There is a high degree of phenotypic variation in this species, which resulted in the description of several subspecies across its range. Mitochondrial phylogeography suggested the existence of four distinct lineages within the species range, circumscribed to the Mediterranean Basin, western Africa (also spread into North Africa), southern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula (Gaubert et al. 2011). In Europe, the Common Genet is characterized by a relative morphological homogeneity both in terms of phenotypic and craniometric traits, except for the Ibiza population (Delibes and Gaubert 2013). Genetic evidence supports the existence of a single taxon across Europe, introduced several times from North Africa into the Balearic Isl. and south-western continental Europe (Gaubert et al. 2009, 2011, 2015a), corresponding to the nominal subspecies G. g. genetta.

SYNONYMS only for Europe: balearica Thomas, 1902 [Inca, Mallorca, Balearic Isl., Spain]; gallica Oken, 1816 [alternative name for hispanica]; hispanica Oken, 1816 [Ronda, Malaga, southern Spain]; isabelae Delibes, 1977 [Santa Eulalia, Ibiza, Balearic Isl., Spain]; lusitanica Seabra, 1924 [Coimbra, Portugal; nomen nudum]; melas Graells, 1897 [Sierra Morena, southern Spain]; peninsulae Cabrera, 1905 [El Pardo, Madrid, central Spain]; pyrenaica Bourdelle and Dezillière, 1951 [Pyreneans, southwestern France; nomen nudum]; rhodanica Matschie, 1902 [Montpellier, southern France]; vulgaris Lesson, 1827 [alternative name for genetta].

European regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)
EU 27 regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)

The species is listed as Least Concern for both Europe and for the EU 27 Member States. It was introduced to Europe before 1500, and thus it is considered as part of the naturalised regional fauna for the purposes of this assessment. The Common Genet has a southwestern European range seemingly expanding northward and eastward and including several protected areas. Populations are expanding but are locally subjected to road mortality, poaching and non-selective killing during control operations, and as a solitary carnivore density is moderate. No quantifiable information is available on long-term population size trends across its European range.

In Europe, the Common Genet occurs as the result of historical introduction (prior to 1500 CE) and is present across continental Portugal and Spain, and southwestern France (mainly south of the Loire River and west of the Rhône River). It is also found on the Mediterranean islands of Majorca, Ibiza, and Cabrera (Balearic Islands). There have also been scattered records from northern and eastern France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany (Gaubert et al. 2008, Léger and Ruette 2010, Pesaresi and Ruedi 2020). The species seems to be expanding its range beyond the Loire (France: in Bretagne and Centre) and in northwestern Italy (Gaubert et al. 2008, Mignone et al. 2010, Mazza and Mori 2023), such trend being possibly exacerbated by global warming (Papes et al. 2015, Camps et al. 2019). The species was likely introduced several times in Europe from around 700 AD (Gaubert et al. 2011, 2015a). In Europe, the species is thermophilic but can be found up to 1,350 m asl (Livet and Roeder 1987).

Outside of Europe, in its natural range, the Common Genet is widely distributed across the savannah zones of sub-Saharan Africa and in the forests of the Maghreb and southern Arabian Peninsula (Delibes and Gaubert 2013).

This species is viewed as a common small carnivore in its native range. In Europe, the species is considered moderately abundant and appears common in suitable habitats. Density estimates are generally between 0.59 and 0.75 individuals per km² (Palomares and Delibes 1994, Sarmento et al. 2014, Camps 2015), but can drastically decrease in the presence of direct predators such as the Iberian Lynx (Palomares et al. 1996). The population status for the three Balearic Islands where the species occurs is Least Concern (Viada 2021). Data on local population trends through time are not available except in the Doñana National Park where the species is showing uncertainly decreasing or clearly decreasing trends, in this area Common Genet population dynamics are cyclical, with periods of slightly greater abundance alternating with population decrease events (Sereno et al. 2023).

The Common Genet is a generalist, adaptable carnivore, in terms of both habitat and diet. In general, abundant vegetation cover providing access to food and resting sites (including forests, riverbank vegetation and scrubland) is key for the species (Santos et al. 2016). In areas where vegetation cover is scarce, the Common Genet requires the presence of rocks or woodland pastures, often using tree hollows as resting sites (Carvalho et al. 2014). The species generally avoids anthropised and urban areas, although it can sometimes be observed at the proximity of farms and villas.

The Common Genet can almost occupy any trophic position along the generalist-to-specialist continuum, depending on prey availability and abundance. Diets from Mediterranean environments tend to be more diverse and shifted towards poikilothermic prey (arthropods and reptiles) while small mammals and birds dominate in the northern portion of its European range, reflecting the opportunistic feeding behaviour of the species (Virgós et al. 1999, Rosalino and Santos-Reis 2002). The staple food, when available, is the field mouse Apodemus sylvaticus (Le Jacques and Lodé 1994, Rosalino and Santos-Reis 2002). Fruits are also consumed, mainly in autumn (Camps 2015).

In Europe, the Common Genet was traditionally trapped for its fur (Delort 1978) but hunting is now generally prohibited. Considering that legal controls on small carnivores are not selective (Fernández-López et al. 2014), Common Genets may be illegally killed in areas managed by hunters. Together with road kills, those may be the most important sources of anthropogenic mortality. In southern Portugal, two-thirds of the road-kills recorded over a 10-year period were subadults and the road-kill index was c. 12.8 ind./100 km/year (Carvalho et al. 2018). Urbanisation and intensive agriculture are likely to have a deleterious impact on the species' presence (Pereira and Rodriguez 2010).

There is no current use or trade of this species, although it was hunted in the past for its fur.

The Common Genet is globally listed as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (Gaubert et al. 2015b). The species is listed on Appendix III of the Bern Convention and on Annex V of the EU Habitats and Species Directive under a “Favourable” conservation status. In France, it is nationally protected by a ministerial decree (“Arrêté du 23 avril 2007 fixant la liste des mammifères terrestres protégés sur l’ensemble du territoire et les modalités de leur protection”). The species has been listed as Vulnerable in the “Liste rouge des mammifères de la région Centre” (Nature Centre 2012). In Spain, the Common Genet is under generic protection, as it is not included in the catalogue of invasive alien species (Real Decreto 630/2013, de 2 de agosto) and hunting is not allowed. In the Balearic Island (Spain), Common Genets are considered Least Concern (Viada 2021). In Andorra, it is included in the list of protected animal species of the Reglament d’espècies animals proteges of 2013. In Portugal, the common genet is protected by Law No 49/2005 relative to the preservation of natural habitats and wild fauna and flora, but can be killed as part of predator controls (Lei da Caça: DL nº 251/92 de 12 de Novembro). The species is considered “Least Concern” on the Portuguese Red List of Threatened Species.

The Common Genet is present in many protected areas across Europe. Given the reliance of the species on vegetation cover, suitable networks of corridors (such as linear woody remnants; Pereira and Rodriguez 2010) should be set up to maintain the species in intensively exploited lands. Reforestation programs would also be beneficial (Sarmento et al. 2010, Camps and Alldredge 2013), as suggested by the species’ status improvement in Ibiza. Since Common Genets can be significantly impacted by road networks (Carvalho et al. 2018), the design of crossing structures should be encouraged. Given the ecosystem services linked to the feeding habits of the Common Genet (i.e., as a predator of rodents and insects, and a seed disperser), maintaining a non-pest status for the species throughout Europe is recommended.