African palm civet

The African palm civet, also known as the two-spotted palm civet, is a small, cat-like mammal that inhabits sub-Saharan Africa. Listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, this species features grey to dark brown fur adorned with distinct dark spots along its back. It has short legs, small ears, a slender body, and a long ringed tail. One of its unique characteristics is its scent glands, which are used for marking territory and during mating.

Adult females typically measure between 37 and 61 cm in body length, while males range from 39.8 to 62.5 cm.

The African palm civet is found throughout sub-Saharan Africa, from Guinea to South Sudan, extending as far south as Angola and Zimbabwe. It inhabits various types of forests and savanna woodlands, thriving at elevations up to 2,500 meters. As nocturnal and arboreal animals, they are active at night and adept at climbing trees. Their diet primarily consists of fruits such as figs, papayas, and bananas. Males generally have larger home ranges than females, and dominant males often overlap territories with multiple females.

Regarding reproduction, females in Gabon typically give birth between September and January after a gestation period of 2 to 3 months. Litters can include up to four young, which are nursed for approximately three months. Despite their current conservation status, African palm civets face threats such as habitat loss and hunting for bushmeat. In Nigeria and Cameroon, they are hunted in large numbers annually. In some areas, they are regarded as pests and are targeted for various reasons, including use in fetish practices and sale in bushmeat markets.

The African palm civet was first described in 1830 by John Edward Gray as Viverra binotata and later placed in the genus Nandinia in 1843. This species diverged from other cat-like mammals around 44.5 million years ago. Although they are not currently at immediate risk, it is crucial to manage the threats they face to ensure their long-term survival.