Zanzibar Servaline Genet
Encyclopedia
The Zanzibar Servaline Genet (Genetta servalina archeri) is a recently discovered subspecies
of Servaline Genet
endemic to Unguja Island
in the Tanzania
n archipelago of Zanzibar
. Its conservation status is uncertain.
of mainland Tanzania. These two animals have presumably been evolving independently since at least the end of the last ice age
, when Unguja was separated from continental Africa
by rising sea levels. The survival of the servaline genet on the island parallels that of the endemic Zanzibar Leopard
, and the Zanzibar Red Colobus
.
In January 2003 live Zanzibar Servaline Genets were photographed for the first time in nearby Jozani-Chwaka Bay National Park. Camera traps yielded pictures of servalines at four locations, two in groundwater forest in the heart of the park and two in dry scrub to the north-east. These photographs provided new information about the distribution of the genet and its physical characteristics.
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
of Servaline Genet
Servaline Genet
The Servaline Genet is a species of carnivore of the family Viverridae, related to civets and linsangs. Like all genets, it is outwardly feline, although not a close relative of the cat family.- Subspecies :...
endemic to Unguja Island
Unguja
Unguja as mentioned in The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea is the largest and most populated island of Zanzibar, in Tanzania.-Geography:...
in the Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
n archipelago of Zanzibar
Zanzibar
Zanzibar ,Persian: زنگبار, from suffix bār: "coast" and Zangi: "bruin" ; is a semi-autonomous part of Tanzania, in East Africa. It comprises the Zanzibar Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of the mainland, and consists of numerous small islands and two large ones: Unguja , and Pemba...
. Its conservation status is uncertain.
Evolutionary history
The closest known relative of the Zanzibar Servaline Genet is Lowe's Servaline Genet, G. s. lowei, a subspecies which is found in the Eastern Arc MountainsEastern Arc Mountains
The Eastern Arc Mountains are a chain of mountains found in Kenya and Tanzania. It comprises:* Taita Hills* North and South Pare* East and West Usambara* North and South Nguru* Ukaguru* Uluguru Mountains* Rubeho* Udzungwa Mountains* Mahenge Escarpment...
of mainland Tanzania. These two animals have presumably been evolving independently since at least the end of the last ice age
Ice age
An ice age or, more precisely, glacial age, is a generic geological period of long-term reduction in the temperature of the Earth's surface and atmosphere, resulting in the presence or expansion of continental ice sheets, polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers...
, when Unguja was separated from continental Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
by rising sea levels. The survival of the servaline genet on the island parallels that of the endemic Zanzibar Leopard
Zanzibar Leopard
The Zanzibar Leopard is an elusive and possibly extinct subspecies of leopard endemic to Unguja Island in the Zanzibar archipelago, part of Tanzania. Increasing conflict between people and leopards in the 20th century led to their demonization and determined attempts to exterminate them...
, and the Zanzibar Red Colobus
Zanzibar Red Colobus
The Zanzibar red colobus is a species of red colobus monkey endemic to Unguja, the main island of the Zanzibar archipelago, off the coast of Tanzania. It is also known as Kirk's red colobus after Sir John Kirk , the British Resident of Zanzibar who first brought it to the attention of zoological...
.
Discovery and description
Although the servaline was known to rural Zanzibaris, zoologists remained unaware of its existence until the last decade of the 20th century. In 1995 Tony Archer, a wildlife consultant working in Zanzibar, acquired a dried skin and skull in the village of Kitogani, in south-central Unguja. This specimen was subsequently described as a new subspecies of servaline genet (G. s. archeri), named in honour of Archer.In January 2003 live Zanzibar Servaline Genets were photographed for the first time in nearby Jozani-Chwaka Bay National Park. Camera traps yielded pictures of servalines at four locations, two in groundwater forest in the heart of the park and two in dry scrub to the north-east. These photographs provided new information about the distribution of the genet and its physical characteristics.