Civets
Type: Mammal Order: Carnivore Diet: Their diet includes carrion, rodents, birds, eggs, reptiles, frogs, crabs, insects, fruits, and other vegetation.…
Type:
Mammal
Order:
Carnivore
Diet:
Their diet includes carrion, rodents, birds, eggs, reptiles, frogs, crabs, insects, fruits, and other vegetation. Poultry and young lambs are sometimes taken.
Size:
Their head and body length is 68-89cm, tail length is 445-63mm
Weight:
Their weight ranges between 7-20kg
Protection Status:
Vulnerable
General Background:
The african civet are nocturnal and become active for just an hour after dark, it is a solitary mammal, except when breeding.
Knowledge of the habits of the civets is limited because they are nocturnal and have a secretive life style.They mark their territories and advertise their presence by frequently rubbing secretions from the perineal glands on objects about 350 mm above ground. This glandular secretion has a strong musky odour which can last up to three months.
Civets are generally solitary but have a variety of visual, olfactory, and auditory means of communication. Individuals may have defined and well-marked territories.
The scent glands have a major social role, leaving scent along a path to convey information, such as whether a female is in oestrus. Civets are rather docile in behaviour.
Places they are found in Zimbabwe:
In some national parks and game reserves




















