African Palm Civet Male Skull Replica

Description

African palm civet male skull replica measures 6.3 inches. The Nandinia binotata skull is museum-quality polyurethane resin cast from a California Academy of Sciences specimen. 2-part skull (separate cranium and mandible). 1:1 scale. Made in USA.

The African palm civet is also known as the two-spotted palm civet, is a small mammal, with short legs, small ears, a body resembling a cat, and a long lithe tail as long as its body.

Most communication is through scent markings and sounds. African palm civets have many scent glands. The main scent gland is on the lower abdomen; it secretes a large amount of a brown musk.

There are other glands on the bottom of the chin and feet that secrete a scent that has been described as having a floral or fruity smell. There is another scent gland that is on the belly of a lactating mother. This gland stains the young with a bright yellow color, but the exact reason for this is unknown.

The African palm civet make many different sounds. They are most known for their unique hooting calls. When talking to other palm civets they make loud mewing and clucking sounds, and they have the ability to purr. When threatened these civets can growl and they have a loud scream and bark.

The African palm civet are omnivores. They live in areas that produce fruit almost year around. Some of the fruit the palm civet eat come from umbrella trees, sugar plums, corkwood, wild figs, as well as the fleshy pulp from oil palms.

Even though fruit is an important part of their diet, African palm civets will eat rodents, insects, lizards, bats, birds, eggs, and hatchlings. African palm civets are also known to eat carrion.

Scientific Classification

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Mammalia
• Order: Carnivora
• Suborder: Feliformia
• Family: Nandiniidae Pocock, 1929
• Genus: Nandinia Gray, 1843
• Species: N. binotata
• Binomial name: Nandinia binotata
• Conservation status: Least concern