Genetta abyssinica

Xiao, Gang, Zhang, Mei, Peng, Xing & Jiang, Guangyuan, 2019, Noteworthy record of the Ethiopian genet, Genetta abyssinica, (Carnivora, Viverridae) from Djibouti informs its phylogenetic position within Genetta, Mammalia (Warsaw, Poland) 83 (2), pp. 180-189 : 186-187

Distribution of Genetta abyssinica

Our record provides the first verifiable documentation of Genetta abyssinica for the country of Djibouti in over 60 years. The single previous specimen for Djibouti is represented by a skin collected in 1954 by E. Chèdeville deposited in the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France (MNHN 1954-323). The only additional information provided beyond collector and year collected was a locality of “ Somalie FranÇaise”, or French Somalia, which until 1977 was the name used for the currently recognized country of The Republic of Djibouti ( Clarke 1977). However, Laurent and Laurent (2002) stated, based on Chedeville (in litt, 12 May 1992), that the specimen was most likely captured in the northern highlands, either in the Goda or in the Mabla Mountains. Laurent and Laurent

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(2002) go on to state that G. abyssinica is present in the country, although probably rare to very rare. Despite this assertion, G. abyssinica does not have any special protection and is currently recognized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as Data Deficient ( Gaubert et al. 2016), limiting our ability to draw any meaningful conclusions about its conservation status in Djibouti. Künzel et al. (2000) questioned the presence of this genet in Djibouti. Interestingly, it appears that despite being considered a non-forest species of genet, current records of G. abyssinica from Djibouti are restricted to the high elevation montane juniper forests of the Goda and the Mabla Mountains, including the Forêt du Day. Of course, additional sampling of lowland habitats contiguous with those that have existing records of G. abyssinica such as the Ethiopian xeric grasslands and shrublands ( Olson et al. 2001) along coastal Somalia (BMNH 34.9.14.20; Figure 1 ) are vital to understanding the distribution of this species in Djibouti. Although not exhaustive, 24 live-trap nights spent in this habitat in and around Camp Lemmonier (11°32′30″N, 43°10′00″E; 5 m a.s.l.) resulted in the capture of a single white-tailed mongoose but no genets, although animal control agents reported capturing unknown genet species on the base. Additional carnivores observed in this area at the time of trapping included Ruppell’s fox Vulpes rueppelli (Schinz, 1825) and domestic cats.

The 20 records of Genetta abyssinica with localities precise enough to allow for coordinate assignment (see Papeş and Gaubert 2007 and Diaz Behrens and Van Rompaey 2002 for tables of records) are distributed across six major ecoregions: East Sudanian savanna (n = 1); Ethiopian montane grasslands and woodlands (5); Ethiopian montane moorlands (9); Ethiopian xeric grasslands and shrublands (2, including our specimen); Sahelian Acacia Savanna (2); Somali Acacia -Commiphora Bushlands and thickets (1). Although identifying suitable ecoregions based on these records are confounded by imprecise locality information and the coarse resolution of the ecoregions themselves ( Olson et al. 2001), such information provides a starting point for continued surveys of this species. Only through additional, verifiable records in the form of vouchers, with precise locality data will we be able to truly delimit the ecologic and geographic limits of G. abyssinica across the Horn of Africa.

Figures

Figure 1: Distribution of Genetta abyssinica based on IUCN with new (USNM 602624) and historical records referenced in this study. All geographic coordinates for specimens depicted in this map with the exception of the new record were taken verbatim from Papeş and Gaubert (2007).