Indian Journal of Ecology

The feeding ecology of the African Civet was investigated in the Aridstey forest Awi zone, Amhara region of Ethiopia during August 2017January 2018. Food items were identified by the naked eye and unidentifiable food items of plants and animal matters were identified by using microscope.Duringthepresentinvestigation,17fooditemswere identifiedfromthefreshdroppingsoftheAfricanCivets. Out ofthese, the main animal feed items identified were insects, millipedes/centipedes. Cordia Africana, Ficus sp. and Zea mays were main plant items recorded. Feeding habits of civets change with season and on the availability of food. During the dry season,African Civets eat Cordia Africana and Ficus sp., in high proportion. During the wet season, millipedes/centipedes and insects largely contributed for food. During both this seasons, insects, rodents and grasses were commonly observed as food items of civets. The scent markings were the height of 32–39 cm above the ground and the civets scent marked mostly on Eucalyptus sp., Clausenia anisata and Capsicum annuum.