The civet is a small carnivorous nocturnal mammal, native to tropical Asia and Africa. This particular species is the African civet. It has been the species from which a highly prized musky scent was obtained for use in perfumes. They have a cat-like appearance with the slightly pointed muzzle. The African civet ranges from 17-28″ in length, excluding their tails. They weigh between 3-10 lbs.