Viverridae

A selection of civets Above: Civet and small genet Below: larvae scooters and binturong

• Civets ( Viverrinae )
• Palm Roller ( Paradoxurinae )
• Bands and Otterzivetten ( Hemigalinae )

The civets ( Viverridae ) are a family of felines. They are small to medium-sized predators that are represented by about 30 species in Africa and Eurasia.

Features

Civets remember at first glance to cats, but are often due to the long snout, distinguished the elongated body and short limbs of these. Their fur is often characterized by a banded and stains coat pattern, but there are also single-color types. The head is elongated, pointed snout which accommodates 32 to 40 teeth. The ears are small and often pointed. The short legs usually end in five toes, the claws can be retracted. The tail is long, bushy and often provided with horizontal stripes or other patterns in most cases. Another feature of many species are the Perianaldrüsen that can squirt a strictly smelling secretion to mark their territory or ward off enemies.

Civets reach depending on a head-body length of 35-95 cm, a tail length of 13-90 cm and a density of 0.6 up to 20 kg.

Dissemination

The greatest diversity of species reach the civets in South and Southeast Asia, where they are spread from India to southern China to Indonesia and the Philippines. They are also found in the whole of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. One type, the small genet is located in the south-west Europe. Civets usually live in forests, sometimes in scrubland and savannas.

Way of life

Generally, civets are nocturnal and sleep during the day in tree hollows or holes in the ground. Many species are good climbers and usually live on trees, the binturong has developed the only way a prehensile tail. Other species such as the civets are found, however, more on the ground. Two species, the Wasserzivette and Otterzivette lead a semiaquatic lifestyle.

Most species lead a solitary life and shun outside the mating season, the contact with conspecifics. Some species live in pairs or small family groups, large groups are not common in this family. Most are territorial animals that mark their territory with the secretion of their anal gland.

Food

Civets are omnivores usually. Many species are skilled hunters that sneak up on their prey or surprise from a hiding place. Small vertebrates are as much of their food, such as insects, worms, and bird eggs. Some species also eat carrion. Plant foods such as fruits and nuts complement the diet.

Reproduction

As a rule, the females give birth twice a year junior to the world, the litter size is between one and six. Young are born with their eyes closed, but hairy to the world. The life expectancy is likely to be in most species between five and 15 years.

Civets and humans

A number of types is used by people economically, especially civet, from whose Analdrüsensekret civet was recovered, which plays an important role in the perfume. Today it is but mostly generated from artificial substitutes. The Civet is known for its role in the production of Kopi Luwak - coffees. The meat of some species is eaten, in the case of larvae scooter could in this way the SARS virus may have been transmitted to humans.

Today's main threat to the civets is the loss of their habitat, particularly the forest-dwelling species are drawn by large-scale deforestation affected. Some species are IUCN as endangered or threatened.

System

Civets are closely related to the mongoose ( Herpestidae ), which were previously expected to this family, but are now regarded by them as a separate family separated. They belong within the predators to the felines.

The civets can be divided into the following subfamilies and genera:

• Subfamily civets ( Viverrinae ) Asian civets ( Viverra ), 4 types
• African civet ( Civettictis civetta )
• Small Indian Civet ( Viverricula indica)
• Genets ( Genetta ), 14 species
• Pojanas or African Linsangs ( Poiana ), 2 species

• Musangs ( Paradoxurus ), 3 types
• Larvae Roller ( Paguma larvata )
• Sulawesi Roller ( Macrogalidia musschenbroekii )
• Strip Roller ( Arctogalidia trivirgata )
• Binturong ( binturong Arctictis )

• Bands Roller ( Hemigalus derbyanus )
• Stain Roller ( Chrotogale owstoni )
• Plain Roller ( Diplogale hosei )
• Otterzivette ( Cynogale bennettii )

The Pardelroller, which was formerly classed as civets, is now regarded as a representative of his own family, Nandiniidae. Similarly, the Linsangs ( Prionodon ) today form an independent family, Prionodontidae. Several species from Madagascar, including the fossa, Falanuk and Fanaloka, today no longer count on the civets, but are under Malagasy predators ( Eupleridae ) out.