Poiana (genus)

Central African Linsang ( Poiana richardsonii )

The Pojanas or African Linsangs ( Poiana ) are a predator species from the family of civets ( Viverridae ). It was named after the island of Fernando Poo (now Bioko ) named in the Gulf of Guinea.

Description

Pojanas have an elongated body with short limbs. Their fur is dark yellow to gray- brown in color at the top and provided with strip-shaped black spots. The underside is lighter, almost whitish. The tail, which is almost as long as the body is provided with black stripes. The head is characterized by the pointed snout and rounded ears. In contrast to the closely related Asian Linsangs they have Perianaldrüsen that secrete a musky secretion. Pojanas reach a body length of about 38 centimeters, a tail length of around 37 centimeters and a weight of 500 to 700 grams.

Distribution and habitat

Pojanas are native to Africa, their range extends from Sierra Leone to the north of the Democratic Republic of Congo and also includes the island of Bioko one with. Their habitat is forests, primarily rainforests.

Way of life

Pojanas are nocturnal animals. During the day they sleep in self-made, round nests in the trees, which are sometimes shared by several animals. Usually, however, they are likely to live solitary. There are omnivorous, their diet includes insects and small vertebrates such as young birds, but also kola nuts, fruits and other plant material.

Little is known about reproduction, one to two times per year, the female gives birth two to three pups.

Systematics and species

There are two types:

• West African Linsang ( Poiana toni leigh ) lives in West Africa ( Sierra Leone to Ivory Coast) and is considered the rarer of the two species.
• Central African Linsang ( Poiana richardsonii ) is widespread in Central Africa (Cameroon and DR Congo ).

The status of P. toni leigh is not entirely clear, sometimes it is considered as a subspecies of P. richardsonii.