- Asian Palm Civet
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Asian Palm Civet[1] 
Asian Palm Civet in a tree Conservation status Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Suborder: Feliformia Family: Viverridae Genus: Paradoxurus Species: P. hermaphroditus Binomial name Paradoxurus hermaphroditus
(Pallas, 1777)
Asian Palm Civet range: native in green, introduced in red The Asian Palm Civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus), also called Toddy Cat, is a small member of the Viverridae family native to South and Southeast Asia. In 2008, the IUCN classified the species as Least Concern as it is tolerant of a broad range of habitats, is widely distributed with large populations that are unlikely to be declining.[2]
Contents
Characteristics
Illustration of skull and dentition, by Gervais in Histoire naturelle des mammifères
The Asian palm civet is a small, mottled gray and black viverrid weighing 2 to 5 kg (4.4 to 11 lb). It has a body length of about 53 cm (21 in) with a 48 cm (19 in) long tail. Its long, stocky body is covered with coarse, shaggy hair that is usually greyish in color. There is a white mask across the forehead, a small white patch under each eye, a white spot on each side of the nostrils, and a narrow dark line between the eyes. The muzzle, ears, lower legs, and distal half of the tail are black, with three rows of black markings on the body. The tail is without rings, unlike in similar civet species. Active anal scent glands emit a nauseous secretion when threatened or upset.[3]
Distribution and habitat
Asian palm civets are native to India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Singapore, Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei Darussalam, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Philippines and the Indonesian islands of Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, Bawean and Siberut. They were introduced to Irian Jaya, the Lesser Sunda Islands, Maluku, Sulawesi and Japan. In Papua New Guinea, their presence is uncertain.[2]
They normally inhabit primary forests, but also occur at lower densities in secondary and selectively logged forest.[4]
They also inhabit parks and suburban gardens with mature fruit trees, fig trees and undisturbed vegetation. Their sharp claws allow them to climb trees and house gutters. In most parts of Sri Lanka, palm civets are considered a nuisance since they litter in ceilings and attics of common households, and make loud noises fighting and moving about at night.
Ecology and behaviour
Asian Palm Civet juvenile
Philippines CivetFeeding and diet
Asian palm civets are omnivores utilizing fruits such as berries and pulpy fruits as a major food source, and thus help to maintain tropical forest ecosystems via seed dispersal.[4] They eat chiku, mango, rambutan and coffee, but also small mammals and insects. Ecologically, they fill a similar niche in Asia as Common Raccoons in North America.[5] They also feed on palm flower sap, which when fermented becomes toddy, a sweet liquor. Because of this habit they are called toddy cat. They play a role in the germination of the Pinanga kuhlii and P. zavana palm trees.[6]
Behavior
Palm civets are believed to lead solitary lifestyles, except for brief periods during mating. They are both terrestrial and arboreal, showing nocturnal activity patterns with peaks between late evening until after midnight.[4] They are usually active between 6:00 pm and 4:00 am, being less active during nights when the moon is brightest.[5]
They perform scent marking using anal glands, urine, and feces. The most common marking behavior is dragging the anal glands on a surface to leave a scent. They are able to identify animal species, sex, and whether the individual who left the scent is known or unknown by smelling an anal scent secretion.[7]
Subspecies
Various Asian palm civet subspecies, as illustrated in Pocock's The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma - Mammalia Vol 1Since Peter Simon Pallas's first description published in 1777, a significant number of subspecies have been described between 1820 and 1992. They are listed according to the year of description:[1]
- P. h. hermaphroditus (Pallas, 1777)
- P. h. bondar (Desmarest, 1820)
- P. h. musanga (Raffles, 1821)
- P. h. javanica (Horsfield, 1824)
- P. h. pallasii (Gray, 1832)
- P. h. philippinensis (Jourdan, 1837)
- P. h. setosus (Jacquinot and Pucheran, 1853)
- P. h. nictitans (Taylor, 1891)
- P. h. lignicolor (Miller, 1903)
- P. h. minor (Bonhote, 1903)
- P. h. canescens (Lyon, 1907)
- P. h. milleri (Kloss, 1908)
- P. h. kangeanus (Thomas, 1910)
- P. h. sumbanus (Schwarz, 1910)
- P. h. exitus (Schwarz, 1911)
- P. h. cochinensis (Schwarz, 1911)
- P. h. canus (Miller, 1913)
- P. h. pallens (Miller, 1913)
- P. h. parvus (Miller, 1913)
- P. h. pugnax (Miller, 1913)
- P. h. pulcher (Miller, 1913)
- P. h. sacer (Miller, 1913)
- P. h. senex (Miller, 1913)
- P. h. simplex (Miller, 1913)
- P. h. enganus (Lyon, 1916)
- P. h. laotum (Gyldenstolpe, 1917)
- P. h. balicus (Sody, 1933)
- P. h. scindiae (Pocock, 1934)
- P. h. vellerosus (Pocock, 1934)
- P. h. dongfangensis (Corbet and Hill, 1992)
The taxonomic status of these subspecies has not yet been evaluated.[2]
Local names
- Musang or Alamid in the Philippines;
- Musang or Luwak in Indonesia, where Kopi Luwak, an expensive type of coffee, is produced.
- Motit in the Gran Cordillera Central mountain range of northern Philippines;
- Punugu Pilli in southwest Andhra Pradesh, South Central India;
- Marapatti or "മരപ്പട്ടി", translates as 'tree-dog' or 'wood-dog', in the indigenous language of Malayalam in the state of Kerala in southern India;
- Maranai in Tamil, also meaning 'tree-dog' or 'wood-dog'
- Uguduwa in Sinhala of Sri Lanka;
- Bham in Bengali.
Interactions with humans
Oil extract
The oil extracted from small pieces of the meat kept in linseed oil in a closed earthen pot and regularly sunned is used indigenously as a cure for scabies.[8]
Coffee
Kopi Luwak is coffee prepared using coffee cherries that have been eaten by the animal, partially digested, and harvested from its feces. Kopi Luwak is currently the most expensive coffee in the world.
See also
References
- ^ a b Wozencraft, W. Christopher (16 November 2005). "Order Carnivora (pp. 532-628)". In Wilson, Don E., and Reeder, DeeAnn M., eds. Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2 vols. (2142 pp.). ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494. http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3/browse.asp?id=14000317.
- ^ a b c d Duckworth, J.W., Widmann P., Custodio, C., Gonzalez, J.C., Jennings, A., Veron, G. (2008). "Paradoxurus hermaphroditus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.4. International Union for Conservation of Nature. http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/41693.
- ^ Lēkhakun, B., McNeely, J. A. (1977) Mammals of Thailand. Association for the Conservation of Wildlife, Bangkok
- ^ a b c Grassman Jr., L. I. (1998) Movements and fruit selection of two Paradoxurinae species in a dry evergreen forest in Southern Thailand. Small Carnivore Conservation 19: 25–29.
- ^ a b Joshi, A. R., Smith, J. L. D., Cuthbert, F. J. (1995). "Influence of Food Distribution and Predation Pressure on Spacing Behavior in Palm Civets". Journal of Mammalogy (American Society of Mammalogists) 76 (4): 1205–1212. doi:10.2307/1382613. JSTOR 1382613.
- ^ Thohari, M., Santosa, Y. (9–11 May 1984). "A preliminary study on the role of civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus) in the natural regeneration of palms (Pinanga kuhlii and P. zavana) at Gunung Gede-Pangrango National Park, West Java (Indonesia)". Symposium on Forest Regeneration in Southeast Asia. Bogor (Indonesia).
- ^ Rozhnov, V. V., Rozhnov, Y. V. (November, 2003). "Roles of Different Types of Excretions in Mediated Communication by Scent Marks of the Common Palm Civet, Paradoxurus hermaphroditus Pallas, 1777 (Mammalia, Carnivora)". Biology Bulletin (MAIK Nauka/Interperiodica) 30 (6): 584–590. doi:10.1023/B:BIBU.0000007715.24555.ed. ISSN 1062-3590.
- ^ Singh, L. A. K. (1982). "Stomach Contents of a Common Palm Civet, Paradoxurus hermaphroditus (Pallas)". J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 79 (2): 403–404.
External links
Categories:- IUCN Red List least concern species
- Viverrids
- Mammals of India
- Mammals of Nepal
- Mammals of Bangladesh
- Mammals of Bhutan
- Mammals of Sri Lanka
- Mammals of Southeast Asia
- Mammals of the Philippines
- Urban animals
- Carnivora of Malaysia
- Animals described in 1777
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