Letaba genet
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Suborder: Feliformia
Family: Viverridae
Genus: Genetta
Species:
G. letabae
Binomial name
Genetta letabae
Thomas and Schwann, 1906
Synonyms
  • G. zuluensis Roberts, 1924

The Letaba genet (Genetta letabae) is a genet native to Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Eswatini. It is Lesotho and Eswatini's only endemic species of genet.

It was first described in 1906 on the basis of a zoological specimen collected in Knysna, South Africa.[1] It was formerly thought to be a subspecies of the rusty-spotted genet (G. maculata), but has been recognised as a distinct species in 2005.[2]

References

  1. ^ Thomas, O. & Schwann, H. (1906). "The Rudd Exploration of South Africa.—IV. List of Mammals obtained by Mr. Grant at Knysna". Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. 76 (1–2): 159–168. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1906.tb08427.x.
  2. ^ Gaubert, P.; Taylor, P. J. & Veron, G. (2005). "Integrative taxonomy and phylogenetic systematics of the genets (Carnivora, Viverridae, Genetta): a new classification of the most speciose carnivoran genus in Africa" (PDF). In Huber, B. A.; Sinclair, B. J. & Lampe, K.-H. (eds.). African Biodiversity: Molecules, Organisms, Ecosystems. Proceedings of the 5th International Symposium of Tropical Biology, Museum König, Bonn. Springer. pp. 371–383.
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