The Genette

The common genet (Genetta genetta Linné,1758) is the only European carnivorous mammal
belonging to the Viverridae family. The species occupies a variety of habitats in its native range, ranging from savannah areas of sub-Saharan Africa to the forests of the Maghreb and the arid coastal regions of the southern Arabian Peninsula.

In Europe, the Common Genet has established itself in the forest areas of the Iberian Peninsula (Balearic Islands, Majorca and Cabrera included) and France. The reasons for the introduction of the common genet in Europe, its geographical and historical origin, remain unknown to this day. A legend tells that after the defeat of the Saracens near Poitiers, in the year 732, Charles Martel was struck by the quantity of genet skins contained in the booty of the defeated army, so much so that he created the legendary Order of the Genet..

The recent discovery of the only remains of a genet on a European archaeological site, dated to the beginning of the 13th century in Portugal (the last period of occupation by the Saracens, Almohades, of the Iberian Peninsula) supports the hypothesis of an introduction of the species during the Saracen invasions. However Gsell, then later Amigues, propose an alternative scenario where the Genet would have been introduced into Europe from the Greek colonies of Libya, during the 6th century BC, this hypothesis being based on the mention of a “polecat of Tartessos ” (Tartessos being located in the south-west of the Iberian Peninsula), possibly identifiable with the Genette, by ancient Greek authors such as Herodotus.

Conversely, Schauenberg suggests that genets colonized Europe naturally during the lowering of the level of the Mediterranean during the Messinian period (late Miocene). This last hypothesis has however received little support, in particular because there are no fossil remains (Plio-Pleistocene) of the species in Europe.