’évaluation du statut taxinomique des formes de forêt affiliées à ce com-
KEYS WORDS
Large-spotted Genets,
nomenclature,
taxonomy,
forest forms,
discrete characters,
Genetta bourloni sp. n.
INTRODUCTION
Genets (genus Genetta) are small nocturnal
carnivores traditionally included in the subfamily
Viverrinae (Carnivora ; Viverridae) with the
Genet-like taxa (Prionodon, Poiana, Osbornictis)
and Terrestrial Civets (Civettictis, Viverricula,
Viverra). However, recent studies have questio-
ned the phylogenetic validity of such a grouping
(Veron 1995 ; Veron and Heard 2000 ; Gaubert
et al. 2002 ; Gaubert et al. in prep.). The syste-
matics of genus Genetta has long been confused,
especially regarding interspecific boundaries
(Matschie 1902 ; Schwarz 1930 ; Rosevear
1974 ; Crawford-Cabral 1981a ; Schlawe 1981 ;
Crawford-Cabral and Pacheco 1992 ; Crawford-
Cabral and Fernandes 2001 ; Gaubert et al.
2001). The most exacerbated case is represented
by the Large-spotted Genet or “ tigrina-pardina ”
complex (Crawford-Cabral and Pacheco 1992)
consisting of taxa very similar in their coat pat-
tern and skull morphology. Taxa belonging to
this complex are distributed throughout sub-
Saharan Africa and occupy a very wide range of
habitats (Kingdon 1997). The species names
most commonly used in the literature for desi-
gnating these taxa are Genetta maculata (Gray,
1830), Genetta tigrina (Schreber, 1776), Genetta
pardina I. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1832, and
Genetta rubiginosa Pucheran, 1855. In addition
to uncertainties concerning specific delimitation,
there are nomenclatural problems concerning the
use of the species names maculata and rubiginosa
(see Gaubert et al. (in press a and b) for a review
and nomenclatural investigations). Following
Crawford-Cabral (1981a), Crawford-Cabral and
Pacheco (1992) and Gaubert et al. (2001 ; 2002 ;
in press a and b ; in prep.), I will refer to the fol-
lowing nomenclature and distributional ranges in
the present paper, and attribute the status of spe-
cies -supported by both morphological and mole-
cular evidences- to the taxa G. pardina (Gambia
to Dahomey Gap ; uncertain eastern boundary ;
see below), G. maculata (Dahomey Gap to NE
South Africa ; uncertain boundaries ; see below)
and G. tigrina (coastal area of the former Cape
Province and KwaZulu-Natal).
Hybrid / intergradation zones between the
three species together with morphological clines
and high intraspecific variability may make it
very difficult assessing specific boundaries within
the complex. The forest forms related to the com-
plex are part of this problem. The names com-
monly used for designating the forms usually
related to G. pardina from the Upper and Lower
Guinean Blocks (“ Western ” and “ West Cen-
tral ” regions according to Happold, 1996) are
poensis (Waterhouse, 1838), genettoides (Tem-
86 MAMMALIA, t. 67, n° 1 • 2003
Gaubert P.
plexe. La problématique est ici réévaluée par la prise en compte de nouveaux
caractères morphologiques discrets et discriminants au niveau spécifique, ces
caractères ayant été diagnostiqués à la suite de l’observation de près de 4400
spécimens de Viverrinae incluant le matériel type. Le statut spécifique de
Genetta pardina, G. maculata et G. tigrina est confirmé, mais les limites des
aires de répartition de ces trois espèces restent encore à préciser. Genetta poen-
sis Waterhouse, 1838, est considérée comme une espèce valide sur la base de
caractères morphologiques mais aussi de nouvelles données sur son aire de
répartition. Une nouvelle espèce endémique du Bloc Forestier Guinéen,
Genetta bourloni sp. n., est décrite. Les taxons stuhlmanni, fieldiana et insula-
ris sont mis en synonymie avec G. maculata, ainsi que bini avec G. cristata, et
dubia avec G. pardina. Les « formes » genettoides et schoutedeni sont redéfinies
d’un point de vue morphologique, mais la clarification de leur statut taxino-
mique nécessite d’autres investigations.
minck, 1853), and sometimes dubia (Matschie,
1902) and bini (Rosevear, 1974). Much confu-
sion surrounds the taxonomic status of these taxa
and no studies have ever specifically tackled this
question. Because type material has not often
been examined incorrect taxonomy and distribu-
tional ranges have been attributed to these forms.
Forest forms from the Lower Guinean Block and
Upper Zaire usually associated to G. maculata
include schoutedeni (Crawford-Cabral, 1970),
stuhlmanni (Matschie, 1902), insularis (Cabrera,
1921) and fieldiana (Du Chaillu, 1860). Howe-
ver, they are said to have very similar coat pat-
terns and are not characterized by divergent
morphological characters from G. maculata as is
the case, for instance, when comparing G. poensis
and G. pardina (Crawford-Cabral, 1970). Some
authors considered G. maculata a highly poly-
morphic species -according to Schlawe (1980,
1981), G. pardina is a synonym of G. maculata-
whereas others -e.g. Rosevear 1974 ; Crawford-
Cabral 1981a ; Crawford-Cabral and Pacheco
1992 ; see Crawford-Cabral and Fernandes
(2001) for taxonomy of South African taxa-
expressed serious doubts about grouping together
all these forms under a single species (in the lat-
ter case, G. pardina is a distinct species from G.
maculata). All the forms dealt with in this study
are located in rain-forests (Upper and Lower Gui-
nean Blocks, and former Zaire) and are thus
potentially subject to habitat fragmentation.
In order to clarify the systematics of the Large-
spotted Genet complex and allied forest forms, I
re-investigated the taxonomic delimitations
through the use of discrete and species-discrimi-
native new characters. A taxonomic revision of
the complex focused on the forest forms was also
undertaken so that morphological delimitations
will be accompanied by appropriate nomencla-
ture. This work is preliminary to phylogenetic
investigations within genus Genetta based on
molecular and morphological data, to be under-
taken by Gaubert et al. (in prep.).
MATERIAL AND METHODS
This work is based on a morphological study
involving the examination of nearly 4400 speci-
mens of Viverrinae from nine natural history
museum collections (see below “ Abbreviations
used in text ”). I defined constant and new species-
discriminative discrete characters from non-ambi-
guous species of Genets and Genet-like taxa (e.g.
Poiana richardsonii, G. johnstoni, G. servalina, G.
victoriae, G. thierryi, G. abyssinica and G. angolen-
sis). When these characters were applied to the
special case of the Large-spotted Genet complex
and its related forest forms, 13 discriminative cha-
racters were maintained. They are partitioned in
three characters for skull morphology and 10 cha-
racters for coat pattern (Fig 1), as follows :
1 - Crest of insertion of the masseter muscles :
a) forms a wide and flat area ;
b) forms a very narrow stripe but not elevated ;
c) forms a narrow and elevated crest.
Species belonging to genus Genetta may be
characterized by a combination of two character
states, like for instance the Giant Genet G. victo-
riae [a/c]. G. pardina is the only species related to
the Large-spotted Genet complex characterized
by polymorphism [b/c].
2 - Ratio (int1) between the inter-orbital
constriction and the frontal width :
a) int1 largely inferior to 1 ;
b) int1 nearing 1.
The inter-orbital constriction is measured at
the narrowest point of the constriction. The fron-
tal width is measured at the narrowest region of
the frontal bones in the area bounded by the
post-orbital process and the lachrymal bone.
Measurements were taken with a manual calliper
(Mitutoyo – 0.05 mm).
3 - Inflation of the caudal entotympanic bone
(ceb) in comparison to the ectotympanic
bone (eb) :
a) ceb and eb almost at the same level ;
b) ceb more elevated than eb ;
c) ceb highly elevated in comparison to eb.
4 - Density of dorsal spotting :
a) high ;
b) low.
MAMMALIA, t. 67, n° 1 • 2003 87
Description of a new species of genet
5 - Longitudinal coalescence
of the two first rows of dorsal spots :
a) absent ;
b) limited ;
c) important ;
d) complete.
G. maculata and schoutedeni are polymorphic
[a/b].
6 - Coalescence of spots on upper leg :
a) very low ;
b) important.
7 - Contrast of coloration between dorsal
spots and mid-dorsal line :
a) spots and line of the same colour ;
b) spots brighter than line.
8 - Coat of foot :
a) completely dark ;
b) zone surrounding the pads dark
and rest of the foot bright.
9 - Bordering of the inferior lip :
a) dark ;
b) bright.
88 MAMMALIA, t. 67, n° 1 • 2003
Gaubert P.
Fig. 1. – Illustration of the 13 discriminative morphological characters used in this study. Numbers refer to the list of
characters given in “ Material and Methods ”. Character 2 defines ratio int1, with the upper dashed line indicating
the region at which frontal width is measured, and lower dashed line fixing the inter-orbital constriction.
10 - Number of bright rings on the tail :
a) four ;
b) five ;
c) six ;
d) seven ;
e) eight ;
f) nine.
Some species / taxa may have polymorphic
number of bright rings, but the range of variation
is often species-characteristic.
11 - Relative width of bright rings
over dark rings (middle of the tail) :
a) less than 20 % ;
b) between 50 and 75 % ;
c) about 100 %.
The form genettoides is the only taxon within
genus Genetta to be polymorphic [a/b].
12 - Tip of the tail :
a) dark tip restricted to less than 1/3
of the tail ;
b) dark tip extending to the middle
of the tail.
Same comment as in 11 for genettoides.
13 - Ratio (btl) between head + body
and tail length :
a) 1.1 < btl < 1.2 ;
b) 1.3 < btl < 1.4.
Measurements were supposed to be taken in
the field on freshly killed individuals since the
data were recorded from labels of Museum speci-
mens only.
In order to estimate the morphological diver-
gence among the Large-spotted Genet complex, I
then built a similarity matrix from the morpho-
logical matrix of the 13 discriminative characters.
The Coefficient of similarity (Csim) is calculated
as the number of shared character states divided
by 13 (i.e. the total number of morphological
characters considered) between each couple of
taxa. In the case of polymorphic characters, cha-
racter states were considered shared between two
taxa each time one of the state was in common
(e.g., “ a/b ” and “ b ”). In the case of series (cha-
racter 11), character states were considered sha-
red between two taxa each time one series was
totally included in the other (e.g., “ b-d ” and “ c-
d ”). However, the estimate of Csim is biased by
the restricted number of characters taken into
account. Its only purpose is to give a relative esti-
mate of morphological similarity among forest
forms in comparison to similarity between the
three species already delimited in the Large-spot-
ted Genet complex (G. pardina, G. maculata and
G. tigrina). For instance, values close to 1.0 indi-
cate a high morphological similarity between the
pair of taxa. Putative accelerated rates of morpho-
logical evolution and pressures of adaptive selec-
tion may also constitute an important bias to this
estimate.
Names of localities listed with specimens were
found on Museum labels and then checked
through various geographical data sources (Davis
and Misonne 1964 ; Times Atlas of the World
1980 ; Atlas mondial Encarta 1998 ; the “ Glo-
bal Gazetteer ”, available at http ://www.calle.
com/world) and posterior verifications by collec-
tions’ managers.
Abbreviations used in text
Museums :
BMNH, Natural History Museum, London
DNSM, Durban Natural Science Museum,
Republic of South Africa
IRSNB, Institut royal des Sciences naturelles
de Belgique, Brussels
MFNB, Museum für Naturkunde,
Humboldt University, Berlin
MNHN, Muséum National d’Histoire
Naturelle, Paris
MRAC, Musée royal d’Afrique Centrale,
Tervuren
NM, the Natal Museum, Pietermaritzburg,
Republic of South Africa
RMNH, National Museum of Natural
History (former Rijksmuseum van
Natuurlijke Historie), Leiden
ZFMK, Zoologisches Forschungsinstitut und
Museum Alexander Koenig, Bonn
MAMMALIA, t. 67, n° 1 • 2003 89
Description of a new species of genet
Measurements : (from Crawford-Cabral, 1981b)
CBL = condylo-basal length ; BCB : brain-case
breadth ; ZYB : zygomatic breadth ; ITC : inter-
temporal constriction ; NAL : nasals length ;
ROB : rostrum breadth ; BIH : basion-inion
height ; BTB : bitympanic breadth ; GDB : grea-
test diameter of bullae ; IPW : interpterigoid
width ; PAL : palate length ; MOB : M
1
-M
1
out-
side breadth ; IOB : I
3
-I
3
outside breadth ; UTR :
upper tooth-row C-M
2
; GDP : greatest diameter
of P
4
.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION :
MORPHOLOGICAL DELIMITATION
WITHIN THE LARGE-SPOTTED
GENET COMPLEX AND TAXONOMIC
STATUS OF FOREST FORMS
Concerning the morphological characteristics
of the taxa discussed below, I refer to Table 1 that
provides a detailed morphological matrix for each
taxon (synonyms were not included). Striking
and discriminative characters are only discussed
here, for diagnostic purposes. However, descrip-
tion of morphological features characterizing
synonyms and poorly described taxa was establis-
hed. As an indication of morphological diver-
gence between taxa, I will refer to Table 2 and
Csim evaluated for each pair of taxa.
90 MAMMALIA, t. 67, n° 1 • 2003
Gaubert P.
Characters 12345678910111213
Taxa
G. pardina b/cabaaabaacaaa
G. maculata caaba/baabbc-fcaa
G. tigrina bbababaaac-ebaa
G. poensis cabadbaaba-cabb
G. bourloni abbacaaabb-daba
genettoides babbbababc-da/ba/bb
schoutedeni c a c b a/b a a b b d-e c a a
TABLE 1. – Morphological matrix of the 13 species-dis-
criminative characters for taxa related to the Large-
spotted Genet complex. Numbering and lettering of
characters and character states refer to the list in
“ Material & Methods ”. Polymorphism is represented
with “ / ” between the character states. For character
10, a series from a character state to another is mar-
ked with « - » between the character states.
G. pardina G. maculata G. tigrina G. poensis G. bourloni genettoides schoutedeni
G. pardina -
G. maculata 0.46 -
G. tigrina 0.46 0.54 -
G. poensis 0.46 0.31 0.23 -
G. bourloni 0.54 0.38 0.31 0.54 -
genettoides 0.62 0.54 0.46 0.54 0.54 -
schoutedeni 0.46 0.92 0.46 0.31 0.31 0.46 -
TABLE 2. – Similarity matrix for taxa related to the Large-spotted Genet complex.
Taxonomic revision of the Large-spotted
Genet complex and associated forest forms
G
ENUS GENETTA G. Cuvier, 1816.
Règne Anim., 1 : 156
Type species. – Viverra genetta Linnaeus, 1758,
by designation
Genetta tigrina (Schreber, 1776)
Common name. – Cape Genet.
Type locality. – Cape of Good Hope, Cape
Province, Republic of South Africa.
Material examined. – Iconotype figured in
Tuijn and Van der Feen (1969) and Schlawe
(1981), and the following 43 specimens :
BMNH 5.5.7.38, BMNH 5.5.7.39, BMNH
5.5.7.41, BMNH 5.5.7.40, BMNH 5.5.7.42,
BMNH 5.5.7.43, BMNH 5.5.7.47, BMNH
5.5.7.44, BMNH 5.5.7.45, BMNH 5.5.7.46,
BMNH 37.9.26.127, BMNH 39.681, BMNH
52.2.22.6, BMNH 77.10.12.5, BMNH
80.10.11.2, BMNH 95.9.3.5, BMNH 95.9.3.6,
BMNH 95.9.3.4, BMNH P.49, BMNH
1837.9.26.88, DNSM 39380, DNSM 17664,
DNSM 10233, IRSNB 971, IRSNB 7489,
MFNB 1100, MFNB 1101, MFNB 1102,
MFNB 6453, MFNB 19697, MFNB 19698,
MFNB 19699, MFNB 19701, MFNB 19703,
MFNB 37408, MFNB 68979, NM 1527, NM
1545, NM 1558, NM 1603, NM 1712, RMNH
34641, RMNH 34676.
Description. – The iconotype is of little help in
characterizing the species. G. tigrina is a much
darker genet than G. maculata, with hindlimb,
posterior part of forelimb and bordering of the
inferior lip very dark. The mid-dorsal line has
longer hairs, intermediate between G. genetta and
G. maculata. Dorsal spots are large and not fused,
but more sparsely distributed than in G. pardina.
Annulation of the tail with width of bright rings
between 50 and 75 % of the width of dark rings.
Ceb at the same level than eb.
Distribution. – Confined to the coastal area of
the former Cape Province and KwaZulu-Natal,
Republic of South Africa (Schlawe 1980). The
precise geographical delimitations with G. macu-
lata are uncertain (Crawford-Cabral 1981a), and
hybridization may occur in Pondoland (S Kwa-
Zulu-Natal) between the two species (Pringle
1977 ; Gaubert et al. in prep.).
Taxonomy. – The specific status of G. tigrina
now seems to be generally accepted (Crawford-
Cabral 1981b ; Schlawe 1981 ; Stuart 1981 ;
Crawford-Cabral and Pacheco 1992 ; Wozencraft
1993 ; Gaubert et al. 2001 ; 2002). Hybridiza-
tion between captive specimens of G. maculata
and G. tigrina has been reported (Gray 1971),
and is strongly suspected from museum specimen
collections (Pringle 1977 ; Gaubert et al. in
prep.). However, this is not an argument against
the specific status of G. maculata and G. tigrina,
since hybridization also occurs between G. macu-
lata and G. genetta (Gray 1971 ; Gaubert et al. in
prep.), the latter being a well-discriminated spe-
cies, morphologically unrelated to the “ tigrina-
pardina ” complex.
G
ENETTA MACULATA (Gray, 1830)
Common name. – Rusty-spotted Genet.
Type locality. – “ Africa boreali ” according to
Gray (1830), but erroneous (Schwarz 1930 ;
Rosevear 1974 ; Schlawe 1981). See Gaubert et
al. (in press a and b) for nomenclatural conside-
rations about keeping maculata Gray, 1830, as a
valid species name for designating the Rusty-
spotted Genet.
Material examined. – Iconotype figured in
Gray (1830), and nearly 1000 specimens from
BMNH, DNSM, IRNSB, MFNB, MNHN,
MRAC, NM, RMNH and ZFMK, from locali-
ties covering the entire range of the species (see
Appendix 1).
Description. – G. maculata may be the most
variable species of genet in terms of ground colo-
ration (not considered as a species-discriminative
character), which can be extremely variable from
sandy grey, pale yellow, rufous-grey to grey-yel-
low. Dorsal spots of the same coloration as mid-
dorsal line, from brownish brown to rufous
brown. Typical annulation of the tail, with rela-
tive width of bright rings over dark rings nearing
100 %. Bordering of the inferior lip bright. The
fact that the species exhibits first and second
dorsal rows of spots not coalesced together to
form broken lines, together with brightness of
the limbs, is in accordance with the type illustra-
tion given by Gray (1830). Moreover, the bright-
ness of the limbs is the character states that
allows the discrimination of G. maculata from
both G. pardina and G. tigrina coat patterns, so
that the iconotype provided by Gray does cor-
respond exclusively to G. maculata as it is deli-
mited here.
Distribution. – Distributed throughout sub-
Saharan Africa, in a variety of habitats covering
moist woodlands to open savannas. As stated
above, western and southern boundaries with G.
pardina (Volta River or Togo) and G. tigrina
(KwaZulu-Natal, Republic of South Africa),
respectively, remain uncertain (Pringle 1977 ;
Crawford-Cabral, 1981a ; Gaubert et al. in
prep.).
Taxonomy. – See Coetzee (1977), Crawford-
Crabral (1981a), Schlawe (1981), Crawford-
Cabral and Pacheco (1992), Wozencraft (1989 ;
1993) and Grubb et al. (1998) for an overview
about retaining or not maculata as a valid species
name. A detailed argumentation about retaining
the species name maculata as valid is to be
published in other papers (Gaubert et al., in press
a and b). A case has been made to the Internatio-
MAMMALIA, t. 67, n° 1 • 2003 91
Description of a new species of genet
nal Commission of Zoological Nomenclature
(case 3204 ; Gaubert et al. in press a) in order to
keep as valid the name Viverra maculata Gray,
1830, even though it is a junior primary homo-
nym of Viverra maculata Kerr, 1792 (currently a
marsupial).
G
ENETTA PARDINA I. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1832
Common name. – Pardine Genet.
Type locality. – Interior of Senegal.
Material examined. – Holotype : MNHN
2001-340 (skin ; no skull), and the following 51
specimens : BMNH 37.9.16.3, BMNH
39.12.26.11, BMNH 46.399, BMNH 46.864,
BMNH 47.645, BMNH 50.2045, BMNH
53.131, BMNH 53.132, BMNH 61.42, IRSNB
15152, IRSNB 15153, IRSNB 15154, IRSNB
15155, IRSNB 15156, IRSNB 15406, MFNB
1109, MFNB 18425, MFNB 40535, MNHN
1897-983, MNHN 1936-996, MNHN 1936-
997, MNHN 1963-1365, MNHN 1977-699,
MNHN 1977-700, MNHN 1977-701, MNHN
1977-702, MNHN 1977-703, MNHN 1977-
704, MNHN 1977-705, MNHN 1977-706,
MNHN 1977-707, MNHN 1977-708, MNHN
1977-709, MNHN 1977-710, MNHN 1977-
711, MNHN 1995-424, MNHN 1992-25,
MRAC 34805, MRAC 35128, MRAC 35129,
MRAC 35824, MRAC 35825, ZFMK 5710,
ZFMK 5817, ZFMK 5818, ZFMK 97401,
ZFMK 97425, ZFMK 97426, ZFMK 97427,
ZFMK 97429, ZFMK 97458.
Description. – Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire (1832)
gave an accurate description of the type speci-
men. This genet is characterized by a large size
(CBL reaching more than 100.0 mm), a dark
mid-dorsal line contrasting with the brownish-
rufous dorsal spots, dorsal spots very large and
non-fused, dark limbs, and a relative width of
bright rings over dark rings of the tail less than
20 %. Ground coloration varies from yellowish-
grey (Guinea) to pale or sandy-grey (Senegal,
Côte d’Ivoire).
Distribution. – Forested areas, open woodlands
and savannahs from Gambia to Ghana (Fig 2a)
(eastern boundary uncertain ; Crawford-Cabral
(1981a) suggested Volta River, whereas Grubb et
al. (1998) proposed Togo).
Taxonomy. – See Rosevear (1974), Crawford-
Cabral (1981a), Crawford-Cabral and Pacheco
(1992) and Gaubert et al. (2001 ; 2002 ; in press
b) for evidences about considering pardina and
maculata as two valid species (contrary to
Schlawe 1981 and Wozencraft 1993). Csim ranges
between 0.46 and 0.54 when comparing G. par-
dina, G. maculata and G. tigrina with one another.
G
ENETTA DUBIA Matschie, 1902
Type locality. – West Africa [restricted to
“ interior of Senegal“ by Schlawe (1981)].
Material examined. – Holotype : MFNB 1109
(skull + skin).
Description. – A subadult specimen, with coat
characteristics very similar to G. pardina. General
appearance and limbs quite dark (Matschie
1902), and presence of a suggested mid-dorsal
crest, as is sometimes the case in young speci-
mens of G. pardina (R. Hutterer in litt.). The
mid-dorsal line is dark and contrasts with the
brown dorsal spots. Dorsal spots irregularly
arranged, but their large width is characteristic of
G. pardina. The last part of the tail is cut
(“ short ” in Matschie 1902) but suggests annula-
tion by bright rings to the tip (six are clearly obs-
ervable, which is in opposition to the darkening
of bright rings that characterize some forest
forms). Width of bright rings about 20 % of
width of dark rings. Annulation and width of
bright rings are distinguishing characteristics of
G. pardina. Skull very similar to G. pardina, with
int1 highly inferior to 1. The crest of insertion of
the masseter muscles forms a relatively large and
flat area (contrary to G. pardina), but this is cha-
racteristic of subadult specimens (Gaubert et al.,
2001).
Taxonomy. – Schwarz (1930) considered dubia
a synonym of G. pardina, whereas Rosevear
(1974) placed it in synonymy with G. genettoides.
Crawford-Cabral (1981a) proposed dubia as a
potential name for the two specimens (MNHN
1959-937 and MNHN 1959-938) he isolated
from his craniometrical analysis within genus
Genetta, but waited for further observation of the
type specimen. According to the complete simi-
larity observed between the type specimen of
dubia and subadult specimens of G. pardina, I
follow Schwarz (1930) in considering G. dubia a
junior synonym of G. pardina.
92 MAMMALIA, t. 67, n° 1 • 2003
Gaubert P.
MAMMALIA, t. 67, n° 1 • 2003 93
Description of a new species of genet
Fig. 2. – Distribution maps, based on the collection material examined during this study, for : a) Genetta pardina
(black circles) and Genetta maculata (black squares ; extreme west distribution). The curve roughly delimits the
range of G. pardina. The encircled locality represents sympatric distribution between the two species ; b) genet-
toides ; c) Genetta poensis. Circles show the patchy distribution of the species ; d) Genetta bourloni ;e) schoute-
deni. Arrows indicate the points of extreme distribution (W, NE, SW and SE).
GENETTA BINI Rosevear, 1974
Type locality. – Ohosu Forest Reserve, 65 km
NW Benin City, Nigeria
Material examined. – Holotype : BMNH
50.315 (skin ; no skull).
Description. – Rosevear (1974) provided a
very detailed description of the skin. Coat pat-
tern and tail annulation very similar to Genetta
cristata Hayman, 1940, a Servaline genet (not
related to the Large-spotted Genet complex) cha-
racterized by the presence of a sagittal crest. A
light variation in dorsal spotting, which is quite
irregular, with spots less round and larger than in
G. cristata.
Taxonomy. – Whereas Rosevear (1974) inclu-
ded G. bini in the “ servalina group ”, Schlawe
(1981) and Wozencraft (1993) grouped it in G.
maculata. After the diagnosis by Rosevear and my
personal examination of the type specimen, I
ascertain that the type specimen of G. bini bears
all the character states characterizing G. cristata
(i.e., presence of sagittal and dorsal crests, limbs
very dark, width of the bright rings of the tail
nearing 50 % of the width of the dark rings). The
coat pattern of the type specimen does not repre-
sent the aberrant condition stated by Rosevear
when one considers a large series of G. cristata
specimens. In addition, one of the main argu-
ments of Rosevear for considering G. bini a valid
species was the wide geographical separation (750
km) between his specimen and populations of G.
cristata discovered at that time. Collection speci-
mens from BMNH and MRAC, together with
field surveys reported in Heard and Van Rompaey
(1990), and Powell and Van Rompaey (1998),
can no longer support such an argument, since
they provide a westernmost record near Yenagoa,
Rivers State, Nigeria (BMNH 1994-182), ca. 200
km only from Ohosu Forest Reserve (the type
locality of G. bini). Therefore, I follow Powell and
Van Rompaey (1998) in considering G. bini a
junior synonym of G. cristata.
G
ENETTA POENSIS Waterhouse, 1838
Common name. – King Genet.
Type locality. – Fernando Po [now Bioko Isl.],
Equatorial Guinea
Material examined. – Holotype : BMNH
55.12.24.412 (skin ; no skull). CONGO :
MNHN 1894-263, Mayombe Mts. (skull) ;
MNHN 1897-508, 5 December 1896 (skull +
skin) ; COTE D’IVOIRE : MNHN 1908-58,
Grabo, Bouboni plapo, Diangouma wara,
Cavally River (skin) ; GHANA : BMNH
12.6.20.6, Bibianaha, 20 March 1912 (juvenile ;
skin) ; BMNH 1938.7.25.5, 40 miles N of
Kumasi (skull + skin) ; BMNH 46.394, Oda, 6
June 1946 (skull + skin) ; BMNH 46.396, Ntro-
nang, near Oda, 6 June 1946 (skull + skin) ;
MFNB 6407 (skull + skin) ; MFNB 59101
(skull) ; LIBERIA : BMNH 39.686, Cavally
River (skin).
Description. – Waterhouse (1838) gave a detai-
led description of the type specimen, and De
Pousargues (1896) and Pocock (1908) provided
detailed descriptions of other specimens. G. poen-
sis is a large and massive genet (CBL often super-
ior to 100.0 mm). It has a very characteristic coat
pattern, consisting of dorsal spots fused in longi-
tudinal stripes (the first two rows of spots adja-
cent to the mid-dorsal line are often completely
coalesced), very dark limbs and almost half of the
tail (distal part) without any apparent bright
rings. The number of bright rings in the proximal
part of the tail varies between four and six and btl
(character 13) is between 1.3 and 1.4. Dorsal
spots and mid-dorsal line have the same colora-
tion. Skull very similar to G. pardina, except that
all adults have the crest of insertion of the masse-
ter muscles that forms a narrow and elevated crest
(polymorphic character in G. pardina).
Distribution. – The collection record suggests
a patchy distribution through dense rainforests of
the Guinean Blocks (Fig 2c), including Liberia
(Cavally river), Côte d’Ivoire (Grabo), Ghana
(Bibianaha, Kumasi (near), Oda and Ntronang)
and Congo (Mayombe). Bibliographical sources
are difficult to use because of taxonomic confu-
sion (see below).
Taxonomy. – The form poensis was considered
synonymous with, or related to, G. pardina (see
Matschie 1902 ; Crawford-Cabral 1981a ;
Schlawe 1981 ; Wozencraft 1993 ; Grubb et al.
1998) or listed as a valid species (Rosevear 1974 ;
but the author expressed serious doubts about its
validity). Its name was also erroneously used for
designating G. cristata (Jeannin 1936 ; Happold
1987). Crawford-Cabral (1970 ; 1981a) followed
Waterhouse (1838) in suggesting that G. poensis
94 MAMMALIA, t. 67, n° 1 • 2003
Gaubert P.
may constitute a valid species closely related to G.
pardina. On the other hand, Rosevear (1974)
suggested that the reduced and numerous spots
characterizing the dorsal pattern of G. poensis
could just represent an “ end of pattern edge ” of
G. pardina. Variability of coat pattern within spe-
cies of Viverrinae has already been observed, as in
Viverra zibetha and its related form V. tainguensis
(taxonomic status debated ; see Sokolov et al.
1997 ; Rhoznov and Pham Trong Anh 1999 ;
Walston and Veron 2001). Walston and Veron
(2001) doubted the validity of the species V. tain-
guensis after having observed that the three dis-
tinctive pelage features of the latter were present
separately in specimens of V. zibetha. This is not
the case when comparing G. poensis to the other
species of genets. With regards to dorsal spots
and what could represent an aberrant pattern, G.
poensis is characterized by small spots tending to
coalesce completely at the first two rows borde-
ring the mid-dorsal line and thus forming longi-
tudinal stripes. Coalescence appears at a variable
frequency anywhere else on the body. This could
suggest that the characteristic coat pattern of G.
poensis may be due to a similar mutation that
provokes the king coat colour pattern of the King
Cheetah (see Hills and Smithers 1980 ; Van
Aarde and Van Dyk 1986). However, other very
densely spotted species of genets exist (G. victo-
riae, G. cristata) for which taxonomic status is
unequivocal. Longitudinal coalescence of dorsal
spots is also common in other genets (Gaubert et
al. 2001), reaching an extreme pattern in G. abys-
sinica, a species characterized by two or three
complete dark stripes bordering the mid-dorsal
line. Some specimens of G. maculata may bear
aberrant coat patterns and have a high degree of
coalescence too, but this is in no way accompa-
nied by a reduction of the size of the spots. In
addition, the external ultrastructure of the hair of
G. poensis is unique among genets, with scales
longitudinally very flattened and not detached
from the spatula (Fig. 3), and is distinct from
both G. maculata and G. pardina (Gaubert et al.
2002). Finally, since G. poensis seems to be res-
tricted to a peculiar habitat (dense rain-forests)
and is distributed both in the ranges of G. par-
dina and G. maculata, I follow Pocock (1908)
and Rosevear (1974) in considering G. poensis a
valid species. Csim never exceeds 0.54 (same
value than between G. tigrina and G. maculata).
G
ENETTA BOURLONI sp. n.
Common name. – Bourlon’s Genet.
Holotype. – MNHN 1959-938, adult speci-
men, GUINEA, Sérédou, Cercle de Macenta,
collected by R. Pujol on 15 March 1958 (skull +
skin), preserved in the collections of the Labora-
toire de Zoologie : Mammifères et Oiseaux,
Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris,
France.
Etymology. – I dedicate this new species as a
token of grateful friendship to Philippe Bourlon,
keeper at the Vincennes Zoo, Paris, who lost his
life in the course of his duties.
Material examined. – Holotype : MNHN
1959-938 (skull + skin). COTE D’IVOIRE :
MNHN 2001-522, Man, 21 February 2001
(skin) ; MRAC 39496, near Danane cuve (skin).
GUINEA : ZFMK 9510, Ziama Forest, 1993-
1994 (skin) ; MNHN 1959-937, Sérédou, Cer-
cle de Macenta, 21 December 1957 (skull +
skin ; measurements given in Roche 1971) ;
MNHN 1961-416, Poste 4, Sérédou, Cercle de
Macenta, 4 February 1958 ; MNHN 2001-
1156, Mt. Nimba, June 2001 (skin). LIBERIA :
RMNH 34633, Bendo, near Buluma, Fisherman
Lake, 18 April 1881 (skull + skin) ; RMNH
41103 (skin) ; IRSNB 16427, New Camp, 5
April 1965 (skin) ; MFNB 44182, Monrovia, 18
June 1932 (juvenile ; skin) ; MFNB 44250 (juve-
nile ; skin) ; MRAC 35709, Putuo, Grand Gedeh
County, 12 November 1963 (subadult ; skull +
skin) ; MRAC 35710 (skull + skin) ; MRAC
75030M0026, Bopulu, Lofa County, 15 April
1975 (skin) ; MRAC 80028M0025, Sinoe
County, 22 March 1978 (skull). SIERRA
LEONE : BMNH 46.863, Tekea, near Makeni,
1945 (skin).
Diagnosis. – The skin of the type specimen has
a dirty, creamy, gray ground coloration. Coat pat-
tern is characterized by an important coalescence
at the first two rows of dorsal spots adjacent to
the mid-dorsal line and dark limbs ; almost half
of the tail (distal part) is completely dark. The
very tip of the tail is lacking. The skull is charac-
teristic, with the crest of insertion of the masseter
muscles forming a wide and flat area upon the
sagittal bone, and int1 nearing 0.93 (character
state 2
b
). The entire specimen (skull + skin) is
shown in Fig. 4 and 5 with specimens belonging
MAMMALIA, t. 67, n° 1 • 2003 95
Description of a new species of genet
to other closely related species present in the
range of G. bourloni.
Standard measurements (in mm) of the skull
are taken from Crawford-Cabral (1981a) : CBL =
96,2. BCB = 31,3. ZYB = 49,6. ITC = 11,7.
NAL = 25,1 (measured by the present author
since it was not indicated in Crawford-Cabral’s
table). ROB = 15,0. BIH = 20,4. BTB = -. GDB
= 18,6. IPW = 7,8. PAL = 43,5. MOB = 28,9.
IOB = 8,6. UTR = 36,4. GDP = 9,3.
Variability. – In comparison to the quite simi-
lar G. poensis, general size is smaller (CBL = 96.2
mm for the type specimen), the degree of coales-
cence of dorsal spots is lower and darkening of
the pelage is less marked. Ground coloration is
usually brighter. Some bright rings on the distal
part of the tail may partially appear. The dia-
gnostic character related to the crest of insertion
of the masseter muscles (1
a
) is to be used with
adult specimens only, since it is also a characte-
ristic of subadult specimens of other species of
genets (Gaubert et al. 2001).
Distribution. – The collection record suggests
a distribution restricted to rain-forests of the
Upper Guinean Block (Fig 2d), including Sierra
Leone (Tekea), Liberia (Fisherman Lake, New
Camp, Monrovia, Bopulu, Grand Gedeh and
Sinoe Counties), Guinea (Sérédou, Ziama Forest,
Mt. Nimba ; also collected in Yossono and Gba-
mou, Dieké forest ; M. Colyn in litt.) and Côte
96 MAMMALIA, t. 67, n° 1 • 2003
Gaubert P.
Fig. 3. – Hair external ultrastructure : scale pattern in the middle of the medulla in a-
Genetta poensis (MNHN 1897-508) and b- Genetta pardina (MNHN 1977-708). The
arrow is orientated toward the apex of the hair.
MAMMALIA, t. 67, n° 1 • 2003 97
Description of a new species of genet
Fig. 4. – Genetta bourloni, holotype (left, in box ; MNHN 1959-938), Genetta poensis (middle : MNHN 1894-
263) and Genetta pardina (right ; MNHN 1977-711). Skulls in dorsal (a), ventral (b) and lateral views (c).
Arrows.
98 MAMMALIA, t. 67, n° 1 • 2003
Gaubert P.
Fig. 5. – Genetta bourloni, holotype (a ; MNHN 1959-938), Genetta poensis (b ; MNHN 1908-58) and Genetta par-
dina (c ; MNHN 1977-699). Flat skins.
d’Ivoire (Man (purchased specimen), and near
Danane cuve).
Taxonomy. – The two specimens isolated by
Crawford-Cabral (1981a) on the basis of a cra-
niometrical study correspond to the new species
G. bourloni (MNHN 1959-937 and MNHN
1959-938). The author stated that they may
represent a species distinct from both G. pardina
and G. poensis, and evocated the name of dubia
but waited for further comparisons with the type
material. After my examination of a series of type
specimens, I concluded that specimens attributa-
ble to this genet had no available name. Skull
characteristics and coat pattern proved to be suf-
ficiently discriminative and constant to consider
G. bourloni as a valid species. Individuals of G.
bourloni are recorded from the same localities as
G. pardina (Sérédou, Guinea) and G. johnstoni
(Mt. Nimba, Guinea). As in G. poensis, Csim
never exceeds 0.54 (with G. pardina, G. poensis,
and genettoides).
G
ENETTA GENETTOIDES (Temminck, 1853).
Syntype localities. – Rio Boutry and St. George
d’Elmina, Ghana.
Material examined. – Syntypes : RMNH
34587, Rio Boutry, 1845 (skull + skin) ; RMNH
34588, Rio Boutry, September 1847 (skull +
skin) ; RMNH 34589, Rio Boutry, January 1841
(skull + skin) ; RMNH 34590, St. George d’El-
mina (skull + skin) ; RMNH 34591, St. George
d’Elmina (subadult ; skull + skin) ; RMNH
34630, 1842 (juvenile ; skin). BENIN : MNHN
1902-1084, 30 October 1902 (mounted speci-
men) ; MNHN 1907-587, 29 November 1906
(skull) ; GHANA : RMNH 25742, 3 miles from
Kpatonu, Accra – Kpandu road, 10 March 1973
(skull + skin) ; RMNH 34592, Sekondi (skin) ;
RMNH 34593, Sekondi, February 1852 (skull +
skin) ; RMNH 34632, St. George d’Elmina
(juvenile ; mounted specimen) ; MFNB 19023,
Burugu, 1 July 1902 (skin) ; MFNB 19031, Ho,
11 June 1904 (skin) ; MFNB 19033, Ho, 11
June 1904 (skin) ; BMNH 25.10.24.52, Kumasi
(subadult ; skull + skin) ; BMNH 35.10.22.46,
Gawso, 29 December 1934 (skull + skin) ;
BMNH 1970.2629, Sefwi Wiawso (skin) ;
BMNH 1970.2630, Sefwi Wiawso, 28 July 1870
(skin) ; BMNH 71.923, Pampramase (skull) ;
BMNH 76.1785, Bia tributaries North Forest
Reserve, 13 December 1970 (skull + skin).
NIGERIA : BMNH 39690, South Nigeria
(skin) ; TOGO : MNHN 1950-270, 15 km N
Lomé, 31 July 1948 (skull) ; MNHN 1950-271,
21 km N Lomé, 29 December 1948 (skull) ;
MNHN 1950-272, Bagamé, 18 August 1948
(skull) ; MNHN 1950-273, Bagamé, 29 August
1948 (skull) ; MNHN 1950-274, Bagamé, 19
August 1948 (skull) ; MNHN 1962-1573,
Bagamé, 20 August 1948 (skull).
Description. – Temminck (1853) observed
that dorsal spots of the type material were either
coalesced in partial stripes or not coalesced at all.
I coded this character state as “ limited ” (5
b
),
although some specimens had a limited coales-
cence of spots on one side of the back only, with
no coalescence on the other one. Temminck also
stated that the last third part of the tail was dark.
Indeed, I observed that sometimes the two last
bright rings of the tail tended to be covered by
dark hair, following a general “ dirty ” darkening
of the ground coloration of the whole body.
However, bright rings are sometimes apparent
until the tip of the tail (only the last one is cove-
red by dark hair), so that I coded this character
polymorphic (12
a/b
). The tail is short, with btl
between 1.3 and 1.4. Dorsal spots are often
brighter than the mid-dorsal line and limbs are
dark. The ratio related to the inter-orbital cons-
triction int1 is very marked (mean value = 0.78 ±
0.11 ; from specimens RMNH 34587 ; RMNH
34588 ; RMNH 34589 ; RMNH 34590 ;
RMNH 34593 ; BMNH 71.923 ; BMNH
76.1785 ; MNHN 1950-270 ; MNHN 1950-
271 ; MNHN 1950-272), and the crest of inser-
tion of the masseter muscles forms a very narrow
and not elevated stripe.
Distribution. – Distributed throughout forest
zones of W and S Ghana (Rio Boutry and St.
George d’Elmina, Sekondi, Kumasi, Gawso,
Sefwi Wiawso, Bia tributaries North Forest
Reserve, Kpatonu) and open savannahs of the eas-
tern part of the country (E of Volta River :
Burugu, Ho), Togo (Bagamé and near Lomé), and
Benin and S Nigeria (no precise locality). Seems
to be located within the savannah zone of the
Dahomey Gap and at the eastern forest fringe of
the Upper Guinean Block (SW Ghana) (Fig 2b).
Taxonomy. – The absence of direct examina-
tion of the type material and the incomplete dia-
MAMMALIA, t. 67, n° 1 • 2003 99
Description of a new species of genet
gnosis supplied by Temminck (1853) resulted in
many erroneous attributions of the species name
genettoides. Rosevear (1974) considered genettoi-
des a large-spotted form of G. pardina (in opposi-
tion to the small-spotted form poensis) and allo-
cated it, for convenience, the status of species.
However, he observed a gradation of coat pattern
(i.e., size of dorsal spots) between genettoides and
poensis, thus doubting the taxonomic status of
these two forms. The description he gave of
genettoides is ambiguous and one can hardly dis-
tinguish any diagnostic traits since it is characte-
rized by an important polymorphism. My inves-
tigations did not reveal any striking evidence of
gradation between poensis and genettoides coat
patterns, but I confirm the difficulty of attribu-
ting any diagnostic character states to genettoides.
This form is characterized by a mixing of charac-
ter states shared with other taxa of the complex.
For instance, the inflation of ceb in comparison
with eb is sometimes intermediate between G.
maculata and G. pardina. Coloration of the limb
may also vary from dark to almost completely
light, and coalescence of dorsal spots may vary
from “ limited ” to “ important ”. Besides, poly-
morphism occurs, even within the syntype series
and within a single individual (coalescence of
dorsal spots). In a geographical point of view, all
these variations are random. The crest of inser-
tion of the masseter muscles may sometimes form
a narrow and elevated crest, and the dark tip of
the tail may often cover less than 1/3 of the tail.
Also, in this special case, I preferred to use a
“ main frequency ” coding for characterizing the
taxon (see Table 1). Considering the high
amount of variation occurring in specimens attri-
butable to genettoides and their geographic loca-
tion covering the uncertain boundaries between
the ranges of G. pardina and G. maculata, genet-
toides may represent a hybrid population. This
would explain the observed instability of
morphological traits, the variability of which
being distributed randomly throughout the range
of genettoides. This does not preclude the possibi-
lity that “ pure ” G. pardina and G. maculata may
be present in the area determined above,
although hybrids exhibiting strict phenotypes of
the latter might exist too. Consequently, Csim is
relatively high in most of pairwise comparisons
(0.62 with G. pardina, and 0.54 with G. macu-
lata, G. poensis and G. bourloni). Once again,
hybridization is not an evidence for conspecifi-
city (see G. tigrina) and does not question the
validity of G. maculata and G. pardina as distinct
species. We suggest that hybridization events, the
nature of which still having to be determined,
may occur between these two closely related spe-
cies (Gaubert et al., 2002) but are limited by their
respective habitat specificity. Further investiga-
tions, including molecular studies (Gaubert and
Fernandes, in prep.), are required before determi-
ning the taxonomic status of genettoides.
G
ENETTA PARDINA SCHOUTEDENI
Crawford-Cabral, 1970.
Type locality. – Bokungu, former Zaire.
Material examined. – Holotype : MRAC
18499 (skull + skin), and more than 100 speci-
mens from BMNH, IRSNB, MFNB and MRAC
(see Appendix 1).
Description. – Crawford-Cabral (1970) gave
an accurate description of the type specimen,
though only focusing on coat pattern. I found it
very difficult to distinguish this taxon among the
amount of variability characterizing the coat pat-
tern of G. maculata. For this reason, I focused on
a striking character state related to the inflation
of ceb, which is very important in comparison to
eb (Fig 6), and appears to be the only trait allo-
wing the distinction between G. maculata and
schoutedeni (although Crawford-Cabral (1970)
mentioned very dark tonalities and huge size for
the type specimen of schoutedeni, which is not the
case among specimens when following ceb as a
discriminative character). The form schoutedeni is
the only genet to exhibit such inflated ceb. In
addition, int1 is very low, even more than in
genettoides (mean value = 0.62 ± 0.16 ; from spe-
cimens MRAC 12077 ; MRAC 18949 ; MRAC
78-26-M-19 ; MRAC 78-26-M-22 ; MRAC 89-
19-M-55 ; MRAC 90-42-M-221 ; MRAC 90-
42-M-222 ; MFNB 19172 ; BMNH 26.11.24.12).
Distribution. – Crawford-Cabral (1970) res-
tricted “ pure ” schoutedeni to the rain-forest of
the interior of former Zaire (lower basin) on the
basis of coat pattern and coloration. These two
criteria seemed to be very variable to the present
author, and I chose rather to look for specimens
fitting with the character state “ ceb highly eleva-
100 MAMMALIA, t. 67, n° 1 • 2003
Gaubert P.
MAMMALIA, t. 67, n° 1 • 2003 101
Description of a new species of genet
Fig. 6. – Illustration of character 3 “ inflation of the caudal entotympanic bone (ceb) in comparison to the ectotympa-
nic bone (eb)”:a- ceb and eb almost at the same level [Genetta genetta ; MNHN 1972-394] ; b- ceb more eleva-
ted than eb [Genetta bourloni ; MNHN 1959-937] ; c- ceb highly elevated in comparison to eb [schoutedeni ; MRAC
28397]. The arrow shows the increasing inflation of ceb from states a to c.
ted in comparison to eb ” as the only diagnostic
trait of schoutedeni. On this basis, individuals
from many countries were identified as schoute-
deni (Fig 2e) : Angola, Burundi, Congo, Ethio-
pia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria,
Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda and former
Zaire.
Taxonomy. – I observed some variability in the
relative degree of elevation of ceb that made the
identification of specimens sometimes equivocal.
The type specimen MRAC 18499 is itself of the
“ highly elevated ” state but does not bear the
most strikingly inflated ceb among all the speci-
mens examined. The type specimen of Genetta
suahelica Matschie, 1902, also bears very inflated
ceb [type locality : Tanga, Tanzania]. The number
of diagnostic characters for schoutedeni is evi-
dently too low to permit any further discussion
about the taxonomic status of this form (for
instance, Csim with G. maculata is 0.92). The
elevation of ceb may be an adaptive trait related
to life in closed habitats, although specimens
from clearly open areas may bear the character
state 3
c
. I sometimes found specimens coming
from the same localities with either character
state 3
a
(G. maculata) or 3
c
(schoutedeni). It
should be borne in mind that the relative eleva-
tion of ceb is a diagnostic character for discrimi-
nating Viverrinae sister-species such as Poiana
richardsonii and P. leightoni, Prionodon pardicolor
and Pr. linsang, and G. thierryi and G. abyssinica
(Gaubert et al., 2001 ; 2002), so that schoutedeni
could represent a distinct species. However,
Crawford-Cabral (1970) identified morphologi-
cal clines in northern former Zaire towards smal-
ler and lighter specimens (“ schoutedeni northern
transition ”), towards gleimi south of the country,
and towards zambesiana in lower Lualaba (the
latter being two savannah taxa). As in the case of
genettoides, the precise taxonomic status of schou-
tedeni requires further investigation.
G
ENETTA STUHLMANNI
Matschie, 1902
Type locality. – Bukoba, Uganda
Specimen examined. – Holotype : MFNB
19540/1 (skull + skin).
Description. – Nothing from the diagnosis
provided by Matschie (1902), the description by
Crawford-Cabral (1970), and my own examina-
tion of the type material, allows discrimination of
this taxon from the range of variability existing
within G. maculata.
Taxonomy. – Considered a junior synonym of
G. maculata.
The type material of Genetta fieldiana Du
Chaillu, 1860 [type locality : Obindji, Gabon]
and Genetta insularis Cabrera, 1921 [type loca-
lity : Rebola, Fernando Po (current Bioko Isl.),
Equatorial Guinea] was not examined. However,
it can be concluded from the respective diagnoses
provided by the authors that the two taxa have a
coat pattern very similar to G. maculata, since
detailed indications were provided both for tail
annulation and arrangement of dorsal spots (Du
Chaillu 1860 ; Matschie 1902 ; Cabrera 1921).
Unfortunately, no information related to skull
characteristics was available. Therefore, and wai-
ting for direct examination of the type speci-
mens, I consider Genetta fieldiana Du Chaillu,
1860, and Genetta insularis Cabrera, 1921, as
junior synonyms of G. maculata.
CONCLUSION
I have tried to clarify the taxonomic statuses of
the forest forms related to the Large-spotted
Genet complex through the use of new discrete
and species-discriminative morphological charac-
ters. Such an approach proved to be useful and
argues for maintaining G. pardina, G. maculata
and G. tigrina as distinct species and for raising
G. poensis to the specific level. It also permitted
the identification and description of a new spe-
cies, G. bourloni, restricted to the rain-forests of
the Upper Guinean Block. Although these inves-
tigations had a limited discriminative power
when dealing with other forest forms, such as
genettoides (Dahomey Gap) and schoutedeni
(Lower Zaire), they should constitute hypotheses
to be tested in further taxonomic and molecular-
based phylogeographic studies related to the
Large-spotted Genet complex.
G. poensis and G. bourloni have few representa-
tives in collections and seem to be restricted to,
respectively, the Guinean Blocks (Upper and
Lower) and the Upper Guinean Block. It is of
prime importance to undertake field surveys in
order to achieve original data on the distribution
102 MAMMALIA, t. 67, n° 1 • 2003
Gaubert P.
work of the author at the BMNH was supported by
the IHP Programme through a Sys-Resource grant.
Michel Tranier, Géraldine Veron, Christiane Denys
and Michael Hoffman provided invaluable comments
on the early draft of the manuscript. Thanks are due to
Joao Crawford-Cabral, Peter Grubb and an anony-
mous reviewer for their fruitful comments on the
manuscript.
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Genetta suahelica Matschie, 1902
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• Genetta cristata (Hayman, 1940)
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MAMMALIA, t. 67, n° 1 • 2003 105
Description of a new species of genet
G. maculata : DNSM 1618, DNSM 1632,
DNSM 1636, DNSM 2232, DNSM 3219,
DNSM 4058, DNSM 4475, DNSM 4833,
IRSNB 969, IRSNB 970, IRSNB 3499, IRSNB
3500, IRSNB 3529, IRSNB 3530, IRSNB 4659,
IRSNB 4660, IRSNB 6559, IRSNB 6957,
IRSNB 6958, IRSNB 6959, IRSNB 8111,
IRSNB 8211, IRSNB 8661, IRSNB 11693,
IRSNB 11694, IRSNB 11695, IRSNB 11696,
IRSNB 11697, IRSNB 11698, IRSNB 11699,
IRSNB 11700, IRSNB 11701, IRSNB 11703,
IRSNB 11704, IRSNB 11705, IRSNB 11706,
IRSNB 11708, IRSNB 11709, IRSNB 11710,
IRSNB 11711, IRSNB 11712, IRSNB 11714,
IRSNB 11716, IRSNB 11717, IRSNB 11718,
IRSNB 11719, IRSNB 11722, IRSNB 11724,
IRSNB 11725, IRSNB 11728, IRSNB 11729,
IRSNB 11730, IRSNB 11731, IRSNB 11733,
IRSNB 11734, IRSNB 11735, IRSNB 11736,
IRSNB 11737, IRSNB 11738, IRSNB 11739,
IRSNB 11740, IRSNB 11741, IRSNB 11742,
IRSNB 11743, IRSNB 11744, IRSNB 11745,
IRSNB 11747, IRSNB 11748, IRSNB 11749,
IRSNB 11750, IRSNB 11751, IRSNB 11752,
IRSNB 11798, IRSNB 12259, IRSNB 12787,
IRSNB 12798, IRSNB 12799, IRSNB 12800,
IRSNB 12830, IRSNB 12903, IRSNB 13031,
IRSNB 13951, IRSNB 14654, IRSNB 14655,
IRSNB 14656, IRSNB 14657, IRSNB 14658,
IRSNB 16247, IRSNB 17332, IRSNB 17333,
IRSNB 17334, IRSNB 19943, IRSNB 19944,
IRSNB 19945, IRSNB 19946, IRSNB 19947,
IRSNB 19948, IRSNB 19949, IRSNB 21275,
IRSNB 21276, IRSNB 21277, IRSNB 21278,
IRSNB 21280, IRSNB 21281, IRSNB 21282,
IRSNB 21283, IRSNB 21284, IRSNB 21472,
IRSNB 21530, IRSNB 21531, IRSNB 21532,
IRSNB 33446, IRSNB 33447, IRSNB 33448,
IRSNB 33449, IRSNB 33450, IRSNB 33451,
IRSNB 33452, IRSNB 33453, IRSNB 33454,
IRSNB 33455, IRSNB 33456, IRSNB 33458,
IRSNB 33459, IRSNB 33461, IRSNB 33462,
IRSNB 33463, IRSNB 33464, IRSNB 969B,
MFNB 1098, MFNB 1107, MFNB 1108,
MFNB 5333, MFNB 6517, MFNB 6721,
MFNB 9080, MFNB 9081, MFNB 9123,
MFNB 12216, MFNB 12217, MFNB 14495,
MFNB 18811, MFNB 18921, MFNB 18926,
MFNB 18934, MFNB 18984, MFNB 18993,
MFNB 19001, MFNB 19020, MFNB 19021,
MFNB 19026, MFNB 19027, MFNB 19029,
MFNB 19034, MFNB 19052, MFNB 19054,
MFNB 19055, MFNB 19057, MFNB 19059,
MFNB 19165, MFNB 19167, MFNB 19169,
MFNB 19178, MFNB 19182, MFNB 19199,
MFNB 19222, MFNB 19227, MFNB 19228,
MFNB 19229, MFNB 19302, MFNB 19321,
MFNB 19327, MFNB 19341, MFNB 19342,
MFNB 19344, MFNB 19347, MFNB 19348,
MFNB 19351, MFNB 19352, MFNB 19353,
MFNB 19356, MFNB 19360, MFNB 19362,
MFNB 19367, MFNB 19368, MFNB 19369,
MFNB 19371, MFNB 19372, MFNB 19373,
MFNB 19381, MFNB 19385, MFNB 19387,
MFNB 19389, MFNB 19397, MFNB 19398,
MFNB 19404, MFNB 19405, MFNB 19408,
MFNB 19411, MFNB 19414, MFNB 19416,
MFNB 19418, MFNB 19420, MFNB 19421,
MFNB 19422, MFNB 19424, MFNB 19427,
MFNB 19430, MFNB 19433, MFNB 19433,
MFNB 19438, MFNB 19443, MFNB 19444,
MFNB 19446, MFNB 19447, MFNB 19448,
APPENDIX 1. – List of the specimens examined during this study for Genetta maculata and schoutedeni :
MFNB 19449, MFNB 19451, MFNB 19455,
MFNB 19497, MFNB 19500, MFNB 19503,
MFNB 19510, MFNB 19514, MFNB 19515,
MFNB 19517, MFNB 19521, MFNB 19525,
MFNB 19526, MFNB 19533, MFNB 19534,
MFNB 19538, MFNB 19539, MFNB 19542,
MFNB 19548, MFNB 19550, MFNB 19554,
MFNB 19555, MFNB 19556, MFNB 19557,
MFNB 19558, MFNB 19558, MFNB 19565,
MFNB 19566, MFNB 19569, MFNB 19570,
MFNB 19571, MFNB 19572, MFNB 19573,
MFNB 19577, MFNB 19579, MFNB 19580,
MFNB 19583, MFNB 19584, MFNB 19590,
MFNB 19591, MFNB 19592, MFNB 19600,
MFNB 19611, MFNB 19616, MFNB 19649,
MFNB 19651, MFNB 19654, MFNB 19676,
MFNB 19679, MFNB 19685, MFNB 19686,
MFNB 19687, MFNB 19688, MFNB 19689,
MFNB 19690, MFNB 19692, MFNB 19858,
MFNB 19859, MFNB 19866, MFNB 19877,
MFNB 20623, MFNB 20625, MFNB 20626,
MFNB 20627, MFNB 20857, MFNB 20858,
MFNB 21027, MFNB 21028, MFNB 21241,
MFNB 23298, MFNB 23300, MFNB 30751,
MFNB 32463, MFNB 33354, MFNB 33954,
MFNB 34399, MFNB 34481, MFNB 34484,
MFNB 35725, MFNB 36915, MFNB 40345,
MFNB 40345, MFNB 40347, MFNB 40479,
MFNB 40480, MFNB 41442, MFNB 41498,
MFNB 43468, MFNB 44821, MFNB 47071,
MFNB 60968, MFNB 60969, MFNB 68973,
MFNB 68976, MFNB 68981, MFNB 68991,
MFNB 68993, MNHN 1902-753, MNHN
1902-754, MNHN 1902-755, MNHN 1902-
756, MNHN 1904-2008, MNHN 1904-2009,
MNHN 1904-2010, MNHN 1904-2011,
MNHN 1904-2011, MNHN 1904-2013,
MNHN 1904-2014, MNHN 1904-2015,
MNHN 1904-2020, MNHN 1904-2021bis,
MNHN 1905-379, MNHN 1912-153, MNHN
1913-32, MNHN 1913-33, MNHN 1939-176,
MNHN 1962-1057, MNHN 1962-1058,
MNHN 1962-163, MNHN 1962-3311,
MNHN 963-1416, MNHN 1969-470, MNHN
1970-387, MNHN 1970-388, MNHN 1972-
395, MNHN 1973-118, MNHN 1973-59,
MNHN 1973-60, MNHN 1973-61, MNHN
1974-172, MNHN 1983-793, MNHN 2001-
1158, MNHN 2001-1159, MNHN 1918-7,
MNHN 1933-2316, MNHN 1933-2315,
MNHN 1897-632, MNHN 1940-1212,
MNHN 1991-201, MNHN 1962-1576,
MNHN 1982-793, MNHN 2001-1160,
MNHN 2001-1811, MNHN 2001-1810,
MNHN [ZAK 25], MNHN 449, MNHN
1891-260, NM 1719, RMNH 1325, RMNH
3352, RMNH 25739, RMNH 31272, RMNH
34594, RMNH 34640, ZFMK 3112, ZFMK
3163, ZFMK 3180, ZFMK 3181, ZFMK 3468,
ZFMK 3469, ZFMK 3486, ZFMK 6238,
ZFMK 6239, ZFMK 6298, ZFMK 6313,
ZFMK 31137, ZFMK 31138, ZFMK 31151,
ZFMK 36154, ZFMK 69927.
For reasons related to time-consumption, I was
only able to collect locality names for specimens
from BMNH and MRAC :
BMNH :
ANGOLA : Bambi, Fazenda Gongolo -
Amboimi district, Golungo Alto, Duque de Bra-
gança, near Dundo - 75 km SSE of Lunda (in
Zaire), near Tala and Tondo ; BOTSWANA :
Bardstein area Ngamiland, Maun - Kalahari ;
CAMEROON : Kembong, Ossing, Mamfe ;
CHAD : Yei district, Bor district, N’Djamena ;
ETHIOPIA : NW Lake Ch’amo, Arba Minch -
SW Lake Abaya, Webi Shebeli - Goulsa foothills,
Gimbi area - 15 miles E on Main Road, Addis
Abeba, Dangila, Bahir Dar - Giyorgis ;
GHANA : Oda ; KENYA : 5 km SE of Kwale -
Kivumoni Forest, Gede Coastal Province, Nai-
robi, Kikuyu, Limuru, Amala river, Murang’a,
Sagana valley - Mt. Kenya, Keruguya - Mt.
Kenya, Mutaragwa -Aberdare Mts., near Nakuru
- S Bahati forest, Molo, 12 miles W of Naro
Moru, Guaso Nyiro, Tusc(e)i / Tusu - Mt.
Kenya, Solai - Mt. Kenya, Guas Ngishu Plateau,
near Soy, Mt. Uraguess, E Trans-Nzoia - near
Cherangani Hills, Mt. Elgon, Lomut, Mt. Mar-
sabit, Charada Forest ; MALAWI : Chiromo, 1
mile S of Chikwawa, Lichenya plateau, Zomba,
Mkata station, Kota Kota, Mzimba ; MOZAM-
BIQUE : Coguno, Tambarara, Tete - Zambesi
river, Bero ; NAMIBIA : Wilhelmstal Lushoto,
Mahango, Popa Falls, Mbambi Grootfontein -
Caprivi, Okavango - Omatako junction, Sin-
jemba, Diwai, 10 miles W of Tshimbaka Hon-
doto and Cunene rivers junction ; NIGERIA :
12 km NNE of Nembe Sie(c)le river - between
Okoroba and Elemuama, 5 km SSE of Ahoada,
Agoi Ibomi village, Ikot Mba, Ndoro - near
Umuahia, Warri, Sapoba Jameson river, Anambra
106 MAMMALIA, t. 67, n° 1 • 2003
Gaubert P.
creek, Iju, Katsina, Abutu, Kode, Wukrum Hills,
Ndakuru, 2 - 3 km N of Boma ; REPUBLIC OF
SOUTH AFRICA : Legogot - Barberton dis-
trict, Zout Pan, Klein Letaba ; SUDAN : Torit,
Luni river - opposite Lado, Mongalla - Bahr al
Ghazal, Duk Zagwil, Mom district, Malek - Bor
district, Kayana ; SWAZILAND : Tshaneni ;
TANZANIA : Jackwa Gorge, Lumesule Juu
Nachingwea, Liwale, Tendaguru - near Lindi,
Itumba, Tete, Morogoro, Mpwapwa, Gongwe,
Mangonyi, Kaseke - near Kigoma, Mdjengos -
near Singida, Nyasa, Wembere river, Tengeru,
Mto wa Mbu - Lake Manyara, Moshi - S side of
Mt. Kilimandjaro, Lyamungu, Ler(v)ai Camp -
Ngorongoro Crater, 30 km NE of Arusha
Kamurt Lake, Javeita - SE flank of Mt. Kili-
mandjaro, Ukara Isl. ; UGANDA : forests at
foot of Mt. Muhavura, Mulema, Queen Eliza-
beth Park, Kampala, Mubango - Mabira forest,
Mubende, Kasawere - NE Mt. Elgon, Bugwa,
Serere Teso district, Bulisa - NE Lake Mobutu,
Ousuko, Nebbi, Mamalu Karamoja district ;
ZAIRE : Kazungu, Luluabourg, Inkongo, Wali-
kale, Wanka river, Luwere, Makoga, Poko,
Mabenge, Semnio, Panga ; ZAMBIA : Sesheke -
right bank of Kafue river, Machili river, E of
Loanga, Namwala district, Mala, Banga, Shama-
kanda, near Kalumbwe, Kabwe, Kabulwebulwe,
Balovale - Chitokoloki, Chipata, near Kabompo
Boma, Balovale, Kasempa district, 13 miles NE
Lusangazi, Mulanda - Bantu, Ndola, 1/2 miles
SE Chibembe Pontoon, Simonis village,
Ngweshe, Kapeshi, Makumbo, Lake Mweru,
Mbala.
MRAC :
BENIN : Badou - Anonoe ; BURUNDI :
Nyanza, Muramvya, Ruzizi plain ; CAME-
ROON : Yagoua, Sir, Mokolo ; CENTRAL
AFRICAN REPUBLIC (no precise locality avai-
lable) ; KENYA : Ziwani, Tsavo, Londiani, Kerio
river, Campi Ziwani - foot of Mt. Elgon ; NIGE-
RIA : Diebu - E Peremabiei, mangrove around
Okpoama Brass Isl., near Opukuma, mangrove
on W bank of Opume Creek, Opume, Bunu -
Bangha, Masea stream - right side of lower Imo
river, Eziama - Nembe, 3 km S Mbiama, Eziama,
Ezike, Sapoba (market), 40 km from Enugu -
Port Harcourt-Enugu road, behind Onito, Taba ;
RWANDA : Kigali ; UGANDA : Mugeri mis-
sion, NE Mt. Elgon ; ZAIRE : Baya, Mwera,
Luashi, near Dilolo railway station, Kakanda,
Dilolo, Lukafu, Tshingamba, Katentania, Kanse-
nia, Kapiri Plateau, Kundelungu, Mukishi -
Katentania, Lukonzolwa, Kapanga, Kitobwe,
Guillaume falls, Tshimbayeka, Kandongo, Mufi-
kidi, Lula, Tende, Kambasondi, Kahemba, near
Panzi Kasongo, Mwendjila, Mwamukanda,
Kambakala, Kasongo, Haute Lula river, Luisa ter-
ritory, Banana, near Albertville, Makalan, Tshi-
poko, Makaia N’tete, Kele - near Tumba, Temvo,
Ngele, Weka, Kasinzi, Kamanda, Kamba -
Mbongo, Leverville, Kinda, Kisantu, Kinshasa,
Fizi region, Baraka, Lodja - Komi, Lodja terri-
tory, Komi (Sankuru), Kwango, Kwamouth,
Kamituga, Lemera, Akanyaru river, Mpelu,
Butare, Astrida region, Lomela, Rugege forest,
Umangi, Bolobo - near Mankakati, Kunungu,
Keseki - near Kunungu, Mongala, Kavumu -
Walikale road km 82, Bobandana, Kantundwe
(Fuko tributary), Kavumu road km 100 -
towards Walikale, Ikela, Kisaro - near Rutshuri,
Nongo-Wanga harbour, Likete, Lutunguru,
Angumu, near Lubero, Bokuma, Bamanya,
Vehamba, Coquilhatville region, Malinde, Musu-
bele, Butembo, Vuhovi - Semliki foothills,
Butuhe, Kiondo, Beni, Stanley Falls, Stanleyville,
Tshoppo Falls, Pilipili, Boga(y), Mawambi, Elisa-
betha - Basoko, Yambuya, Avakubi, Kisenyi,
2 km W Irumu, Djugu, Moenge, Nioka, Medjé,
Ibembo, Paulis region, Buta, Koteli, Kasai,
Rungu, Bambesa, Dungu, Gangala-na-Bodio,
Faradje, Bagbele, Zungumbia, Tukpo.
G. schoutedeni : IRSNB 21279, MFNB
18127, MFNB 18458, MFNB 18909, MFNB
19022, MFNB 19024, MFNB 19032, MFNB
19038, MFNB 19179, MFNB 19185, MFNB
19191, MFNB 19198, MFNB 19206, MFNB
19214, MFNB 19220, MFNB 19232, MFNB
19234, MFNB 19236, MFNB 19252, MFNB
19296, MFNB 19317, MFNB 19326, MFNB
19406, MFNB 19454, MFNB 19464, MFNB
19470, MFNB 19476, MFNB 19490, MFNB
19492, MFNB 19494, MFNB 19520, MFNB
19632, MFNB 19644, MFNB 19645, MFNB
19646, MFNB 19867, MFNB 41780, MFNB
19171 / 19172, MFNB 19174 / 19173, MFNB
19176 / 19177, MFNB 19459 / 19460, MRAC
251, MRAC 624, MRAC 1934, MRAC 4274,
MRAC 4822, MRAC 855, MRAC 5965,
MRAC 6953, MRAC 7831, MRAC 7833,
MRAC 8335, MRAC 8800, MRAC 9387,
MAMMALIA, t. 67, n° 1 • 2003 107
Description of a new species of genet
MRAC 9994, MRAC 10112, MRAC 10324,
MRAC 10431, MRAC 10612, MRAC 10614,
MRAC 12077, MRAC 12961, MRAC 13729,
MRAC 13982, MRAC 14465, MRAC 15332,
MRAC 15342, MRAC 17188, MRAC 17289,
MRAC 17306, MRAC 17325, MRAC 17706,
MRAC 18979, MRAC 19789, MRAC 19797,
MRAC 19909, MRAC 21748, MRAC 26908,
MRAC 27194, MRAC 27657, MRAC 28397,
MRAC 31286, MRAC 37051, MRAC
76052M0013, MRAC 80002M0042, MRAC
80044M0062, MRAC 89019M0058, MRAC
90042M0221, MRAC 90042M0222.
For reasons related to time-consumption, I was
only able to collect locality names for specimens
from BMNH :
BMNH :
CAMEROON : Mamfe ; ETHIOPIA : Dan-
gila ; KENYA : Solai - Mt. Kenya ; MOZAM-
BIQUE : Coguno ; NIGERIA : Akata – Ugbo ;
SUDAN : Moeru - Mongalla districts, Duk ;
TANZANIA : Kilosa, Kimamba Station – Moro-
goro ; UGANDA : Ruwenzori East, Nebbi ;
ZAIRE : Baraka, Stanley Falls, Mobangi, Sem-
nio.
108 MAMMALIA, t. 67, n° 1 • 2003
Gaubert P.
