Viverra zibetha, Linnaeus, 1758

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2009, Viverridae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 1 Carnivores, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 174-232 : 179

6.

Large Indian Civet

Viverra zibetha

French: Grande Civette / German: Indische Zibetkatze / Spanish: Civeta india grande

Taxonomy. Viverra zibetha Linnaeus, 1758 ,

India.

The validity of the Taynguyen Civet (V. tainguensis) is debated and has been considered a synonym of V. zibetha . Six subspecies are recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

V. z. zibetha Linnaeus, 1758 — SW China (Xizang) to Nepal and NE India.

V. z. expectata Colbert & Hooijer, 1953 — China.

V.z. sigillata Robinson & Kloss, 1920 — Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia.

V. z. hainana Wang & Xu, 1983 — China (Hainan I).

V. z. pruinosus Wroughton, 1915 — Myanmar.

V. z. surdaster Thomas, 1927 — Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.

Introduced to the Andaman Islands.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 75-85 cm, tail 38-495 cm, hindfoot 10.9-14.0 cm, ear 4.7-5. 2 cm; weight 8-9 kg. A large civet with conspicuous black and white bands on the throat and sides of the neck. The coatis pale gray or fawn, with indistinct dark spots or a mottling of black or dark brown on the flanks, thighs, and hindlegs; this pattern varies throughout its range. The coat length varies according to the season, at least in northern areas. The face is grayish with white patches on each side of the muzzle. A black crest of erectile hairs runs along the back and ends at the base of the tail; the length of the crest hairs reaches 90 mm in China, 70 mm in Nepal, north-east India and Bengal, butis less than 55 mm in Peninsular Malaysia. The tail has five or six complete dark rings, alternating with complete white rings. The forefeet are dark brown, the hindfeet are medium brown, and the claws are retractable. The metacarpal pads are rounded and small; there are no metatarsal pads. There are at least two pairs of teats. The skull is long and low, with moderate crests, a low, flat zygomatic arch, and a marked depression between the nasal bones. The post-orbital processes are small and are located in front of the midpoint of the skull. The sub-orbital foramina are relatively small, with the long axis vertical. The mandibular ramus has a vertical posterior edge. The auditory bullae are small, shorter than the width across the occiptal condyles. In comparison with the Large-spotted Civet, the dentition is more robust, with longer and stronger canines and incisors and a smaller first upper premolar. Dental formula: 13/3,C1/1.P4/4.M 2/2 = 40.

Habitat. Primary evergreen and deciduous forest, disturbed forest, and within plantations adjacent to forest. Found up to 1600 m. In Thailand, a radio-collared male moved within an area that comprised 52% dry evergreen forest, 35% mixed deciduous forest, 10% hill evergreen forest, and 3% dry dipterocarp forest.

Food and Feeding. Omnivorous. Diet said to include small mammals, birds, eggs, lizards, snakes, frogs, insects, crabs, fish, fruit, and roots. Forages on the ground.

Activity patterns. Primarily nocturnal, with a peak in activity between 19:30 h and 22:30 h. Rests during the day within dense cover on the ground.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Generally solitary. Terrestrial, but apparently can climb trees. In Thailand, an adult male had a home range of 12 km?, with a mean daily movement of 1-7 km.

Breeding. Said to breed throughout the year, with two litters per year. Litter size is one to four. Newborns are black, with white markings on the lip, ear, throat and tail, and their eyes are closed. The eyes open at ten days and weaning commences at about one month.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Near Threatened on The IUCN Red List. Considered common in some parts of its range, but is not well known and more field studies are needed. Habitat loss and degradation could be a threat to this species; it is hunted and snared for food in Vietnam and China.

Bibliography. Agrawal et al. (1992), Austin & Tewes (1999b), Azlan (2003), Corbet & Hill (1992), Duckworth (1997), Lekagul & McNeely (1991), Long & Hoang (2006), Medway (1969), Nowak (1999), Pocock (1933a), Rabinowitz (1991), Veron (1999), Walston & Veron (2001), Wozencraft (2005).

Figures

1. Small Indian Civet (Viverricula indica), 2. African Civet (Civettictis civetta), 3. Malabar Civet (Viverra civettina), 4. Large-spotted Civet (Viverra megaspila), 5. Malay Civet (Viverra tangalunga), 6. Large Indian Civet (Viverra zibetha)

Subspecies and Distribution. V. z. zibetha Linnaeus, 1758 — SW China (Xizang) to Nepal and NE India . V. z. expectata Colbert & Hooijer, 1953 — China . V.z. sigillata Robinson & Kloss, 1920 — Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia . V. z. hainana Wang & Xu, 1983 — China (Hainan I). V. z. pruinosus Wroughton, 1915 — Myanmar . V. z. surdaster Thomas, 1927 — Cambodia , Laos and Vietnam . Introduced to the Andaman Islands.