Facts and Features African Civet

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum : Chordata

Class : Mammalia

Order: Carnivora

Family : Viverridae

Genre : Civettictis

Scientific Name : Civettictis Civetta

Common Name : African Civet

Group: Mammal

Number of species : 1

Location: in sub-Saharan Africa

Habitat : Tropical Forest

Color : Black,white,gray,yellow,Brown ,Tan

Skin Type:Fur

Size ( H ) : 44cm - 71cm ( 17 inches - 28 inches)

Weight: 1.4 kg - 4.5 kg ( 3 pounds - 10 pounds )

Diet : Omnivorous

Prey : Rodents,snakes, Frogs

Attackers: lions,snakes, leopards

Lifestyle : Nocturnal

Group behavior : Solitary

Life Span: 15-20 years

Sexual Maturity Age: 11-12 months

Gestation period : 60-70 days

Average Litter Size : 3

Name of Young : Pup

Weaning Age: 8-10 weeks

Preservation Status : Least Concern

Estimated Population Size: Abundant

Threts:loss of habitat

More distinctive feature: Black Band around eyes

Funny Facts: Secret  4 g of musk every week !

Classification and Evolution of African Civet

The African Civet is the largest species of Civet found in sub-Saharan Africa .The African Civet is the only remaining member in genetic group and is considered the largest civet -like in Africa.Despite its appearance and behavior like Cat ,African civets are not felines at all but are more closely related to other small carnivores like weasels and mongooses.The African civet is best known for musk that it generates to mark their territory (called civetone ) , \which has been used in the manufacture of perfumes for centuries and is black and white striking marks make the African civet one of the most Civet species easy to identify.

Anatomy and Appearance of African Civet

One of the most distinctive features is it's black and white markings on their skin and gray face along with the black band around the eyes , gives it racoon like appearance.The only similarity is enhanced by the fact that the hind legs of the African civet are slightly longer than the front ,so the position is very different from that of a mongoose .The average adult African civet has a length of about 70 cm, with almost same length of the tail above.The legs of the African civet each have five digits with retractable claws  allowing  more easily to move on trees.

Distribution and Habitat of African Civet

The African civet is found in a variety of habitats on the African continent ,with its range extends from coast to coast in sub - Saharan Africa.African Civets are most commonly found in tropical forests and jungles and overgrown areas with dense to provide coverage and African civets for food.African Civets are never found in the arid regions and should always be in an area that has good amount of water supply.Despite this , however , it is not uncommon for African civets are found along rivers that lead in the most arid regions. They are able to swim quite well and spend most of their time hunting and resting in the trees and on the ground .

Behavior & Lifestyle of African Civet

The African Civet is a solitary animal that only comes out at night to hunt and catch food.These nocturnal animals spend most of the day resting in the safety of the trees high above.African Civets tend to be most active just after sunset , but tend to hunt in areas still provide plenty of coverage.Despite being generally very solitary animals ,during the mating season African civet has been known to gather in groups of up to 15 members.They are also very territorial animals ,marking its boundaries with the odor emitted from the perineal glands .

Reproduction and life cycles of African Civet

African civets are seen together during mating season.The female African civet usually gives birth to up to 4 young after a gestation period that lasts a couple of months.The female one stays in a  underground burrow that  have been dug by another animal in order to keep safe the young .Unlike many of his relatives carnivores ,Civet babies are usually born very mobile and with their skin.Babies are nursed by their mothers until they are strong enough to protect themselves.African civets can live up to 20 years ,although many rarely get to this age.

Diet and Prey  of African Civet

Despite the fact that the African civet is a carnivorous mammal it's diet is a collection of both animal and plant matter.Small animals such as rodents ,lizards ,snakes and frogs make up the majority of the diet of the African civet ,along with insects , berries and fallen fruit that is available on ground.Instead of using their legs, African civet mainly used their teeth and mouth to collect food.This method means that the African civet can use their 40 sharp teeth to effectively break it's catch down and the strong jaw of African civet makes difficult for food to get out.

Threats to African Civet

The African civet is really prey to a number of other predators in their natural environment.Large Cats are common predators of African civet  along with lions and leopards as well as reptiles such as large snakes and crocodiles.It's population are also threatened by habitat loss and deforestation, and have been the subject of trophy hunters in the past, across the continent.One of the greatest threats to the African Civet is the want for their musk.

Interesting Facts and Features of African Civet

The musk secreted by glands near the reproductive organs has been collected by humans for hundreds of years of this African Civet.In its most concentrated form ,the scent is said to be very offensive to people ,but much nicer once diluted.It was this smell that became one of the ingredients in some of the most expensive perfumes in the world( and made African Civet most popular).African Civets are known to carry rabies disease ,which is contracted through contact with an animal already infected.The African Civet is also known to use designated areas around it's territory ,where it is able to toilet.

Relationship of African Civet with humans

Each African civet secrets  musk of up to 4 g in each week ,which is generally collected African civets in the wild.However, the capturing and retention of African civets for their musk is not unknown and is said to be an  incredibly cruel business.Today ,few perfumes still contain real musk glands of the African civet as today many of them are artificially produced.Although it is a protected area,not extincted animal ,African Civet population have also been  affected by human hunters,who hunt these small carnivores simply add their skin to the trophy cabinet.

Conservation Status of African Civet

Today, the African civet is threatened by deforestation and therefore drastic loss of much of their natural habitat.The main reason for this extensive deforestation in the area is either to register or to clear land to make way for palm oil plantations.The African civet is listed as Least Concern ,meaning that there is little threat at the time that the African civet extinct in the near future .