Creature Feature #105: Civet

The African Civet is a member of the Viverridae Family and the largest of the Civet species. He spends most of his days sleeping in dense vegetation, coming out at night to forage for invertebrates and small vertebrates, as well as carrion and vegetable matter. He has even been known to eat poisonous snakes and millipedes, creatures normally avoided by predators. His territory is marked by a scent exuded from his perineal glands. This scent has been bottled, and widely used, within the perfume industry with traces found in chanel no 5. They are even kept in captivity and "milked" for it* - thankfully the creation of synthetic musk means this practice is no longer prevalent.

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* If you think this is gross, wait until I get to the Asian Palm Civet, or Toddycat, and speak of Kopi Luwak.