West African Large-spotted Genet

West African Large-spotted Genet

Genetta pardina

Silhouette: Margot Michaud · PhyloPic

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR
Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
at Niokolo-Koba National Park

In 3 days ~70% in a week ~90%

6 Verified sightings at Niokolo-Koba National Park From 2019 to 2026
6 In 1 park
January Best month
🌅 Crepuscular When it's spotted

About the West African Large-spotted Genet

The pardine genet (Genetta pardina), also known as the West African large spotted genet, is a genet species living in West Africa. As it is widely distributed and common, it is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

The pardine genet's fur is yellowish grey with round black spots, which are bigger on the hind legs than on the shoulders. Its head is more reddish, and the muzzle brownish. It has white spots under each eye and below the chin. Its ears are grey. Its tail has six to seven narrow white and six to seven broader black rings. The tip of the tail is black.

Measurements of adult males range from 410 to 553 mm (16.1 to 21.8 in) in head and body with a 390 to 490 mm (15 to 19 in) long tail. Adult females range from 410 to 530 mm (16 to 21 in) in head and body with a 420 to 450 mm (17 to 18 in) long tail.

Pardine genets are distributed from Senegal eastwards to Ghana, where the Volta River is possibly a barrier to dispersal. They live in rainforests, gallery forests, moist woodlands, but also in plantations. They also venture into suburbs.

Pardine genets are solitary, and active at night. They... Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Niokolo-Koba National Park 🇸🇳 Senegal
~30%

More parks will be added in future updates.

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a West African Large-spotted Genet in Niokolo-Koba National Park?

Possible

About 30% of wildlife watchers report a West African Large-spotted Genet sighting in Niokolo-Koba National Park on a given day, based on 6 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 14th most-seen of the 15 mammals we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 70%, and over a week to about 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a West African Large-spotted Genet in Niokolo-Koba National Park?

January to March

In those months about 40% of wildlife watchers report a West African Large-spotted Genet in Niokolo-Koba National Park on a given day, against about 10% in April–June and November–December, the lowest months. Those are among Niokolo-Koba National Park's driest months, with almost no rain against 300 mm in August. July to October have too few records to rate.

What time of day is best to see a West African Large-spotted Genet?

Between 8 and 11 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most West African Large-spotted Genet sightings with a recorded time, and about 6 in 10 of them come between 6 pm and 6 am: it is most active around dawn and dusk.

Where else can you see a West African Large-spotted Genet?

Only Niokolo-Koba National Park, in our data

Niokolo-Koba National Park is the only park on Wallace's Line with enough records to rate West African Large-spotted Genet sightings: about 30% of wildlife watchers there report one on a given day.

Where does the West African Large-spotted Genet sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the West African Large-spotted Genet is recorded against all the mammals logged in Niokolo-Koba National Park (6 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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