Small Indian civet

Small Indian Civet ( Viverricula indica)

The Small Indian Civet or race ( Viverricula indica) is a predatory species from the family of civets ( Viverridae ).

Description

From the genus of the Asian civet cats ( Viverra ) it differs in addition to details in the structure of the skull and teeth by the smaller size, the absence of the mane back and more pointed snout. Their fur is gray brown, black spots pull in a stripe shape along the hull. The muzzle and legs are entirely black, the tail is gray-black striped. These animals can reach a body length 45-63 inches, the tail is 30-43 inches long, and its weight is 2 to 4 kg.

Distribution and habitat

Small Indian civet live in many parts of South and Southeast Asia, their natural range extends from India and Sri Lanka and southern China to the islands of Sumatra, Java and Bali. Was naturalized the way among others to Socotra, the Comoro Islands, Madagascar and several Southeast Asian islands. Their habitat are lined with dense vegetation forests and grasslands.

Way of life

These animals are generally nocturnal, although they sometimes go in sparsely populated areas during the day on the hunt. They prefer to sleep back in dense vegetation and sometimes in burrows. They live primarily on the ground, but should be able to climb well. Outside the breeding season they live solitary. There are territorial animals that mark their territory with the known as civet secretion of their Perianaldrüsen.

Small Indian civets are omnivores, eating both small vertebrates, carrion and insects as well as fruits and roots.

Little is known about reproduction. The female gives birth to two to five cubs are born, which are hidden in a earthworks and weaned after about four to five months.

Small Indian civet cats and humans

Like other representatives of the civet is also the Small Indian Civet held to win civet, to this end, it has been naturalized in some countries. Civet is used in the perfume industry, but increasingly replaced by artificial substitutes.

Otherwise, these animals are widespread and are not among the endangered species.