Macrogalidia musschenbroekii (Schlegel, 1877)

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2009, Viverridae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 1 Carnivores, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 174-232 : 194-195

25.

Sulawesi Palm Civet

Macrogalidia musschenbroekii

French: Civette des Célebes / German: Sulawesi-Roller / Spanish: Civeta de las Célebes

Other common names: Giant Palm Civet

Taxonomy. Paradoxurus musschenbroekii Schlegel, 1879 ,

Menado-Kinilo, Celebes.

Monotypic.

Distribution. Sulawesi.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 65-715 cm, tail 44.5-54 cm, hindfoot 10.1-11. 1 cm, ear 3.9-4. 1 cm; weight 3.9-6. 1 kg. A large palm civet with a long tail. The coat color is light brownish-chestnut to dark brown on the upperparts; the underparts are yellowish-brown, with a reddish breast.

There are lighter patches above and below the eyes, in front of the ears, and on the edge of the upper lip. The eyes are large, with light brown irises and vertical pupils; the rhinarium is large and similar to that of the Binturong . There are two longitudinal rows of indistinct dark dorsal spots on either side of the midline that converge anteriorly. The tail has seven to eleven indistinct pale yellowish rings. The feet have five digits, retractile claws, rudimentary skin sheaths over the claws (digits 2-5), and a fleshy web connecting the toes; the metapodial pads are large and smooth. The naked depression between the long metatarsal pads is wider distally than proximally, and is covered with coarse, horny tubercules. The feet are flexible and can be rotated to allow headfirst descents from trees. The perineal gland in the female is a shallow semi-circular depression behind the vulva; the secretion tinges the surrounding hairs an orange color. The male lacks a noticeable perineal gland, although there is a small naked area between the anus and scrotum. There are two pairs ofteats. The skull has a near parallel-sided palate and its general shape is similar to the Common Palm Civet. Dental formula: 13/3, C1/1,P 4/4, M 2/2 = 40. The premolars and molars are larger than in other palm civets and lack shearing blades. The first upper and lower premolars are small and deciduous in old age.

Habitat. Primary forest, up to 2600 m; also recorded in grassland and near farms.

Food and Feeding. Appears to be omnivorous: the percentage occurrence of food items in 47 scats found in the Lore Lindu Reserve was: 47% rodents, 4% Sulawesi Dwarf Cuscus (Strigocuscus celebensis), 2% birds, 2% grass, and palm fruit (including 45% Arenga spp. , 15% Pandanus sp.). Captive animals caught and killed chickens by seizing the chicken with the forepaws and biting it on the head. Feeding began at the head and the entire carcass was eaten, including the feet and nearly all the feathers. They chewed fruit with their headstilted upwards.

Activity patterns. Appears to be nocturnal: has been camera-trapped at night and captive animals were reported to be mainly active at night.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Appears to be solitary: the few recorded camera-trap photographs have been of single individuals. Arboreal, but has been camera-trapped and snared on the ground. Captive animals have demonstrated that they are skilful climbers; they can walk upside down across the mesh of a cage and can ascend and descend along trunks by vertical looping (synchronous movements of the fore and hindfeet, accompanied by arching of the back as the body is contracted and extended). Sulawesi Palm Civets claw-mark smooth-barked trees; scratches extending up to 2: 7 m above the ground have been found on trees up to 65 cm in circumference. They do not appear to deposit scats on prominent logs or rocks, but simply leave them on the ground.

Breeding. Nothing known.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Vulnerable on The IUCN Red List. Listed as Threatened in the 1989 IUCN Action Plan for the Conservation of Mustelids and Viverrids. Protected under Indonesian law. Recently recorded in Rawa Aopa National Park, Tanjung Peropa Wildlife Reserve, and Mangolo Recreation Forest. Possibly threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation, particularly at lower elevations; between 1985 and 1997, there were forest losses of 59% in the northern peninsular, 72% in the central peninsular, and 67% in the southeastern peninsular. Known to raid villages for pigs and chickens and are sometimes killed in retaliation. Little is known aboutthis species and field surveys, ecological studies, and assessments of threats are needed.

Bibliography. Corbet & Hill (1992), Dammerman (1939), Groves (1976), Lee et al. (2003), Pocock (1933c), Schlegel (1879), Schreiber et al. (1989), Veron (1999, 2001), Wemmer & Watling (1986), Wemmer et al. (1983), Wozencraft (1984, 2005).

Figures

24. Small-toothed Palm Civet (Arctogalidia trivirgata), 25. Sulawesi Palm Civet (Macrogalidia musschenbroekii), 26. Binturong (Arctictis binturong), 27. Masked Palm Civet (Paguma larvata), 28. Common Palm Civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus), 29. Brown Palm Civet (Paradoxurus jerdoni), 30. Golden Palm Civet (Paradoxurus zeylonensis), 31. Otter Civet (Cynogale bennettii), 32. Owston’s Palm Civet (Chrotogale owstoni), 33. Banded Palm Civet (Hemugalus derbyanus), 34. Hose’s Palm Civet (Diplogale hosei)

Distribution. Sulawesi.