civet - Species, Civet/Genet Hybrids

A carnivorous mammal of the family Viverridae, comprising 17 (mostly Asian) species; grouped as oriental civets, palm civets, otter civet, African civet, and Malagasy civet; also known as civet cat or bush dog, but the name civet is often used for any member of this family. A musky extract from the glandular secretions of some species (civettone or civet) is added to perfumes to prolong their scent.

iCivets
Binturong
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Viverridae Gray, 1821
Subfamilies
Hemigalinae Paradoxurinae Viverrinae

The 32 species of civet (pronounced /ˈsɪvɪt/), genet, and linsang make up the family Viverridae. However, most people use the terms "Uguduwa" and "Kalawedda" interchangeably, though the term "Uguduwa" refers to Palm Civet rather than the civet cat.

Although it resembles the other civets, the African Palm Civet (Nandinia binotata) is genetically distinct and belongs in its own monotypic family, the Nandiniidae. In January 2004, Guangdong province in China banned sales of civet cats (they are not cats) and ordered the slaughter of all captive civets. Some scientists think it is either a new species of civet, or that it is one of the more rare species finally being spotted in modern times, such as Hose's Palm Civet. At least one civet cat farmer in Ethiopia raises civets for their musk, although this practice is dying out as perfumers move toward using synthetic fixatives.

Species

Subfamily Hemigalinae Chrotogale owstoni — Owston's Palm Civet Cynogale bennettii — Otter Civet Diplogale hosei — Hose's Palm Civet Hemigalus derbyanus — Banded Palm Civet Subfamily Paradoxurinae Arcticis binturong — Binturong Arctogalidia trivirgata — Small-toothed Palm Civet Macrogalidia musschenbroekii — Giant Civet Paguma larvata — Masked Palm Civet Paradoxurus hermaphroditus — Common Palm Civet Paradoxurus zeylonensis — Golden Palm Civet Paradoxurus jerdoni — Jerdon's Palm Civet Subfamily Viverrinae Civettictis civetta — African Civet Genetta abyssinica — Abyssinian Genet Genetta angolensis — Angolan Genet Genetta cristata — Crested Genet Genetta genetta — Common Genet Genetta johnstoni — Johnston's Genet Genetta maculata — Panther Genet Genetta servalina — Servaline Genet Genetta thierryi — Haussa Genet Genetta tigrina — Blotched Genet Genetta victoriae — Giant Genet Osbornictis piscivora — Aquatic Genet Poiana leightoni — Leighton's Linsang Poiana richardsoni — African Linsang Prionodon linsang — Banded Linsang Prionodon pardicolor — Spotted Linsang Viverra civettina — Malabar Civet Viverra megaspila — Large-spotted Civet Viverra tangalunga — Oriental Civet Viverra zibetha — Large Indian Civet Viverricula indica — Small Indian Civet

Civet/Genet Hybrids

In "The Variation Of Animals And Plants Under Domestication" Charles Darwin noted: The Genetta has bred both here and in the Jardin des Plantes, and produced hybrids. Others have also reported civet/genet hybrids.