Zanzibar servaline genet Zanzibar servaline genet The Zanzibar servaline genet ("Genetta servalina archeri") is a recently discovered subspecies of servaline genet endemic to Unguja Island in the Tanzanian archipelago of Zanzibar. Its conservation status is uncertain. 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 Mountains 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
Wildlife of Zanzibar The 54 terrestrial mammals found in Zanzibar include 23 species of bats ("popo" in Swahili). Other species are: bush tailed mongoose (local name "chongwe"), which is found in the coral rag forests of the south-eastern coast of Unguja and in the deep soil region on the western part of Pemba Island; the small blue duiker; suni (mammalian) or dwarf antelope (just tall); African and small Indian civet; as well as green and hawks-billed turtles. The Zanzibar red colobus has been known to consume charcoal, possibly a learned behaviour, after eating the leaves of the Indian almond tree and "Mangifera indica"