The cusimanse, (Say "coo-see-monz"), inhabits the forests and swampy areas of east and West Africa. Difficult to describe other than to say it has short legs, a tapered tail, long course hair that is a mixture of browns, grays, and yellows, has an almost finger-like nose, and is the size of a small house cat. The jury is still out as to whether it is active day or night. It travels in groups and hardly ever stays in one place more than two days at a time. It finds food by scratching and digging in soil and dead vegetation looking for insects, small reptiles, berries and fruit. It has been observed cracking eggs and shells of snails by hurling them with its forepaws back between the hind legs and against some hard object. It produces several litters of pups each year that number two to four. Captives have lived for nine years.