Civets

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