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World Cup: Portugal’s Common Genet (Genetta genetta)

Posted on Jul 5, 2010 by in Carnivores, Theme Weeks | 2 comments

Genetta genetta

Number 0337

This crazy-looking drawing is of a common genet, also called a small-spotted genet (I think the hyphen is important, but not everyone uses it) or a European genet. It’s representing Portugal in Group G of the Mammals of the World Cup series. It’s a carnivore in the Viverridae family, with the civets and linsangs. It lives in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, and it mostly eats smaller animals. It’s nocturnal and a very skilled hunter. Walker’s Mammals of the World says, “The genet’s slender and loosely jointed body allows it to go through any opening its head can enter.”

Portugal’s soccer team, which includes a player whose full name is Danny, made it to the Round of 16 in this World Cup, where it was beaten by Spain, 1-0.

2 Comments

  1. His full name is Danny?! That’s insane! Favourite World Cup factoid yet.

    • Well, okay, technically his full name is Daniel Miguel Alves Gomes, but he goes by just Danny, and his jersey just says Danny, and when they put up the graphic for a substitution, it just says Danny.

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