Science
Zoology

Viverridae (civets, genets, linsangs)

Viverridae
There are 34 species in this family. They are found in Europe, Africa, and Asia. They are found in woodland, rainforest, savanna, and mountain habitats. They have a cat-like appearance. The animals in this family have long, thin bodies; long tails; small heads; pointed ears; and small heads. One species in this family, the binturong, has a prehensile tail. Most of the species in this family have spotted or stripped coats. They have retractile claws. Some species have a gland that produces a musky scent called civet. Civet is used in perfumes. Most species are nocturnal. They are omnivorous and eat and eat small mammals, insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds, eggs, fruit, fish, and carrion. Most species can climb trees.


genet
Key: profileArticle Photos Photos Video Video Audio Audio North American Species North American Species NH Species NH Species
Vulnerable Vulnerable Endangered Endangered Critically Endangered Critically Endangered extinct inthe wild Extinct in the Wild extinct Extinct
Status taken from ICUN Redlist
 
Viverridae Genera  

button Viverridae General Resources
button Chrotogale (Owston's palm civet)
button Cynogale (otter civet)
button Diplogale (Hose's palm civet)
button Hemigalus (banded palm civet)
button Arctictis (binturong)
button Arctogalidia (small-toothed palm civet)
button Macrogalidia (Sulawesi palm civet)

button Paguma (masked palm civet)
button Paradoxurus (palm civets)
button Prionodon (banded linsang, spotted linsang)
button Civettictis (African civet)
button Genetta (aquatic genet)
button Poiana (African linsang)
button Viverra (civets)
button Viverricula (small Indian civet)

Viverridae Resources 		 
button Lesson Plans
button Games/Interactives
button Video 		  

Websites

Viverridae General Resources

Viverridae Species Profile Photos
Viverrids are medium-sized carnivores with long bodies and relatively short legs.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Chrotogale (Owston's palm civet)

Owston's Palm Civet Vulnerable Species Profile images
Owston's civet has a long body; a long, bushy tail; and a long face with a pointed snout.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Owston's Palm Civet Vulnerable Species Profile
Owston's palm civet is found in southern Yunan and southwest Guangxi provinces in China; northern Vietnam; and northern Laos.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Cynogale (otter civet)

Otter Civet Endangered Species Profile Photos
The otter civet is found in the Malay Peninsula and the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. It may also occur in southern Thailand.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Diplogale (Hose's palm civet)

Hemigalus (banded palm civet)

Banded Palm Civet Vulnerable Species Profile
Banded palm civets are found in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and peninsular Burma.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Banded Palm Civet Vulnerable images
Banded palm civet are the size of a small domestic cat. They have long, slender bodies; a long, ringed tail; and a gray coat with seven or eight black bands.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Arctictis (binturong)

Binturong Vulnerable Species Profile Photos
The binturong has a long prehensile tail.
Source: San Diego Zoo Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Binturong Vulnerable Species Profile Photos
The binturong is found in dense forests ranging across northeastern India, Indochina, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Sumatra, Bangka, the Rhio Archipelago, Java, Borneo, and Palawan.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Binturong Vulnerable Species Profile Photos
Binturongs live high in the canopy and rarely come to the ground.
Source: Brookfield Zoo Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Binturong Vulnerable Species Profile Photos
The binturong's tail is as long as its body.
Source: Binghamton Zoo Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: No

Binturong Vulnerable Species Profile Photos
Binturongs have black, long, and coarse fur.
Source: Fort Wayne Children's Zoo Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: No

Binturong Vulnerable Species Profile Photos
The binturong is also known as the bear cat.
Source: Brandywine Zoo Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: No

Binturong Vulnerable Photos
Most of the binturong's diet is made up of fruits.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Binturong Vulnerable Photos
Binturongs are excellent climbers.
Source: Honolulu Zoo Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Binturong Vulnerable Photos
Binturongs are nocturnal.
Source: Enchanted Learning Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary School Teacher Section: No Searchable: No

Arctogalidia (small-toothed palm civet)

Macrogalidia (Sulawesi palm civet)

Paguma (masked palm civet)

Masked Palm Civet Species Profile images
The masked palm civet is found in northern Pakistan and Kashmir to Indochina and the Malay Peninsula, Laos, Sumatra, Borneo, Taiwan, Hainan, much of eastern and southern China, and the Andaman and Nicobar.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Paradoxurus (palm civets)

Asian Palm Civet Species Profile
The Asian palm civet is found from Kashmir in the west to the Philippines in the east; from southern China and the Himalayas in the north to the Greater Sundas and many lesser Sunda Islands in the south.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Golden Palm Civet Vulnerable Species Profile
The golden palm civet is found in south and southeast Asia, specifically in Sri Lanka and Ceylon.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Prionodon (banded linsang and spotted linsang)

Banded Linsang Species Profile
The banded linsang is found in western Malaysia, Sumatra, Bornea, Java, Thailand, and Indonesia.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Spotted Linsang Species Profile
The spotted linsang is native to most of mainland Southeast Asia, from India to Vietnam.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Civettictis (African civet)

African Civet Species Profile images
The African civet is found in the savannahs and the forests of southern and central Africa.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Genetta (aquatic genet)

Angolan Genet Species Profile
Angolan genets occur in a narrow band across southern Africa from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Aquatic Genet Species Profile images
Aquatic genets are found in equatorial forests in central Africa.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Large Spotted Genet Species Profile images
Large spotted genets eat small rodents, birds, reptiles, fruit, and invertebrates.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Small Spotted Genet Species Profile images
Small spotted genets are found in northern Africa and have spread to Europe.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Poiana (African linsang)

African Linsang Species Profile images
African linsangs are found from Sierra Leone to northern Congo.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Viverra (civets)

Large Indian Civet Species Profile
The large Indian civet is found from Indochina to southern China. It is also found in Nepal, Bangladesh, the Malay Peninsula, Hainan, and Vietnam.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Malayan Civet Species Profile
The Malayan civet is found on the Malay peninsula, and on the islands of Sumatra, Bangka, Borneo, the Rhio Archipelago,and the Philippines.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Viverricula (small Indian civet)

Small Indian Civet Species Profile
The small Indian civet is found from southern and central China in the east through Indochina and India. Its range also stretches south into the Indonesian islands of Sumatra, Java and Bali.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

 


Online Video

Arkive Video and Images
Owston's Palm Civet
Binturong