# African palm civet (*Nandinia binotata*) The African palm civet is a small, furry animal that loves to climb trees. It has a long body and a bushy tail, and it often sleeps in the branches during the day. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Forests ![African palm civet](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Nandinia_binotata%252C_Manchester_Museum.jpg&width=800) Photo: subhumanfreak ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nandinia_binotata%252C_Manchester_Museum.jpg) ## Appearance The African palm civet has a stocky body with short legs and a long tail, often as long as its body. Its fur is yellowish-brown to grey, marked with dark spots and two distinct black spots on its shoulders. It also features a dark mask around its eyes and ears. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Carnivora - **Family:** Nandiniidae - **Genus:** Nandinia ## Interesting facts - Baby civets are born with their eyes already open. - Their ankles can rotate almost 180 degrees! - They spend most of their lives high up in trees. - They use their long tails to balance while climbing. ## Special abilities - **Tree Acrobat:** African palm civet can climb trees with amazing agility thanks to semi-retractable claws and flexible ankles, helping them find food and escape predators. - **Night Vision:** African palm civet has large, forward-facing eyes that gather light efficiently, helping them hunt and navigate in the dark of night. - **Scent Communicator:** African palm civet can use special scent glands to mark territory and communicate with other civets, leaving messages for them to discover. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 37-61 cm - **Weight:** 1.2-3 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-15 years - **Speed:** 25 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-4 - **Gestation:** 64-77 days ## Diet & Feeding An omnivore that enjoys fruits, insects, and small animals. - **Primary Foods:** figs, mangoes, insects, small rodents, chameleons, birds' eggs - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Cape Fig (*Ficus sur*) — Consumes ripe fruit, aiding in seed dispersal. - **Hunts:** [Black Rat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-rat) (*Rattus rattus*) — Preys on rodents found in trees and on the ground. - **Eaten by:** African Rock Python (*Python sebae*) — Can be prey for large constrictor snakes. - **Shelter:** [African Tulip Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/african-tulip-tree) (*Spathodea campanulata*) — Uses the canopy for resting and hiding. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low If you see a wild animal, it's best to watch from a distance and not touch it. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify African palm civet? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is African palm civet? 37-61 cm ### How much does African palm civet weigh? 1.2-3 kg ### How long does African palm civet live? 10-15 years ### How fast can African palm civet move? 25 km/h ### What does African palm civet eat? An omnivore that enjoys fruits, insects, and small animals. ### Where is African palm civet usually found? Forests ### How does African palm civet hunt? Foraging ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [African palm civet: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/african-palm-civet)