Mammals · Carnivora · Viverridae

African Civet

Civettictis civetta

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

Its perineal gland secretion, known as civetone, was used for centuries as a fixative in the luxury perfume industry.

Weight

7 kg – 20 kg

Size

67 cm – 84 cm

Lifespan

11 years

Diet

Omnivore

Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.

Activity

Nocturnal

Active mainly at night.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

Fun facts

It is the largest civet in Africa.
It eats small vertebrates, insects, carrion, eggs and fruit.
It lives in savannah and woodland across much of sub-Saharan Africa, near permanent water.
utilidadIt produces a musky glandular secretion historically used as a fixative in perfumery, before synthetic substitutes were developed.

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Savannah and woodland across much of sub-Saharan Africa, generally near permanent water
Birth weight: Born blind and helpless in a hidden burrow
Size at birth: Born blind and helpless
Sexual maturity: ~1 year
Gestation / incubation: 60-80 days
Litter / clutch size: 1 to 4 young per litter (2-3 most often), with 2-3 litters a year
Lifespan in captivity: Documented record of up to 28 years