New insights into the introduction of the common genet, Genetta genetta (L.) in Europe

Paleontological, archaeological, and biogeographical evidences strongly suggest the common genet (Genetta genetta; Mammalia, Carnivora) was translocated by humans into Europe. A widespread hypothesis considers the Muslims, which conquered Iberia at the eighth century AD, as the putative agents 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 Mertola (Portugal). Besides, the European genets share a mitochondrial clade with those of coastal Algeria. We have radiocarbon dated some bones of two intrusive genets retrieved at prehistoric levels of Abrigo 6 del Humo complex (Malaga, 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 from Mertola. 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 from Mertola) 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 of genets 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.