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Reproductive parameters of the common genet Genetta genetta (Linnaeus, 1758) in Southwest Europe

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An Erratum to this article was published on 08 June 2017

Abstract

We used information from 148 litters belonging to 119 different wild and captive female common genets (Genetta genetta) in SW Europe over a period of almost 50 years to study certain reproductive parameters. Data were obtained from a combination of sources including carcasses, live captures, telemetry-based studies, captive genets, and reports in the literature. The circannual pattern of breeding was fairly similar in both wild and captive genets, with births occurring in all months except December, albeit with a large peak in spring and a secondary peak in autumn. The sex ratio at birth was near to 1:1, and mean litter size was 2.16 ± 0.76 cubs/litter with a range of 1–5 cubs. Litters of two cubs were the most frequent both in wild and captive settings. In captivity, we have observed the births of replacement litters and double litters; however, we did not find evidence of wild females that having two litters in the same year. We conclude that the possibility of breeding at any time of the year is facilitated by the continuous spermatogenesis of the males and by the ability of females to enter into estrus after losing a litter prematurely and to breed twice in the same year.

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Acknowledgments

Our thanks to all those recovery and captive breeding centers and private owners who contributed data relating to the reproduction of genets, both captive and wild. Two anonymous reviewers provided constructive suggestions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. General Directorate for Environmental Policy, Ministry of Territory and Sustainability, Government of Catalonia, Dr. Roux, 80, 08017, Barcelona, Spain

    David Camps

  2. General Directorate of the Natural Environment and Biodiversity, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, Food and Natural Environment, Government of Catalonia, Dr. Roux, 80, 08017, Barcelona, Spain

    Jordi Ruiz-Olmo

  3. Doñana Biological Station, CSIC, Américo Vespucio S/N, 41092, Sevilla, Spain

    Miguel Delibes

  4. General Directorate of Natural Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Plaza San Juan de a Cruz S/N, 28071, Madrid, Spain

    Miguel Aymerich

  5. IG3 Consulting, S.L. Menéndez y Pelayo, 15-3D, 48970, Basauri, Vizcaya, Spain

    Esteban Camacho

Authors
  1. David Camps
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  2. Jordi Ruiz-Olmo
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  3. Miguel Delibes
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  4. Miguel Aymerich
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  5. Esteban Camacho
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to David Camps.

Additional information

Communicated by: Andrzej Zalewski

The original version of this article was revised: The article title was changed from “Reproductive parameters of the common genet (Genetta genetta, Linnaeus 1758) in Southwest Europe” to “Reproductive parameters of the common genet Genetta genetta (Linnaeus, 1758) in Southwest Europe”. In Table 2, entries below “Litters” and “Total cubs” was changed to “N” from “n”.

An erratum to this article is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13364-017-0315-3.

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Camps, D., Ruiz-Olmo, J., Delibes, M. et al. Reproductive parameters of the common genet Genetta genetta (Linnaeus, 1758) in Southwest Europe. Mamm Res 62, 259–264 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13364-017-0310-8

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