African Civet
Civettictis civetta
Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Viverridae
Subfamily: Viverrinae
Genus: Civettictis
Species: civetta
Description:
Length: 24 – 36 inches
Tail:
17 – 24 inches
Coloration: Black w/ yellowish or white spots, stripes, and bands
Thick, coarse hair
Special attributes:
Perineal
glands, under the base of the tail used for scent marking.
Larger Hindquarters w/ low head stance, resembling that of a raccoon.
Short mane running down the dorsal side of the neck.
Habitat:
Savannahs and forests of South & Central Africa, ranging from Senegal
to
Somalia and south to Namibia and eastern South Africa.
Will not live in arid regions but can be found near the river systems of
arid
regions.
Nocturnal
Rests during the day in tall grasses or thickets of the savannah or in
the forest.
Terrestrial, but can swim and does so very effectively.
Omnivore; has a diet consisting of carrion, rodents, birds, eggs,
reptiles, fruits,
vegetables, and anything else it sees as a food source.
Solitary, except when breeding
Uses auditory, visual, and olfactory communication.
Includes: Physical
displays (visual)
Scent markings (olfactory)
Auditory (growls, cough-spit, and even a laughing sound)
Reproduction:
Will burrow or nest when bearing young.
Polyestrous females; 2 – 3 liters per year; 1- 4 young per liter.
After a 60 to 72 day gestation period, young are born fully furred and
are ready to
leave the nest after 17 –18 days.
They are dependant on mother’s milk for 6 weeks before beginning an
omnivore-
like diet.
Reaching sexual maturity at 1 year of age, the average life span of the
African
Civet is 15 – 20 years with captive specimens living into their late
20’s.
African Civets have been kept in captive for hundreds of years due to the
amount
of musk they can produce in a lifetime. The average civet can produce 3
– 4
grams of musk per week, which is then sold to Europe, North Africa, and
the
Middle East for the purpose of making perfume. Even King Solomon’s
supply of
musk came from East Africa. Native Africans do not raise civets,
unfortunately,
but capture wild ones for musk collection. The musk trade has declined
over the
years but it is still in existence. In 1988, there were still 2,700
captive civets in
Ethiopia that were producing musk, which was being sold to France at $438
per kg.
Currently, there are only 7 African civets in zoos worldwide.
Links for further civet information:
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For
more information:
Contact the Small Carnivore TAG Education
Liaison
Page created by Zack H. Enos, Pensacola Junior College ZooTech student, Fall 2001