Back to
Small Carnivore TAG Page
Back to
Small Carnivore TAG Page
Congo Water Civet
(Osbornictis piscivora)
Taxonomy Description Distribution/Range/Habitat
Feeding Habits Behavior Status
in Wild
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Viverridae
Subfamily: Viverrinae
Genus: Osbornictis
Species: Osbornictis
piscivora
The Congo Water Civet is characterized by its rusty to dull red coat, black tail as well as elongated white spots above the eyes. White is found surrounding the muzzle. Family Viverridae is broken down into two subfamilies. The Congo Water Civet is in a subfamily of its own, because it is the most aquatic. Unlike other members of family Viverridae the Congo Water Civets palms and soles are hairless to help it better capture and hold onto its aquatic prey. The teeth of the Congo Water Civet are considered weak and small compared to its other relatives who do not focus mainly on fish consumption. Large strong teeth are not needed for it to be efficient in catching fish, instead it modifies its premolars to be larger than its molars to better hold onto the slippery fish. The Congo Water Civet has fairly small olfactory lobes in its slender head indicating its poor sense of smell. A great sense of smell is not needed in catching fish as touch and sight are primarily used.. Specimens can weigh between 1430 and 1500 grams and can be between 785 and 910 mm in length. Sexual dimorphism is unknown in this species due to only having studied about 30 specimens. The Congo Water Civet seems to be a solitary species only coming together to mate. The mating system is greatly unknown and relatives should not be studied because they are not in the same subfamily. One female was collected and carried one embryo but no true knowledge is known. Although not known to this species most Viverrids have altricial young cared for by the female in a den or nest.
The
Congo Water Civet is native to central African equatorial forests and inhabits a
small region between the north eastern bank of the Congo River and eastern and
northeastern Congo. The Congo Water Civet has been spotted in Uganda and Burundi
but is not considered native to there. The habitat of the Congo Water Civet is
mainly equatorial forests, living along streams and creaks. Most captures of
this species were conducted around streams and rivers.
The
Congo Water Civet is carnivorous focusing mainly on fish. The bare soles and
weak teeth are a great indicator of its feeding habits, they allow them to
capture and hold onto the slippery fish. The stomach contents of a specimen was
found with fish bones and some whole fish. It has been seen eating fish and
small amphibians and crustaceans as well as some farmed tubers.
No live animals have been observed in the wild although it is believed they are solitary and only come together to mate. Although the main prey of the Congo Water Civet is fish it dislikes getting wet. It will attract a fish by tapping the water and putting its whiskers into the water to sense the fishes movements. Once a fish is found it will dive in and get right out.
In different parts of the region they inhabit their numbers will vary. Different groups of local people report larger and smaller numbers of specimens in their area. The main threats to this species are logging and deforestation, toxins in the water from mining are also thought to hurt this species numbers due to eating the aquatic inhabitants. Status is unknown.
For more information visit:
Animal Diversity Web: Osbornictis piscivora
Lioncrusher's Domain: Osbornictis piscivora
For further information, contact the Small Carnivore TAG Education Liaison.
Created by Elissa
Rosenberg, Pensacola Junior College,
Zoo Tech Student Fall 2006
December 14, 2006
Back to top