Crested servaline genet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Crested servaline genet |
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The crested servaline genet is a cool animal, also known as the crested genet. It's a type of genet that only lives in Nigeria and Cameroon. Sadly, there are fewer and fewer of them because they are losing their homes. This means they are listed as a Vulnerable animal on the IUCN Red List. Scientists first found it in the Mamfe area of Cameroon. They first thought it was a type of servaline genet, but now they know it's a completely different species.
What Does a Crested Genet Look Like?
The crested servaline genet is a small and thin animal. It has fairly long legs and a narrow face. Its fur is short, soft, and thick, with a khaki color. It has many dark spots spread evenly over its body.
Its long tail has wide black bands and thin whitish bands. There's a special crest of hair on the back of its neck. This crest does not go all the way down its back. Its feet are dark. It also has a dark line down the middle of its back. This line is not continuous and has longer hairs.
Where Do Crested Genets Live?
The crested servaline genet lives in southern Nigeria. From there, its home stretches east into Cameroon to the Sanaga River. It likes to live in areas with thick bushes and tangled plants. It also lives on bare ground under tall deciduous trees.
Sometimes, people have seen it in forests that have grown back or in mountain forests. In Nigeria, it often lives in original dry forests. It also likes bush–mango farms inside the forest. It is less common in forests that have grown back or in flooded forests.
This genet avoids places where people live, like towns. It also stays away from pineapple farms and palm oil farms. It lives in lower areas, from sea level up to about 1,000 feet (300 meters) high. Scientists think it might also live in Gabon and the Republic of Congo. However, this has not yet been proven.
Why Are Crested Genets in Danger?
The crested servaline genet is in danger because it is losing its home. Many of the forests where it lives are being turned into farms. For example, in the Cross River State Forests, land is being used for farming. Also, oil is produced in the Niger Delta area.
These activities destroy the genet's natural habitat. The genets might also be hunted a lot, which adds to their problems.
