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Activity patterns of adult common genets Genetta genetta (Linnaeus, 1758) in Northeastern Spain

2008; Volume: 20; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.7325/galemys.2008.1.a2

2254-8408

David Camps,

Amphibian and Reptile Biology

The seasonal and sexual variations in the daily activity rhythms of 9 adult common genets Genetta genetta (Linnaeus, 1758), 4 males and 5 females, were studied in a Mediterranean habitat in the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula and attempts were made to establish the factors that influence this activity. Both males and females displayed almost exclusively nocturnal activity throughout the year, with very little diurnal activity, mainly coinciding with dusk and dawn. The activity pattern in both sexes, which was mainly unimodal, varied considerably depending on the season. The percentage of nocturnal activity differed in males and females – being higher in males – but did not vary with the seasons. At night, the common genets were active on average 55.7% (± 11.8%) of the time, with maximum activity values in the spring and summer. The start and end of the activity were synchronized with sunset and sunrise respectively, although at these times activity was minimal. In some cases intrasexual, intersexual and seasonal differences were observed in the activity displayed in the two hours after sunset and the two hours before sunrise. The percentage of nocturnal activity was positively correlated with the individual’s weight, but not with any of the climatic variables studied. It was concluded that the common genet’s activity pattern is affected by factors such as sex, body weight, the biological cycle and the length of the night.