Mammals
African Palm Civet
Nandinia binotata · also called two-spotted palm civet
Rarely touching the ground across its entire lifetime, an African palm civet moves through the rainforest canopy as one of the continent’s most important tree-dwelling seed dispersers, distinct enough from other civets that some scientists give it a family of its own.
Overview
The African palm civet, Nandinia binotata, is an almost entirely arboreal carnivore native to forest and rainforest habitat across sub-Saharan Africa. Its near-total commitment to life in the trees, important ecological role in seed dispersal, and possible status as a taxonomically distinct family make it one of the more evolutionarily significant small carnivores found anywhere on the continent.
A tree-dweller that feeds the forest back
By eating fruit and dispersing seeds across the canopy it rarely leaves, the African palm civet quietly supports the regeneration of the very forest it depends on, a role that makes it far more ecologically important than its modest size would suggest.
Status
Least Concern, remaining widespread and adaptable across suitable forest and rainforest habitat throughout sub-Saharan Africa.
African Palm Civet: common questions
Is the African palm civet really its own family of carnivore?
Some scientists believe so, this species is genetically distinct enough from other civets that it is sometimes classified in its own family, Nandiniidae, separate from the rest of the civet family, Viverridae.
How important is the African palm civet to its forest ecosystem?
This species plays an important role dispersing the seeds of many rainforest trees, since fruit makes up a substantial part of its diet and swallowed seeds pass through undigested in its droppings, helping new trees establish elsewhere in the forest.
Does the African palm civet ever come down to the ground?
Rarely, this species spends nearly its entire life in trees, rarely coming down to the ground except when moving between isolated patches of canopy that are not otherwise connected.
What are the two spots on the African palm civet's shoulders?
This species has two pale spots near the shoulders that give it its alternative common name, two-spotted palm civet, standing out clearly against its otherwise dark, mottled coat.