African civet

Scientific name: Civettictis civetta

How weight is recorded: Whole weight

Field notes

Appearance

Stocky build with greyish-brown coat marked by dark spots and stripes; face has distinctive white cheek patches and dark eye-rings. Males are noticeably larger and more robust than females.

Size and weight

Males 1.6–2.0 kg, females 1.2–1.5 kg; body length 40–60 cm, tail 25–35 cm.

Habitat

African civets inhabit dense forests, woodland savanna, and thicket country from sea level to ~2,500 m elevation. They favour areas with thick vegetation near water sources for cover and foraging.

Distribution

Found across sub-Saharan Africa in suitable habitat from Guinea and Senegal eastward to Kenya and Tanzania, absent from arid regions and open grasslands.

Diet

Omnivorous; feeds on small mammals, birds, insects, carrion, fruit, and roots, with seasonal shift toward more vegetable matter when fruits are abundant.

Behaviour

Primarily nocturnal and solitary or in pairs; highly terrestrial but capable climber. Moves methodically through dense cover using regular paths and marking territories with anal gland secretions.

Hunting tips

Search for distinctive droppings (often deposited on raised spots like logs or termite mounds) and parallel track trails worn into the forest floor. Approach slowly along these established pathways at dusk or dawn when civets move between shelter and feeding grounds. Wind and patience are critical; use vegetation to mask your outline as you move upwind through dense cover where they rest during daylight.

Whole weight

This species is logged by whole weight — the animal weighed entire, as taken.

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 4 countries in Huntify.

Names in other languages

These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.