Aquatic Genet
Encyclopedia
The Aquatic Genet is a carnivora
n mammal
from the north-east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
. The Aquatic Genet is related to civet
s and linsang
s. Unlike other genet
s who have handsomely spotted coats and ringed tails, the Aquatic Genet has a plain, rusty-coloured coat and a black tail, with white spots behind its eyes. The conservation status of this genet is data deficient
, but it is suspected to be "among the rarest of African carnivores".
This unusual genet inhabits rainforest
and feeds primarily on fish
, which it attracts by gently tapping the surface of the water of rainforest
streams. This genet also uses its whiskers to feel the surface of the water. Its paws are hairless, an adaptation for catching fish. This carnivore also is thought to consume frogs and similar aquatic prey. Despite its diet, and its common name, it is not a good swimmer.
Like most members of its family, it is a secretive and rarely seen species, and little is known about its behaviour in the wild.
This species was formerly placed in its own genus, Osbornictis. However, Osbornictis has now been demonstrated to be the same genus
as Genetta.
Carnivora
The diverse order Carnivora |Latin]] carō "flesh", + vorāre "to devour") includes over 260 species of placental mammals. Its members are formally referred to as carnivorans, while the word "carnivore" can refer to any meat-eating animal...
n mammal
Mammal
Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterised by the possession of endothermy, hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young...
from the north-east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
. The Aquatic Genet is related to civet
Civet
The family Viverridae is made up of around 30 species of medium-sized mammal, including all of the genets, the binturong, most of the civets, and the two African linsangs....
s and linsang
Linsang
The Asiatic linsangs are two species classified in the family Prionodontidae. There is one Southeast Asian genus, Prionodon.The Asiatic linsang and the African linsang formerly were placed in the subfamily Viverrinae , along with several other genera, but recent research suggests that their...
s. Unlike other genet
Genet (animal)
Genets are Old World mammals from the order Carnivora, family Viverridae, related to civets and linsangs. All species are contained within the genus Genetta, although the Aquatic Genet is sometimes housed in its own genus Osbornictis....
s who have handsomely spotted coats and ringed tails, the Aquatic Genet has a plain, rusty-coloured coat and a black tail, with white spots behind its eyes. The conservation status of this genet is data deficient
Data Deficient
Data Deficient is a category applied by the IUCN, other agencies, and individuals to a species when the available information is not sufficient for a proper assessment of conservation status to be made...
, but it is suspected to be "among the rarest of African carnivores".
This unusual genet inhabits rainforest
Rainforest
Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions based on a minimum normal annual rainfall of 1750-2000 mm...
and feeds primarily on fish
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
, which it attracts by gently tapping the surface of the water of rainforest
Rainforest
Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions based on a minimum normal annual rainfall of 1750-2000 mm...
streams. This genet also uses its whiskers to feel the surface of the water. Its paws are hairless, an adaptation for catching fish. This carnivore also is thought to consume frogs and similar aquatic prey. Despite its diet, and its common name, it is not a good swimmer.
Like most members of its family, it is a secretive and rarely seen species, and little is known about its behaviour in the wild.
This species was formerly placed in its own genus, Osbornictis. However, Osbornictis has now been demonstrated to be the same genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
as Genetta.