Head to head
African Civet vs Genet
The African civet and genet belong to the same family and share a similar low-slung body plan, but their size, climbing ability, and historical relationship with people differ.
| African Civet | Genet | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Civettictis civetta | Genetta |
| Relative size | Largest civet species | Smaller, slimmer |
| Climbing ability | Almost entirely ground-dwelling | Highly agile climber |
| Historical human use | Farmed for perfume musk | Kept semi-tame for rodent control |
| Tail length | Shorter relative to body | Often as long as the body |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Population trend | Stable | Stable |
| Habitat | Savanna, forest | Forest, savanna, grassland |
African Civet vs Genet: common questions
Are the African civet and genet closely related?
Yes, both species belong to the same family, Viverridae, and share a similar elongated, low-slung body, despite the African civet being considerably larger and more ground-dwelling than the genet.
Which is a better climber, the African civet or the genet?
The genet is by far the better climber, highly agile and confident in trees, while the African civet stays almost entirely on the ground while hunting.
How have people historically used the African civet and genet differently?
The African civet's scent glands were historically farmed for use as a perfume fixative, while the genet was historically kept semi-tame in parts of medieval Europe specifically to control mice and rats around the home.