Civet Cat

The viverrids belong to the Viverridae family of small to medium-sized mammals, which is classified into 14 genera and 33 species. John Edward Gray was the first to name and characterise this family in 1821. Across the Wallace Line, viverrids can be found in Africa, southern Europe, and South and Southeast Asia. Their presence in Sulawesi and some of the surrounding islands indicates that they are Old World tropical natives.

This article will study civet cats and civet mammal viverridae families in detail.

Scientific Classification of Civet Cat

• Kingdom: Animalia

• Phylum: Chordata

• Class: Mammalia

• Order: Carnivora

• Suborder: Feliformia

• Family: Viverridae

Taxonomy of Civet Cat 

The common term is applied to a number of carnivorous mammalian species, the majority of which belong to the Viverridae family. The African palm civet (Nandinia binotata) has its own monotypic family, Nandiniidae, and is genetically different.

Civets are also known as "toddycats" in English, "Luwak" in Indonesian, "Mara Patti" in Malayalam, and "musang" in Malay.

Because the indigenous name "musang" has been incorrectly used to refer to foxes by printed media instead of "rubah," which is the right but the lesser-known term, there may be some confusion among Malaysian speakers. Although foxes aren't native to Southeast Asia, they do appear in popular culture (e.g., visual media imported from the West).

Evolution of Civet Mammal Viverridae Family

The Viverridae is an ancient and primitive carnivore family with a limited fossil record. Viverridae first appeared in Europe and Asia during the early Oligocene, and in Africa during the early Miocene. The exact location of viverrid genesis in the Old World is unknown because of insufficient data. Extant species have skeletal morphology and tooth structure that are similar to fossil forms, implying that they haven't changed in 40–50 million years. The variety of habitats occupied explains the family's diversity, which ranges from really terrestrial to partly to mostly arboreal to aquatic. Mongooses were previously classified as part of the Viverridae, but now belong to the Herpestidae subfamily. Mongooses, on the other hand, are currently classified as members of the Herpestidae family by the majority of authority.

Division of Viverridae Family

The Viverridae family is currently divided into six subfamilies. The falanouc (Eupleres goudotii) and the Malagasy civet are members of the Euplerinae family, which includes two species in two genera (Fossa fossana). The otter civet (Cynogale bennettii) and three palm civet species belong to the Hemigalinae family. The African palm civet (Nandinia binotata) is the only species in the Nandiniidae family, whereas the Paradoxurinae family includes five genera and seven species of palm civets, as well as the binturong (Arctictis binturong).

Finally, the Viverrinae subfamily has seven genera and 20 species of genets (Genetta and Osbornictis), civets (Civettictis, Viverra, and Viverricula), and linsangs (Civettictis, Viverra, and Viverricula) (Poiana and Prionodon). The place of one species, the fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox), is still up for debate, however, it is included here with the mongooses in the Herpestidae.

Civet Cat

Civets are small, thin mammals that are usually nocturnal and native to tropical Asia and Africa, particularly tropical woodlands. Over a dozen different animal species are classified as civets. Southeast Asia is home to the majority of the world's species variety. The African civet, Civettictis civetta, is the most well-known civet species, and it was formerly the main source of a musky aroma used in perfumery. The term civet can also refer to the creatures' characteristic musky fragrance.

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Habitat of Civet Cat

Sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, the Iberian Peninsula, southern China, and South and Southeast Asia are all home to viverrids. Woodland, savanna, and mountain biomes are among the preferred environments. As a result, numerous species are facing serious habitat loss; several are considered vulnerable, and the otter civet is listed as endangered. Some civet species are extremely rare and elusive, with little information available about them. For example, the Hose's civet, unique to northern Borneo's montane forests, is one of the world's least-known carnivores.

Adaptations

Viverrids show adaptations based on the niche in which they live. Civettictis civetta, Viverra zibetha, and Eupleres goudotii are terrestrial species having digitigrade feet, non- or semi-retractile claws, short tails, and spots or stripes on their fur. There are two types of arboreal or semi-arboreal species: agile species that leap or jump (e.g., Genetta servalina) and less-agile species that grip branches and travel more slowly (Arctictis binturong, Paguma larvata, and Paradoxurus sp.). Plantigrade feet, long tails, and spotted fur characterise nimble arboreal species, whereas less agile species have plantigrade feet, long tails, and uniform hair. All arboreal species have long tails.

Behaviour 

The Viverridae family consists of shy, nocturnal animals. They dwell in pairs or small groups, or they are solitary. The otter civet and the aquatic genet (Osbornictis piscivora) are both good climbers, with certain species being nearly exclusively arboreal (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus and Poiana richardsonii, for example). Many species, including Genetta genetta, scent mark their territory with secretions from their anal glands. Scent markings are left by kneeling and rubbing the anal area on the ground or on prominent objects, either passively or vigorously.

The behaviour and ecology of most Viverridae species are poorly understood, and the family is likely the least well-studied of all carnivores. The majority of the species are nocturnal, shy, and live in the deep forests. Few studies have been committed to acquiring a better knowledge of this category because few species are of financial importance to humans and because most are reclusive. For most species, information on spacing patterns and population estimates is lacking, and much of what we know now comes from opportunistic sightings, specimen collections for museums, or captive animals kept as pets or in zoological gardens.

Reproductive Biology of Civet Cat 

Breeding can take place at any time of year. Some groups have two litters a year, with litter sizes ranging from one to six. Young children are born blind yet furious. Their reproduction and mating methods are largely unknown.

Diet 

Civets are omnivores or even herbivores, which makes them unique among feliforms and carnivora in general. Fruit is the primary food source for many species. Flower nectar is also an important source of energy for some people.

Coffee

Kopi luwak (also known as caphe cut chon (fox-dung coffee) in Vietnam and kape alamid in the Philippines) is a coffee made from coffee cherries consumed and partially digested by the Asian palm civet before being retrieved from its faeces. The flesh of the coffee cherries is digested by the civets, but the pits (beans) are passed inside, where stomach enzymes impact the beans, adding to the coffee's renowned aroma and flavour. In some regions of the world, 0.5 kg (1 lb) can cost up to $600, while in others, it costs around $100 per cup.

Asian Palm Civet 

The Asian palm civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus, also known as the common palm civet, toddy cat, musang, and other names) is a viverrid native to Southeast Asia. It has been classified as Least Concern by the IUCN since 2008 because it can adapt to a wide range of habitats. It's extensively spread, with big populations that were judged to be stable in 2008. It is threatened in Indonesia by poaching and illicit wildlife trade; buyers use it to increase the production of kopi luwak, a type of coffee involving the animal's ingestion and excretion of the beans.

SARS is thought to have been transferred from horseshoe bats to people via Asian palm civets.

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Scientific Classification  of Asian Palm Civet 

• Kingdom: Animalia

• Phylum: Chordata

• Class: Mammalia

• Order: Carnivora

• Suborder: Feliformia

• Family: Viverridae

• Genus: Paradoxurus

• Species: P. hermaphroditus

Characteristics of Asian Palm Civet 

The tall, stocky body of the Asian palm civet is coated in thick, shaggy hair that is usually grey in colour. It features a short black line between the eyes, a white mask over the forehead, a small white patch under each eye, a white spot on each side of the nostrils, and a white spot on each side of the nostrils. Black markings can be found on the muzzle, ears, lower legs, and distal half of the tail, as well as three rows of black patterns on the torso. It has a 48 cm (19 in) long ringed tail and a head-to-body length of roughly 53 cm (21 in). It weighs between 2 and 5 kg (4 to 11 lb). When attacked or upset, its anal smell glands produce a nauseous substance as chemical protection.

Behaviour and Ecology 

• Except for brief moments during mating, the Asian palm civet is considered to live alone. It is both terrestrial and arboreal, with nocturnal activity peaks occurring from late evening until after midnight. It is most active between daybreak and 4:00 a.m., but less so at night when the moon is at its brightest.

• Males and females have different scent-marking behaviour and olfactory responses to diverse excretions such as urine, faeces, and perineal gland secretion. Animals of both sexes were most typically observed scent marking by pulling the perineal gland and leaving the secretion on the ground.

• The olfactory response lasted different amounts of time depending on sex and excrement type. The odour of the perineal gland secretion allows the palm civet to identify between animal species, sex, and familiar and unknown individuals.

Feeding and Diet 

The Asian palm civet is a fruit-eating omnivore that prefers berries and pulpy fruits. As a result, seed dispersal aids in the maintenance of tropical forest ecosystems. Chiku, mango, rambutan, and coffee are among its favourite foods, but it also eats small mammals and insects. At Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park, it aids in the natural regeneration of Pinanga kuhlii and Pinanga zavana palms. It also eats palm flower sap, which ferments into palm wine, a delicious alcoholic beverage ("toddy"). It is known as the toddy cat because of this behaviour.

Reproduction

Little is known about its reproductive processes and behaviour because of its nocturnal and solitary lifestyle. A couple of palm civets was seen attempting to mate in March 2010. For nearly five minutes, the couple copulated on a tree branch. The man mounted the female 4–5 times throughout that time. After each mounting, the two took a few moments apart before repeating the process. The couple frolicked around for a while after mating, moving from branch to branch on the tree. After about six minutes, the animals split off and went to different branches to rest.

Conservation

CITES Appendix III lists Paradoxurus hermaphroditus. In Indonesia, there is a quota in place that prohibits commerce from particular areas, caps the number of civets that can be taken from the wild, and only allows 10% of those obtained from the wild to be sold domestically. This quota is largely disregarded by hunters and traders, and authorities do not enforce it. In recent years, this species has grown popular as a pet in Indonesia, resulting in an increase in the number of specimens found in markets in Java and Bali. The vast majority of animals offered as pets are wild animals.

Civet and Humans 

• The Malay civet can be found in a variety of habitats, including forests, secondary habitats, cultivated land, and village outskirts, and is extremely tolerant to human disturbances such as "selective logging" (partial forest removal).

• African civets (Civettictis civetta) are classified as Least Concern, but their numbers are dropping in some parts of Africa due to hunting, direct and indirect poisoning, and the construction of large-scale farm fences that restrict population movement. In the bushmeat trade, they are likewise seen as relatively plentiful possibilities.

• The production of civet oil, which comes from the anal glands of at least three genera, is the most important aspect of this carnivore family for humans (Civettictis, Viverra, and Viverricula). The sweet-smelling musk, also known as "civet," is mostly employed in the perfume business and for therapeutic purposes. Civet was in high demand for the perfume industry in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Although synthetic substitutes have reduced the market, captive civets are still kept for civet production. Ethiopia produces the majority of the goods. Squeezing the bulging anal pouches removes the civet from confined animals.

• Males produce a higher-quality civet, with individual animals producing 0.14–0.67 oz (4–19 g) every week on average.

• Some Viverridae species are considered pests in some locations because they prey on poultry. To keep rodents and insects out of homes, many species are kept as pets. Indigenous peoples may use the skins of some animals locally, but no species' pelts are gathered economically.

Conclusion 

Viverrids are small to medium-sized mammals that belong to the Viverridae family, which includes 14 genera and 33 species. In 1821, John Edward Gray was the first to name and describe this family. Viverrids can be found across Africa, southern Europe, and South and Southeast Asia across the Wallace Line. They are Old World tropical inhabitants, as evidenced by their existence on Sulawesi and some of the adjacent islands. Civets are small, nocturnal mammals that are native to tropical Asia and Africa, particularly tropical woods. Civets are a group of animals that includes around a dozen different species. The majority of the world's species diversity may be found in Southeast Asia. The most well-known civet species is the African civet, Civettictis civetta, which was once the primary source of a musky aroma used in perfumery. The term civet can also refer to the civet's distinctive musky scent.