1 Module # 2 Component # 3 Introduction (Roughly 45-80 mm long) In this group we have placed: Paws with Claws - Medium to Large Honey badger Porcupines Common otter Spotted-necked otter African civet The tracks in the following key are reproduced in the correct proportion to one another. RF = right front; RB = right back.
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3 Honey Badger (Ratel) - Mellivora capensis This stocky, medium-sized carnivore has large feet for its size; the front feet are equipped with long (up to 25 mm), powerful claws for digging. Although the pad behind the main pad (called the proximal pad) on all feet may show, in our experience it is often indistinct, particularly on the track of the front foot. The proximal pad may add an additional 20 mm to the overall length. Each foot has five toes but, in many cases, only four show clearly in the track. The honey badger is a loner and may be encountered in most habitats.
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5 On the front foot of a honey badger, note the substantial pads and the well developed claws for digging. The proximal pad may or may not show in the track. The claws of the hind feet are much shorter.
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7 Part of walking trail of a honey badger; note the distance that the claw marks lie from the toe-pads. The hind foot track could be mistaken for that of a porcupine but if you locate the front track the marks left by the long claws will confirm your identification. Honey badger walking trail, front paw mark is on top in both cases.
8 Porcupines Genus hystrix Cape Porcupine - H. africaeaustralis
9 North African Porcupine - H. cristata
10 The largest African rodents. The tracks could be confused with those left by the honey badger. Although there are five toes on each foot, only four are seen on the front foot tracks. The claws of the front feet are robust, but they are much shorter than those of the honey badger. The porcupine is usually a solitary forager, but trails may be used by several animals. Always watch out for the black-and-white banded quills that are dropped along regularly used porcupine trails.
11 Front and hind foot of a Cape porcupine. Note the heavy but relatively short claws on the front foot.
12 Front (left) and hind tracks of a porcupine in coarse sand.
13 Cape porcupine walking trail, the arrow shows the direction the animal was moving. North African porcupine walking trails in fine sand, sometimes the claws leave marks as the feet are dragged. Several animals have been using this track, the smaller tracks on the top are probably a young animal.
14 Cape porcupine tracks on the right of the image in comparison with Yellow mongoose tracks on the left. The bottom right is the front track, above right the hind track.
15 Cape porcupine tracks on a sand dune, several individuals were present. Note the drag marks left by the quills from bottom right to centre. This may have involved an individual anal dragging and marking.
16 Common Otter - Lutra lutra The common otter, or Eurasian otter, only occurs in north-flowing streams of the Atlas mountain ranges of north-west Africa.
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18 Tracks of a common otter in damp sand. Although the feet are webbed this seldom shows in the tracks.
19 Spotted-Necked Otter - Hydrictis maculicollis Of the three otter species occurring in sub-saharan Africa, only this species has true webbing between the toes and claws on the feet. There are five toes on each foot; these usually show in the track, but the webbing and claws are not always clear. This species is widespread but rarely found away from suitable water bodies. To compare with the two clawless otter species, consult the Hands and Feet section.
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21 African Civet - Civettictis civetta The tracks of this species could be confused with those of a small dog, but the posterior edge of the main pad is slightly concave. Toe-pads are large and located close to the anterior edge of the main pad. The claw marks are blunt and close to the toe-pad tracks. Although this is a solitary species you may encounter the tracks of several individuals at latrine sites. Lajuma / I. Gaigher
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23 African civet feet photographed from underneath. The fifth toe usually does not show in tracks. Note the distinct indentation on the posterior edge of the main pad.
24 African civet tracks in different substrates. In softer mud, the toe pads are slightly further apart, as on the right. In this photo an Impala walked from right to left and a civet from left to right. Partial registering is obvious in the civet tracks.