There is also a black stripe on the forehead, and dark patches beneath the eyes, which are offset against the white fur of the chin and throat.

[4] In North Africa, the common genet occurs along the western Mediterranean coast, and in a broad band from Senegal and Mauritania in the west throughout the savannah zone south of the Sahara to Somalia and Tanzania in the east.

[9] Its range in Europe has historically been considered bounded by the rivers Loire and Rhône, which were believed to form barriers to its expansion north and east, respectively; specimens encountered beyond the southwest of France have consequently been considered escapees from captivity instead of signs of breeding populations.

However, genets have been recorded east of the Rhône in numbers too large to be accounted for through the casual dispersal of escaped exotic pets.

Due to this and the presence of large breeding populations of genets at the edge of their traditional range, the trans-Rhône specimens are believed to represent established populations descended from specimens that crossed the river using bridges built in urban areas.

[2] Specimens have been encountered in high altitude areas in the Alps, but it is not clear if this demonstrates casual occurrence or true habit suitability.

[10] It prefers to live in areas with dense vegetation, such as bushes, thickets, and evergreen oak forests.

[13] In Manzanares Park in central Spain, it lives foremost in areas of 1,000–1,200 m (3,300–3,900 ft) elevation with many rocks and shrubs.

[14] The common genet and wood mouse share the same habitats and niches, specifically Mediterranean forests.

In southern Spain, adult individuals occupy home ranges of about 7.8 km2 (3.0 sq mi) in average.

Males mark less frequently than females, often spraying urine, rather than using their scent glands, and do so primarily during the breeding season.

Common genets also defecate at specific latrine sites, which are often located at the edge of their territories, and perform a similar function to other scent marks.

Threatening behavior consists of erection of the dark central dorsal band of hair, an arched-back stance, opening the mouth, and baring the teeth.

[2][24] In Spain, common genets can suffer from infestation of parasitic worms as well as ticks, fleas and lice.

[25] In Africa, predators include African leopard, serval, caracal, honey badger, and large owl species.

[12] In Spain, common genets breed between January and September, with a peak in February and March and another one in the summer.

The following are considered valid:[31] Genetta felina has been reclassified as a species based on morphological diagnoses comparing 5500 Viverrinae specimens in zoological collections.

[35] Along with other viverrids, genets are among living carnivorans considered to be the morphologically closest to the extinct common ancestor of the whole order.