The African civet (Civettictis civetta) is a solitary, nocturnal omnivore with short grey fur, black spots in an ordered pattern, black legs and solid black patches around the eyes and nose. It has a body length of about 680–890 mm, a tail of about 445–630 mm and weighs about 14 kg on average. Because it is mostly active after dark, it is difficult to find on Kruger safaris.
Name
Civet [Civettictis civetta]
Appearance
The African Civet is a meerkat- raccoon looking animal that has short grey fur with black spots along its body in an ordered pattern. The Civet’s legs and 2/3 of their tails are black, with the other 1/3 being the base coat and covered in black stripes. The Civet’s face is mostly grey and the areas around the eyes and nose are solid black. The necks of the civet have stripes going down to their bodies, usually being one white stripe sandwiched between two black stripes. Civets have a dark colour mane about 3 – 10 cm long that runs down to its back. The Civet has a body length of about 680 – 890 mm long, a tail length of about 445 – 630mm and have a weight averaging about 14kg. There are 5 digits per paw and each paw has non retractable claws. The fur colour can differ a bit having yellowish spots, stripes and bands. This colour scheme makes the Civet a tricky animal to see during Kruger day safaris.
Diet
The civet is an omnivore, which means it eats plants as well as meat. Its diet can contain anything from eggs, reptiles and crabs to birds, carrion and rodents. This nocturnal feeder is mostly active about 2 hours after dark, hunting for things to eat.
Breeding
The female civet is sexually active at about 1 year old and are polyoestrous, meaning they can have 2 – 3 litters a year, each litter usually containing 2 to 4 young. Unlike most carnivores, civet cubs are born more advanced. The Civet young are born with a full coat, though darker and less defined markings than adults, they can crawl at birth, can walk at 5 days old and leave the nest after about 18 days. Civet cubs begin to show signs of playing behaviour at 2 weeks old. For the first weeks, the cubs are dependent on their mother’s milk and only start catching their own food by the second month.
Behaviour
Little is known about the civet because it is a nocturnal animal that lives a solitary life. Civets only come together to mate. They mark their territory by secreting a very strong, musky odor that can last for up to 3 months. Though Civets are solitary animals, they do communicate in various olfactory, visual and auditory means. Civets are naturally docile animals and will not attack without being threatened. Scents can be used to convey various messages. Since the Civet is a nocturnal animal, people on Kruger Tours find it difficult to find one.
Habitat
Civets live in areas that provide enough cover and safety during the day like forests and county sides. They aren’t found in very hot and dry areas, instead they seem to make their nests close to permanent water sources. It makes permanent burrows/nests only when it is time to bear or protect their young. Though Civets are completely terrestrial animals, they can still take to water and swim quite well.
Locations
Sub-Saharan Africa’s forests and savannahs are areas where you can find the civets. The civets aren’t found in dry and arid areas but rather in places where water systems merge into arid areas of Niger, Mali and Chad.
Predators
The Civet is prey to most predators larger than itself, including: lions, leopards, hyena, wild dogs, snakes and crocodiles.
Spoor Detection
The civet has 5 digits per paw but the spoor doesn’t show the 5th digit because it is positioned farther back than the others. The claws of the civet are clearly shown in the spoor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does an African civet eat?
The African civet is an omnivore that eats plants as well as meat, including eggs, reptiles, crabs, birds, carrion and rodents. It is a nocturnal feeder, mostly active and hunting for food from about two hours after dark.
Are African civets aggressive?
No — civets are naturally docile animals and will not attack without being threatened. They live solitary lives and only come together to mate, and because they are nocturnal, little is known about their behaviour.
Where do African civets live?
African civets live in the forests and savannahs of sub-Saharan Africa, in areas that give enough cover and safety during the day. They avoid very hot, dry areas and nest close to permanent water sources. Although completely terrestrial, they can swim quite well.
How do civets mark their territory?
Civets mark their territory by secreting a very strong, musky odour that can last for up to three months. Although they live alone, they communicate through scent, visual and sound signals, and their scents can convey various messages.
How many babies does an African civet have?
Females can have two to three litters a year, each usually of two to four young. The cubs are born with a full coat, can crawl at birth, walk at five days old and leave the nest after about 18 days.
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