CIVETS IN INDIA AND SOUTH ASIA

LARGE INDIAN CIVETS

large Indian civet

Large Indian civets (Viverra zibetha) are sturdily-built animals with a long head, long flattened body, stumpy legs and small rounded feet. They range from northern India to southern China and are found in Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, the Malay Peninsula and Hainan Island in China. The species can easily be domesticated and raised on farms is sometimes penned so its civet secretions can be be gathered conveniently.[Sources: Adria Jackson, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) /=\; Center of Chinese Academy of Sciences, kepu.net.cn]

Large Indian civets secrete a substance called civet. It is used commercially to produce perfumes. They live in grasslands, scrub, and densely forested areas. They are commonly found near human habitats. They live in burrows that have been dug by other animals. It is believed their life span in the wild averages 15 years. In captivity they have lived over 20 years. /=\

Large Indian civets are omnivores (eat a variety of things, including plants and animals). Their diet includes both vegetarian and animal foods, including small animals, birds, snakes, frogs, fishes, crabs, insects, fruits and roots. One wildlife books described these civets as “the most fearsome of small predators as it can kill prey several times larger than itself. “Its attacking methods consists of repeatedly biting the hind quarters of its prey while running, then grabbing it and shaking it until dead.”

Large Indian civets are not endangered. On the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List they are listed as Near Threatened. In CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild) they have no special status. Their main threats are habitat loss, hunting and killing because they are perceived as crop and livestock pests. Large Indian civets sometimes prey on domestic chickens. The Ahmedabad Zoo in India has some Indian civets that were formerly kept in order to collect their glandular secretions. /=\

Large Indian Civet Characteristics and Secretions

range of the large Indian civet

Large Indian civets range in weight from five to 11 kilograms (11 to 24.2 pounds). An adult’s body and head size reaches 80 centimeters (32 inches), with a tail up to 46 centimeters (16.4 inches). Limbs are black and the forefeet contain lobes of skin on the third and fourth digit that protect the retractile claws. Sexual Dimorphism (differences between males and females) is present: Males are larger than females. [Sources: Adria Jackson, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) /=\; Center of Chinese Academy of Sciences, kepu.net.cn]

Indian civets have black spots on their body and as black and white stripes on the sides of their neck. In most cases there are two white stripes and three black stripes. Their general colour is dark hoary grey, frequently washed yellowish or brown. They have a vertical crest of long deep black hairs that runs down to the middle of their back. Their thick tapering tail is about half as long as the size of their body. This tail is completely ringed with six broad black bands.

Large Indian civets sense using touch and chemicals usually detected with smell. They often make marks with gland oil on stumps. They have the habit of defecating in fixed places, thus are commonly called "waste delivery wolf" in China. Adult large Indian civets have secretion glands in their private parts and their secretion have foul smells. When they encounter enemies, they spray large amount of secretions to defend themselves. This secretion are usually called civet or civetta, which are often used in perfume industry as perfume fixing agent to make the good smell of the perfume last longer. In some places, people raise them to get their civet.

Large Indian Civet Behavior and Reproduction

Large Indian civets are solitary, nocturnal animals that are most active and hunt and forage at night.. During the daytime, they take in bushes, thick grass or heavy scrub jungle. They spend most of their time on the ground, though they are agile climbers. They often sleep in burrows in the ground that have been dug by other animals and abandoned. They are territorial and mark their territories with excretions from their anal glands. Their territory can range from 1.7 to 5.4 square kilometers (0.66 to 2.1 square miles). [Sources: Adria Jackson, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) /=\; Center of Chinese Academy of Sciences, kepu.net.cn]

Large Indian civets mark territory with their glandular secretions. This is done to communicate their presence and identify territory. It is unknown if Large Indian civets defend territory. They grasp their prey with their teeth and shake it until the spinal column is broken.

Females are polyestrous and capable of breeding throughout the year and producing two litters per year, with each litter having up to four young. In China, the mating season for large Indian civets is in the winter. Females give birth to two to five young, usually three or four, usually in May. Young are born with their eyes closed in a hole in the ground or in very dense vegetation. Young can open their eyes in ten days and begin being weaned at one month of age. Weight at birth is less than 100 grams and doubles in 12 days. At the end of one month, the birth weight has increased four fold. The females raise the young on their own. /=\

Small Indian Civets

small Indian civet

Small Indian civets(Viverricula indica) are distinguished from large Indian civets their significantly smaller size, lack of a dorsal crest of fur, smaller gap between their ears, shorter rostra (muzzle) and absence of long black hairs. Small Indian civets are only about 95 centimeters (37.4 inches) long, including their 25 centimeter (10 inch) tail. They weigh 2.5 to four kilograms (5.5 to 8.8 pounds). They are the only member of the genus Viverricula, and have ten recognized subspecies. Their lifespan in captivity is up to 22 years. [Source: Ethan Shirley, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) /=]

Small Indian civets are also known as lesser oriental civets, rasses, little civets and seven-banded civets. They inhabit areas across Asia, from Pakistan in the west to southern and central China in the east. The are found in India and every country in South Asia as well as every country in Southeast Asia, including Indonesian islands of Sumatra, Java and Bali. They has been introduced to Zanzibar, Madagascar, Comoros, and Socotra (islands off the East coast of Africa) as well as several islands in the Philippines.

Small Indian civets live in many different habitats and have adapted to a wide variety of different living conditions throughout their vast geographic range. In many places, they live close to humans, so much so they commonly feed on poultry, live in outhouses and garbage dumps. However, when they are beyond human interference they prefer riverine areas, wetlands, deciduous forests, and grassland environments over open areas, scrub forests and dense rainforest. They are typically found at lower altitudes rather than hills and mountains.

Small Indian civets are fairly common and not endangered. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List classifies them as a species of “Least Concern” with a “steady” population. They eat mice and rats and are sometimes sold as pets to control rodents. Many native peoples keep them and harvest their scent oils used perfumes. Their meat is sometimes eaten and their pelts are sold as fur. Small Indian civets may raid crops and eat small poultry and household pets. In Madagascar, where they have been introduced, they considered a major pest as they have competitors to keep their numbers in check. In Asia, their biggest threat is habitat loss although they can adapt well to habitats disturbed by humans. Small Indian civets have few natural predators except for maybe large snakes and cats and domestic dogs. Their first reaction when confronted with a potential threat is to run and hide. They are quick, climb well, and are well camouflaged by their striped coats. If cornered they spray foul-smelling chemical on their attackers and bite and claw in self-defense. /=\

Small Indian Civet Characteristics and Diet

range of the small Indian civet

Small Indian civets range in weight from two to four kilograms (4.4 to 8.8 pounds), with their average weight being 2.7 kilograms (six pounds). They range in length from 75 to 106 centimeters (29.5 to 41.7 inches) with their head and body length ranging from 53 to 58 centimeters (21 to 23 inches and a tail that ranges from 38 to 43 centimeters (15 to 17 inches). Sexual Dimorphism (differences between males and females) is present: The sexes look alike but males are larger. [Source: Ethan Shirley, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) /=]

Small Indian civets have a coat that varies from brownish or olive grey to light grey. There are longitudinal dark stripes and rows of spots along the body which converge into six to eight dark stripes on the back toward the tail. There are stripes down each side of the neck and frequently one across the throat. Its tail is ringed with grey and brown. The paws are typically dark brown or black, and the breast is a lighter brown or gray, with few if any markings.

Although some civets feed primarily on fruit and plant food, small Indian civets are primarily carnivorous (eat meat or animal parts) but can also be recognized as omnivores (eat a variety of things, including plants and animals). Their diet includes insects, frogs, snakes, small-size mammals, wild fruits, rats, lizards, and small birds. They are very fond of the berries and small vertebrates, especially rodents, and opportunistic, eating carrion, human garbage, small pets and poultry when they are most available foods.

Small Indian Civet Behavior and Communication

Small Indian civets are terricolous (live on the ground), nocturnal (active at night), motile (move around as opposed to being stationary), sedentary (remain in the same area) and territorial (defend an area within the home range). They tend to avoid the scent of others in their species except during estrus. There is little information on their home range. A radio collar study of a single individual in Thailand reported that it had moved with in an area 0.83 square kilometers in a month and 3.1 kilometers in a year. [Source: Ethan Shirley, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) /=]

Small Indian civets are generally solitary and shy. They take shelter and sleep in hollow logs, burrows, holes in the ground under rocks or thick bushes. Occasionally, pairs are formed (for mating and hunting). In areas not disturbed by humans, they have been reported to sometimes also hunt during day. Small Indian civets are primarily terrestrial, but they are also good climbers and often move around in places near brooks or other water sources. They can dig their own burrows, but often occupy burrows abandoned by other species. In suburban habitats they use gutters or other hollow, dark spaces as makeshift burrows. /=\

Small Indian civets sense and communicate with vision, touch, sound and chemicals usually detected by smelling. They also employ pheromones (chemicals released into air or water that are detected by and responded to by other animals of the same species) and scent marks produced by special glands and placed so others can smell and taste them. Because small Indian civets are solitary, communication is minimal except before and during mating. They use both sound and chemicals to communicate during mating. When animals are not paired or mating, scent markings via urine and feces are probably their main means of communication and probably used most to define territory boundaries and warn others to keep out or be wary of the owner’s presence.

Small Indian Civet Mating, Reproduction and Offspring

small Indian civet in Assam, India

Small Indian civets are polygynandrous (promiscuous), with both males and females having multiple partners. They engage in seasonal breeding once a year. Breeding can occur throughout the year in some areas. Breeding may be season in other areas. In China, their mating season is between February and April. The number of offspring ranges from two to five, with four or five often the norm in China. Small Indian civets are altricial. This means that young are born relatively underdeveloped and are unable to feed or care for themselves or move independently for a period of time after birth. During the pre-weaning stage provisioning and protecting are done by females. The age in which they are weaned ranges from four to 4.5 months. [Source: Ethan Shirley, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) /=]

Small Indian civets are almost completely solitary and asocial, except during mating season. The processes by which mates are chosen is largely unknown. The civet’s scent-producing glands have been shown to be of great importance to reproduction. It is likely that they chemicals they emit play a role in attracting mates and demonstrating when females are in estrus. During periods of estrus, both males and females deposit civet oil secretions from their glands on many types of objects. In a study with captive civets, males rubbed their civet oil on cages of both other males and females while females rubbed their oils only on their own cages. This behavior has been interpreted different ways. It could show male dominance or a form of male competition or simply be an expression of territoriality. This same study, received that males made a unique "da-da-da" sound while excited and chased the female and then sniffed her anus prior to copulation. /=\

Research in China of captive small Indian civets showed that they have two estrus periods. The majority of them went into heat from February to April, but a few did so in August and September. It is not clear whether such patterns exist the wild. It is thought that animals can enter estrus at any time of year in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. In Madagascar, the breeding season is thought to be September to October.

Brown Palm Civets

Brown palm civets (Paradoxurus jerdoni) are also known as Jerdon's palm civet. They are endemic to the tropical rainforests along the southwestern coast of India, usually in high altitudes of the Western Ghats mountain range. They prefer elevations between 500 and 1,300 meters 500 to 1300 meters (1640 to 4265.09 feet). Where they live receives a lot of rain — up to 300 centimeters a year — and has temperature averages of 19°C in January and to 24°C in April and May. Their lifespan in the wild is estimated to be between five and 15 years. [Source: Jessica Bodle, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) /=]

brown palm civet

Brown palm civets are predominantly frugivorous (fruit eating) but are also considered omnivores (eat a variety of things, including plants and animals). Animal foods include birds, mammals, insects, mollusks and aquatic crustaceans. They forage over a wide area have one of the smallest diet ranges among South Asia’s small carnivores and are regarded most frugivorous species in the Viverridae family (civets and genets), with a diet consisting of 97 percent fruit. They mainly consume small (less than one centimeters in diameter) multi-seeded, pulpy berries and drupes, with moderate to high water content and includes bananas, cardamom berries, coffee berries, and guavas. When fruit availability is low, they supplement their diet with insects, millipedes, centipedes, snails, crabs and rarely with small vertebrates such as rodents, other small mammals, birds, and reptiles).

While elusive and limited to fairly small range, browl palm civets are not regarded as endangered. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List classifies them as a species of “Least Concern”. Perhaps their biggest threats come from of continuous development of the places they live, particularly with large coffee, cardamom and tea plantations and the resulting habitat fragmentation but the civets have adapted in part by eating a lot of cardamom and coffee berries. It also no surprise then that are regarded as crop pests. Known natural predators of brown palm civets include pythons, black eagles, and leopards.

Brown Palm Civet Characteristics and Behavior

Brown palm civets range in weight from 1.2 to 3.5 kilograms (2.6 to 7.7 pounds) and have a head and body length that ranges from 43 to 62 centimeters (16.9 to 24.4 inches). Their tail is 38 to 53 centimeters (15 to 21 inches) long. Sexual Dimorphism (differences between males and females) is not present: Both sexes are roughly equal in size and look similar.

According to Animal Diversity Web: Museum specimens of brown palm civets have pale buff, light brown, or dark brown fur and a dark tail. Occasionally, the tail may have a white or pale yellow tip. Unlike other civets, brown palm civets have no distinct markings on their face. The characteristic that distinguishes them from Asian palm civets is the reverse direction of hair growth at their neck line. Members of family Viverridae are characterized by a long and lean body, with short legs, elongated head, pointed muzzle and a bushy tail nearly as long as their body. This is true with brown palm civets.

brown palm civet range

Brown palm civets are arboreal (live mainly in trees), nocturnal (active at night), motile (move around as opposed to being stationary) and generally solitary. They sense using touch and chemicals usually detected with smell. When resting during the day, they often seek out the nests of Indian giant squirrels. These nests are found in trees and are bigger than those made some other animals. Like other viverrids, brown palm civets have an anal scent gland that produces a pungent smelling fluid as a defensive mechanism and they have been observed to fighting when cornered.

The mating and reproductive behaviors of brown palm civets have not been studied. Much of what is known is based on similar civet species. Therefore it is hypothosized that brown palm civets breed year round and may produce two litters per year, with one to six offspring per litter. Young are altricial, meaning that they are born relatively underdeveloped and are unable to feed or care for themselves or move independently for a period of time after birth. Offspring are born blind, but with hair, with their eyes opening a week to two weeks after birth,/=\

Golden Palm Civets

Golden palm civets (Paradoxurus zeylonensis) are endemic to Sri Lanka. Their close relatives, brown palm civets, live in India. The ranges of golden palm civets and Asian palm civets overlap. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, golden palm civets live up to nine years. [Source: Andi Gero, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) /=]

Golden palm civets live in various climatic zones and habitats in Sri Lanka, including wet zones, dry zones, cloud forests or intermediate zones, grasslands, forests, rainforests. scrub forests and mountains. The Sri Lankan dry zone extends across most of the island.The north and south coasts also include small areas of monsoon scrub jungles or arid zone forests. There are several areas of mangroves on the shores but golden palm civets are not frequently found there as mainly reside in forests and are mostly arboreal (live mainly in trees).

Golden palm civets are primarily herbivores (primarily eat plants or plants parts) and frugivores (eat fruit) but when pressed will eat animal foods including small mammals, birds, small reptiles, frogs and other amphibians, moths and other insects and eggs. Natural predators that may prey on civets include leopards, other wild cats and reticulated pythons. On the IUCN Red List golden palm civets have been listed as Vulnerable but since 2016 have been losted as Least Concern.In CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild) they have no special status. They are mainly threatened by habitat loss resulting from human encroachments but civets often do relatively well in human-modified areas,

Golden Palm Civet Characteristics, Behavior and Reproduction

golden palm civet

Golden palm civets are small-bodied mammals that range in weight from 1.4 to 3.2 kilograms (3 to 7 pounds) and reach lengths of 90 centimeters (35.4 inches), comprised of a head and body length of about 50 centimeters (19.7 inches) and 40-centimeter (15.7-inch) tail. Sexual Dimorphism (differences between males and females) is not present: Both sexes are roughly equal in size and look similar. [Source: Andi Gero, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) /=]

According to Animal Diversity Web: Golden palm civets generally have two morphs based on fur coloration; they are either golden brown or dark brown. Their coat length varies between three and four centimeters. Juvenile and immature golden palm civets are usually grey to grey-brown in coloration. Golden palm civets are distinct from common palm civets in that they lack black, grey, or white facial markings, as well as tail rings and body markings. There are also some potential differences in cranial anatomy based on habitat. Males have bacula, or penis bones, and females have two or three pairs of abdominal mammae.

Golden palm civets are arboreal (live mainly in trees), nocturnal (active at night), motile (move around as opposed to being stationary) and solitary. They sense using vision, touch and chemicals usually detected with smell and communicate with vision and chemicals and leave scent marks produced by special glands and placed so others can smell and taste them.

Not much is known about the mating system of golden palm civets. They may be monogamous (have one mate at a time). Other solitary, arboreal civet species have been observed as breeding pairs, using tree holes to copulate and raise their young. Early observations of golden palm civets from the 1930s, describe them as having small litter sizes of two to three young, appearing around October and November It is estimated that they have a gestation period ranging from 72 to 85 days and the age in which young are weaned is 52 to 175 days. Females and males probably reach sexual or reproductive maturity at one to two years.

range of the golden palm civet

Civets are altricial. This means that young are born relatively underdeveloped and are unable to feed or care for themselves or move independently for a period of time after birth. Parental care is usually provided exclusively or almost exclusively by females. Young civets are born blind but furred, and open their eyes a week or two after birth.

Asian Palm Civets, Small-Toothed Civiets and Masked Palm Civets

Asian palm civets (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus) are known by many names, including common palm civets, toddy cats, musang, and luwak. Their names vary based mainly on the region where the animals are being described. Even though they are one of the most common species of civet, and the most common mammalian carnivores, they are not very well studied. Little is known about their behavior due to their nocturnal, quiet, and secretive nature. Asian palm civets are thought to live from 15 to 20 years in the wild. One lived for 24.4 years in captivity. [Source: Jessica Nelson, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) /=]

Asian palm civets are found throughout southern Asia, ranging the Philippines in east to Kashmir in the west. They are most widespread in southern China, the northern Himalayas, southern India, and islands in the Indian Ocean, South China Sea, and the Philippine Sea. Significant populations of Asian palm civet exist in India, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Laos, Singapore, Sumatra, Java, Borneo and the Sundas Islands. /=\

Masked palm civets (Paguma larvata) are the most widespread of all civets. They range from northern Pakistan and Kashmir in the west to much of eastern and southern China in the east and southwards through Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos Cambodia and Thailand in Southeast Asia to the to the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra and Borneo in Indonesia. Among this siland found in their range are Taiwan, Hainan, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Humans introduced this civet species to the Japanese islands of Honshu and Shikoku in the 1900s.[Source: Barbara Lundrigan and Steve Baker, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) /=]

Masked palm civets are found in deciduous, evergreen, scrub and mixed deciduous forests, as well as in tropical rainforests, mountainous regions and near human settlements. They civets are omnivorous (eat a variety of things, including plants and animals), mainly eating fruits, but also consuming eat small vertebrates, insects, and birds. These civet have lived up to 20 years in captivity, but probably average about 10 years in the wild. /=\

Small-toothed palm civets (Arctogalidia trivirgata) are widely distributed throughout Southeast Asia from northeast India in the west to Vietnam in the east and southward to to the islands of Sumatra and Borneo Java in Indonesia and have been observed in Myanmar, Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Laos. Their lifespan in the wild is estimated to be 10 to 12 years.[Source: Chris Bauer, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) /=]

Small-toothed palm civets have been observed in a wide variety of habitats including low-lands, canopies of dense primary forest, secondary tropical forest, and areas in areas with active logging and coconut plantations. They have also been seen in mixed coniferous forest up at elevations up to 1,450 meters (4,757 feet). Reports of sightings in remote areas of the forests are common and occasionally they are sighted as close as three kilometers from established villages, but this is not common./=\

Image Sources: Wikimedia Commons

Text Sources: Animal Diversity Web animaldiversity.org ; National Geographic, Live Science, Natural History magazine, David Attenborough books, New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Smithsonian magazine, Discover magazine, The New Yorker, Time, Reuters, Associated Press, AFP, Lonely Planet Guides, Wikipedia, The Guardian, Top Secret Animal Attack Files website and various books and other publications.

Last updated January 2025