Genetta piscivora

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	CARNIVORA	VIVERRIDAE

Scientific Name:

Genetta piscivora

Species Authority:

(J.A. Allen, 1919)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Aquatic Genet

Synonym/s:

Osbornictis piscivora J.A. Allen, 1919

Taxonomic Notes:

Traditionally included in the genus Osbornictis, but here treated in Genetta, since Gaubert et al. (2004) demonstrated that Osbornictis and Genetta are congeneric, in agreement with Verheyen (1962) and Stains (1983). For further discussion see Wozencraft (2005) and Gaubert (in press).

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Data Deficient ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2008

Assessor/s

Van Rompaey, H., Gaubert, P. & Hoffmann, M.

Evaluator/s:

Duckworth, J.W. (Small Carnivore Red List Authority) and Hoffmann, M. (Global Mammal Assessment Team)

Justification:
Listed as Data Deficient as this is a poorly known species, with no reliable information on its current population status or precise limits of distribution, or the degree to which its particular habitat is threatened.

History:

1996

–

Data Deficient (Baillie and Groombridge 1996)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Endemic to DR Congo, where patchily distributed from the right bank of the Congo R. eastward to the Rift Valley. There are, as yet, no confirmed records from Uganda (Van Rompaey and Colyn in press). Occurs at elevations of 460 - 1,500 m asl.
Countries:	Native: Congo, The Democratic Republic of the
Range Map:	(click map to view full version)

Population [top]

Population:	Considered among the rarest of African carnivores, and known only from around 30 museum specimens. In 53 hunts in the Ituri Forest only two individuals (or 1.8% of all carnivores) were captured (Hart and Timm 1978).
Population Trend:	Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	A rainforest inhabitant, most specimens have been collected in forests dominated by Gilbertiodendron trees (Van Rompaey and Colyn in press). Nearly all specimens were obtained from local hunters who caught them with snares usually put out on trails near small rivers (Van Rompaey 1988). Piscivorous.
Systems:	Terrestrial; Freshwater

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Major threats are unclear, but they are hunted as bushmeat by the Bambuti pygmies; the meat is taboo to all, except male elders (Van Rompaey and Colyn in press). It is not clear whether there are any pressing threats to its particular habitat.

Major Threat(s):

Major threats are unclear, but they are hunted as bushmeat by the Bambuti pygmies; the meat is taboo to all, except male elders (Van Rompaey and Colyn in press). It is not clear whether there are any pressing threats to its particular habitat.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Given complete protection by the Congolese government (Ordinance No. 79-244 of 16 Oct 1979). Present in the Okapi Faunal Reserve. This species is certainly a priority for further survey work to better understand its ecology, distribution and population status.

Conservation Actions:

Given complete protection by the Congolese government (Ordinance No. 79-244 of 16 Oct 1979). Present in the Okapi Faunal Reserve. This species is certainly a priority for further survey work to better understand its ecology, distribution and population status.

Citation:	Van Rompaey, H., Gaubert, P. & Hoffmann, M. 2008. Genetta piscivora. In: IUCN 2008. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 07 January 2009.
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