Civet

Civet Latest News

A rare civet cat, typically found in the Seshachalam forests near Tirumala, was recently spotted near Tadepalli in Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh.

About Civet

• It is any of a number of long-bodied, short-legged carnivores of the family Viverridae.
• The Viverridae family includes civets, genets, oyans, and linsangs. 
• There are about 15 to 20 species, placed in 10 to 12 genera. 
• Civets are found in Africa, southern Europe, and Asia. 
• There are 8 different species of Wild civets found in India, out of which Common Palm civets and Small Indian civets can be spotted across the subcontinent. 
• The rarest of all civets is the Malabar large-spotted civet (Viverra civettina), also known as the Malabar civet, endemic to the Western Ghats.
• It is classified as ‘Critically Endangered’ under the IUCN Red List.

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Civet Features

• Rather catlike in appearance, they have a thickly furred tail, small ears, and a pointed snout. 
• The coloration varies widely among the species but commonly is buff or grayish with a pattern of black spots or stripes or both. 
• Length ranges from about 40 to 85 cm), with the tail accounting for another 13 to 66 cm, and weight ranges from 1.5 to 11 kg).
• Civets are usually solitary and live in tree hollows, among rocks, and in similar places, coming out to forage at night.
• They feed on fruits and insects, opportunistically supplemented with small animals.

Civet FAQs

Q1. In which national park is Malabar civet found?

Ans. Located in the Palakkad district of Kerala, Silent Valley National Park is one of the most important conservation areas for the Malabar Civet.

Q2. What is the IUCN status of Malabar civet?

Ans. Critically Endangered

Q3. Is Malabar civet endemic to India?

Ans. The Malabar Civet is endemic to the Western Ghats in southern India. 

Source: TOI