RT journal article
T1 New insights into the introduction of the common genet (Genetta genetta), (L.) in Europe
A1 Delibes, Miguel
A1 Centeno Cuadros, Alejandro
A1 Muxart, Virginie
A1 Delibes, Germán
A1 Ramos Fernández, Julián
A1 Morales, Arturo
A2 BiomedicinaBiotecnología y Salud Pública
K1 Animal translocation
K1 Humo Cave
K1 Mammalian carnivore
K1 Mitochondrial DNA
K1 Phoenicians
K1 Phylogeography
AB Paleontological, archaeological, and biogeographical evidences strongly suggest the common genet (Genetta genetta; Mammalia, Carnivora) was translocated by humans into Europe. Awidespread hypothesis considers the Muslims, which conquered Iberia at the eighth century AD, as the putativeagents of translocation. This hypothesis was reinforced because the first record of the species in Europe until now was reported on an Almohad (i.e., early thirteenth century AD) deposit in Mértola (Portugal). Besides, the European genets share a mitochondrial clade with those of coastal Algeria. Wehave radiocarbon dated some bones of two intrusive genets retrieved at prehistoric levels of Abrigo 6 del Humo complex (Málaga, south Spain). One of them was dated at a 14C age of 1310 ± 30 BP (calibrated date 656–773 AD, 95.4% probability), five centuries earlier than the specimen fromMértola. Sequenced mitochondrial DNA from this A6H individual resulted in a 264-bp fragment of cytochrome b and 248 bp of the control region, concatenated in a single 512- bp sequence. The Abrigo 6 haplotype differed from those of the most common haplogroup (including the specimen fromMértola) previously described in European genets, being much closer to a divergent haplogroup restricted to Andalusia. We discuss the new insights from this genet in its phylogeographical, archaeozoological, and historical frames to conclude that the more widely dispersed haplogroup ofgenets in Europe could be related to Muslim activities, while the Andalusian haplogroup would correspond to an earlier introduction event, probably by the Phoenicians or their Carthaginian heirs.
PB SPRINGER HEIDELBERG
SN 1866-9565
YR 2019
FD 2019
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10498/30109
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10498/30109
LA eng
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Cádiz
RD 12-nov-2026