# Common genet (*Genetta genetta*)

Canonical page: https://creaturedata.com/animals/common-genet  
Data as of: 2026-11-11

The common genet (Genetta genetta), also called the small-spotted genet, is a mammal of the order Carnivora and the family Viverridae, subfamily Genettinae. It is a medium-sized, nocturnal and arboreal carnivore with an adult body mass of 1.8 kg, and up to 1.95 kg. Gestation lasts from 70 to 77 days, litters hold from 2 to 3 young, and females have 2 litters per year. The IUCN Red List classes the common genet as Least Concern, which is not a threatened category.

## Quick facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | 1.8 kg – 1.95 kg |
| Length | Not recorded |
| Lifespan | 21.6 years – 34 years |
| Diet | Carnivore |
| Main food | Not recorded |
| Habitat | Not recorded |
| Gestation | 70 days – 77 days |
| Young per litter or clutch | 2 – 3 |
| Age at maturity | 2 years – 4.05 years |
| Litters or clutches a year | 2 |
| Active | At night (nocturnal) |
| Lifestyle | Arboreal |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |
| Countries on record | Not recorded |

## Classification

- kingdom: Animalia
- phylum: Chordata
- class: Mammalia
- order: Carnivora
- family: Viverridae
- genus: Genetta
- species: *Genetta genetta* (Linnaeus, 1758)

Synonyms: *Genetta genetta afra*, *Genetta genetta pyrenaica*, *Viverra genetta*

## Common questions

### What kind of animal is the common genet?

The common genet is a mammal in the order Carnivora and the family Viverridae. It belongs to the subfamily Genettinae and the genus Genetta.

### How heavy is a common genet?

An adult common genet weighs 1.8 kg, with values up to 1.95 kg reported. This places it in the medium size class.

### What does the common genet eat?

The common genet is a carnivore.

### Is the common genet nocturnal?

Yes, the common genet is nocturnal, and it has an arboreal lifestyle.

### Is the common genet endangered?

No. The common genet is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, which is not a threatened category.

### How long does a common genet live?

The common genet has a lifespan of 21.6 years, with values up to 34 years reported.

### How many young does a common genet have?

A common genet has from 2 to 3 young per litter and 2 litters per year, after a gestation of 70 to 77 days.

## Sources

- [An amniote life-history database to perform comparative analyses with birds, mammals, and reptiles](https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.3563457.v1), CC0 1.0, E096-269. Myhrvold, N.P., Baldridge, E., Chan, B., Sivam, D., Freeman, D.L. & Ernest, S.K.M. (2015) An amniote life-history database to perform comparative analyses with birds, mammals, and reptiles. Ecology 96: 3109. https://doi.org/10.1890/15-0846R.1. Data: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.3563457.v1
- [Catalogue of Life eXtended Release](https://www.checklistbank.org/dataset/316691), CC BY 4.0, 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life (2026). Catalogue of Life eXtended Release, version 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.48580/dgzlf
- [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org), per file (CC0 / public domain / CC BY green, CC BY-SA amber, anything else not displayed), 2026-11-11. Wikimedia Commons contributors. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org (each file credited to its author under its own licence).
- [EltonTraits 1.0: species-level foraging attributes of the world's birds and mammals](https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.3559887.v1), CC0 1.0, 1.0. Wilman, H., Belmaker, J., Simpson, J., de la Rosa, C., Rivadeneira, M.M. & Jetz, W. (2014) EltonTraits 1.0: Species-level foraging attributes of the world's birds and mammals. Ecology 95: 2027. https://doi.org/10.1890/13-1917.1. Data: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.3559887.v1
- [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org), CC0 1.0, 2026-11-11. Wikidata contributors. Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org (data retrieved via the Wikidata Query Service).
- [Wikipedia (English)](https://en.wikipedia.org), CC BY-SA 4.0, 2026-11-11. Wikipedia contributors. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org (text under CC BY-SA 4.0; each block names its article and revision).

Cite as: Common genet (Genetta genetta). Retrieved from https://creaturedata.com/animals/common-genet