African Civet

Civettictis civetta

Last updated: March 11, 2023
Verified by: AZ Animals Staff
© Николай Усик / http://paradoxusik.livejournal.com/, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons – License / Original

Secretes up to 4g of musk every week!


Advertisement


African Civet Scientific Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Carnivora
Family
Viverridae
Genus
Civettictis
Scientific Name
Civettictis civetta

Read our Complete Guide to Classification of Animals.

African Civet Conservation Status

African Civet Locations

African Civet Locations

African Civet Facts

Prey
Rodents, Snakes, Frogs
Name Of Young
Pup
Group Behavior
  • Solitary
Fun Fact
Secretes up to 4g of musk every week!
Estimated Population Size
Abundant
Biggest Threat
Habitat loss
Most Distinctive Feature
Black band around their eyes
Gestation Period
60 - 70 days
Habitat
Tropical rainforest
Predators
Lions, Snakes, Leopards
Diet
Omnivore
Average Litter Size
3
Lifestyle
  • Nocturnal
Common Name
African Civet
Number Of Species
1
Location
across sub-Saharan Africa
Slogan
Secretes up to 4g of musk every week!
Group
Mammal

African Civet Physical Characteristics

Color
  • Brown
  • Grey
  • Yellow
  • Black
  • White
  • Tan
Skin Type
Fur
Lifespan
15 - 20 years
Weight
1.4kg - 4.5kg (3lbs - 10lbs)
Height
43cm - 71cm (17in - 28in)
Age of Sexual Maturity
11 - 12 months
Age of Weaning
8 - 10 weeks

View all of the African Civet images!



Share on:

Classification And Evolution

The African Civet is a large species of civet found in savannahs and forests across sub-Saharan Africa. It is the only member in its genus and is considered to be the largest civet-like animal on the African continent. Regardless of their cat-like appearance, African Civets are not felines but are in fact, more closely related to other small carnivores including weasels and mongooses. Best known for the musk that it secretes to mark its territory (called Civetone), which has been used in the production of perfumes for centuries. This mammal’s striking black and white markings make it easy to identify.

Evolution And Origin

It is believed that the African Civet is a descendant of the Viverra genus. Although closely related, they most likely diverged over 12 million years ago. Due to several distinct differences between the two, it was determined that this genus was a new species and is currently, as a result of the significant amount of contrasting characteristics, the only member of the genus Civettictis.

Anatomy And Appearance

An African Civet

An African Civet is distinct because of its black and white markings on their fur.

©Николай Усик / http://paradoxusik.livejournal.com/, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons – License

One of the African Civet’s most distinctive features is the black and white markings on their fur and grey face. Along with the black band around their eyes, their coloring gives these animals a raccoon-like appearance. The similarity is only intensified by the fact that the African Civet’s rear legs are quite a bit longer than the front legs, making its stance very different from that of the mongoose. The average adult African Civet has a body length of around 27.55 inches with a tail of nearly the same length, and paws that each have five digits with non-retractable claws to enable it to move through the trees easily.

Distribution And Habitat

The African Civet is found in numerous habitats on the African continent, with its range extending coast to coast, and can also be found in river systems in Chad, Mali, and Niger, all located in sub-Saharan Africa. They are most commonly found in jungles and tropical forests and areas where there is plenty of heavy vegetation to provide both concealment and animals that the African Civets lives on. These mammals are rarely found in arid regions and always must be in an area that has a good water source, although it is not out of the ordinary for them to be found along rivers that lead into more arid environments. In addition to being capable swimmers, they also often spend their time hunting and resting in trees as well as on the ground.



Behavior And Lifestyle

African Palm Civet (Nandinia binotata) - african palm civet babies

The African Civet is highly territorial and during mating season, has been known to gather in large groups.

©Mark Sheridan-Johnson/Shutterstock.com

Lone animals that only come out during the dark to hunt and catch food, these nocturnal animals are mainly tree-dwelling and spend most of the day resting in the safety of the trees. African Civets tend to be most active at twilight, just after sunset, but tend to hunt in areas that still provide plenty of cover. Despite being altogether solitary creatures, the African Civet has been known to gather in larger groups, up to 15 members, especially during mating season. Highly territorial animals, they will mark their boundaries with the scent released by their perineal glands.

Reproduction And Life Cycles

The only time African Civets seem to be seen together is when they are mating. The female generally gives birth to up to 4 young after a gestation period that lasts for a couple of months and nests in an underground burrow that has been dug by another animal in order to safely raise her young. Unlike many of their carnivorous relatives, civet babies are usually born quite mobile and with their fur. The babies are nursed by their mothers until they are strong enough to fend for themselves. African Civets can live for up to 20 years, although many rarely get to be this old.

Diet And Prey

African Palm Civet (Nandinia binotata)

The civet has a varied diet consisting of both meat and plants.

©francesco de marco/Shutterstock.com

Despite the fact that the African Civet is a carnivorous mammal, it has a very varied diet that consists of both animal and plant matter. Small animals such as frogs, rodents, lizards, and snakes make up the majority of the African Civet’s diet, along with berries, insects, fallen fruits, and anything that it finds on the forest floor. Rather than use its paws, the African Civet primarily uses its teeth and mouth to gather food and this way of eating means that it can use its 40 sharp teeth effectively to break down its catch while its strong jaw makes it harder for its meal to try and escape.

Predators And Threats

Despite being a covert yet relatively merciless predator, the African Civet is in fact preyed upon by numerous predators within their natural environment. Large predatory cats are the most common hunters of the African Civet including leopards and lions, as well as large snakes and crocodiles. African Civet populations are also under threat from both loss of habitat and deforestation and have been vulnerable to trophy hunters in the past, across Africa. One of the biggest threats to the African Civet is the demand for their musk.

Interesting Facts And Features

African Civet musk glands were an ingredient in some of the most expensive perfumes in the world.

©Wikipedia Loves Art participant “assignment_houston_one”, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons – License

The glands close to the African Civet’s reproductive organs secrete a musk that has been collected by humans for centuries. The smell is said to be quite offensive to people when it is in a concentrated form but much more pleasant once it’s diluted. This is the scent that became one of the ingredients in some of the most expensive perfumes in the world and led to the African Civet becoming a well-known animal. African Civets are known to carry rabies disease, which is contracted through contact with an infected animal.

Relationship With Humans

Each African Civet secretes up to 4g of musk on a weekly basis, which is ordinarily garnered from them in the wild. However, it is not unknown to capture and keep African Civets for their musk, and is thought of as an incredibly cruel industry. Today, there are very few perfumes that still contain actual musk from their glands as there are many scents today that are easily artificially reproduced. Although it is not yet an endangered animal, its population has also been severely affected by human hunters, who like to add their fur and skin to the trophy cabinet.

Conservation Status And Life Today

An African Civet is not currently in danger of becoming extinct.

©Cliff (cliff1066™) / CC BY 2.0, Flickr – License

Today, the African Civet is under threat from deforestation and therefore in danger of losing much of its natural habitat. There is such an extensive case of deforestation in the area due to logging and clearing of the land. The African Civet is currently classed as being the Least Concern, which means that there is little threat at the moment that the African Civet will become extinct in the near future.

View all 194 animals that start with A

Share on:
About the Author

Melissa Bauernfeind was born in NYC and got her degree in Journalism from Boston University. She lived in San Diego for 10 years and is now back in NYC. She loves adventure and traveling the world with her husband but always misses her favorite little man, "P", half Chihuahua/half Jack Russell, all trouble. She got dive-certified so she could dive with the Great White Sharks someday and is hoping to swim with the Orcas as well.

African Civet FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

Are African Civets herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores?

African Civets are Omnivores, meaning they eat both plants and other animals.

What Kingdom do African Civets belong to?

African Civets belong to the Kingdom Animalia.

What phylum to African Civets belong to?

African Civets belong to the phylum Chordata.

What family do African Civets belong to?

African Civets belong to the family Viverridae.

What order do African Civets belong to?

African Civets belong to the order Carnivora.

What is the biggest threat to the African Civet?

The biggest threat to the African Civet is habitat loss.

How to say African Civet in ...
German
Pardelroller
Finnish
Afrikanpalmunäätä
French
Civette palmiste africaine
Dutch
Pardelroller
English
Afrikansk palmeruller
Turkish
Afrika palmiye misk kedisi

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.

Sources
  1. David Burnie, Dorling Kindersley (2011) Animal, The Definitive Visual Guide To The World's Wildlife
  2. Tom Jackson, Lorenz Books (2007) The World Encyclopedia Of Animals
  3. David Burnie, Kingfisher (2011) The Kingfisher Animal Encyclopedia
  4. Richard Mackay, University of California Press (2009) The Atlas Of Endangered Species
  5. David Burnie, Dorling Kindersley (2008) Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Animals
  6. Dorling Kindersley (2006) Dorling Kindersley Encyclopedia Of Animals
  7. David W. Macdonald, Oxford University Press (2010) The Encyclopedia Of Mammals
  8. About African Civets, Available here: http://www.robinsonlibrary.com/science/zoology/mammals/carnivora/civet.htm
  9. Civet Scent Glands, Available here: http://thewebsiteofeverything.com/animals/mammals/Carnivora/Viverridae/Civettictis/Civettictis-civetta.html
  10. African Civet Benhaviour, Available here: http://www.wildlifesafari.info/african_civet.html
  11. The African Civet, Available here: http://www.predatorconservation.com/civet.htm

Newly Added Animals

A Cobalt Blue Tarantula
Cobalt Blue Tarantula

Cobalt blue tarantulas spend most of their time in self-dug burrows and only emerge when it's time to eat

A Dried Fruit Moth
Dried Fruit Moth

In the event of adverse environmental conditions, dried fruit moth larvae will become dormant and stop developing.

Most Recently Updated Animals

A Cobalt Blue Tarantula
Cobalt Blue Tarantula

Cobalt blue tarantulas spend most of their time in self-dug burrows and only emerge when it's time to eat

A Dried Fruit Moth
Dried Fruit Moth

In the event of adverse environmental conditions, dried fruit moth larvae will become dormant and stop developing.