Species Overview

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Carnivora

Family: Viverridae

Genus: Civettictis

Species: Civettictis civetta

Life Span: 15–20 years (in the wild)

Weight: 6–8 kg (13–18 lbs)

Height: 40–50 cm (16–20 inches) at the shoulder

Animal Behavior and Habits

Activity: Nocturnal – primarily active at night, spending most of the day resting in hollow trees or dense vegetation.

Feeding Habits: Omnivorous – feeds on fruits, small mammals, birds, insects, and eggs. They are opportunistic feeders, often scavenging in addition to hunting.

Social Structure: Solitary – generally solitary animals except during mating season.

Hunting Approach: Stealthy and cautious, civets are adept climbers and often hunt in trees. They rely on their acute sense of smell and sight to detect prey.

Habitat and Environment

Preferred Habitat: Forests, savannas, and dense bushlands. They are typically found in areas with thick vegetation and access to water.

Water Sources: Civets prefer environments near rivers, streams, or swampy areas, though they are capable of surviving in drier habitats as well.

Best Hunting Locations: Look for them in wooded or forested regions, particularly near waterholes or dense brush where they can hide.

Tracks and Trails: Clawed footprints with distinct toe marks. Tracks are smaller than those of larger carnivores and can often be found in soft soil or muddy areas.

Signs: Look for markings on trees (scratch marks) and droppings containing fragments of bones, fruit seeds, and other remnants of their diet.

Hunting Time

Ideal Hunting Times: Night, as they are nocturnal and primarily hunt during the evening and nighttime hours.

Breeding Season: Mating season occurs typically during the rainy months (often late winter or early spring). Females give birth to one to three offspring after a gestation period of 60–70 days.

Trophy Quality: Civet skins, particularly those of older, larger males, are highly valued for their fur. Their markings are often distinctive, with black and white patterns.

Use of Scent Lures: Civets are known for their musky scent, which is why they were historically farmed for their secretion (civetone), used in perfumes. While scent lures are not typically used in hunting, their scent marking habits could be leveraged for attracting them.