Gem-faced civet
The masked palm civet (Paguma larvata ), also called the gem-faced civet, is a palm civet species native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It has been listed as least concern on the IUCN Red List since 2008 as it occurs in many protected areas, is tolerant to some degree of habitat modification, and widely distributed with presumed large populations that are unlikely to be declining.
The genus Paguma was first named and described by John Edward Gray in 1831. All described forms are regarded as a single species.
In 2003, masked palm civets at a wildlife market in China were found to have been infected with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus.
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NocturnalNocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal",...
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OmnivoreAn omnivore is an animal that has the ability to eat and survive on both plant and animal matter. Obtaining energy and nutrients from plant and ani...
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FrugivoreA frugivore is an animal that thrives mostly on raw fruits or succulent fruit-like produce of plants such as roots, shoots, nuts, and seeds. Approx...
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HerbivoreA herbivore is an animal anatomically and physiologically adapted to eating plant material, for example, foliage, for the main component of its die...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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ArborealArboreal locomotion is the locomotion of animals in trees. In habitats in which trees are present, animals have evolved to move in them. Some anima...
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AltricialAltricial animals are those species whose newly hatched or born young are relatively immobile. They lack hair or down, are not able to obtain food ...
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ZoochoryZoochory animals are those that can disperse plant seeds in several ways. Seeds can be transported on the outside of vertebrate animals (mostly mam...
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TerritorialA territory is a sociographical area that which an animal consistently defends against the conspecific competition (or, occasionally, against anima...
Among animals, viviparity is the development of the embryo inside the body of the parent. The term 'viviparity' and its adjective form 'viviparous'...
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PolygynandryPolygynandry is a mating system in which both males and females have multiple mating partners during a breeding season.
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SolitaryNo
Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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starts withThe Masked palm civet is a civet species native to the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia. These animals are reddish to grey in color, and they have a black and white facial mask. Feet are always dark, often black. The tail is more than two-thirds the length of head and body.
Masked palm civets occur from the northern parts of the Indian Subcontinent, especially the Himalayas, ranging eastwards across Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam to China. They are also found on Borneo, Sumatra, Taiwan, Japan, and the Andaman and Nicobar islands. These animals live in both evergreen and deciduous forest, and in mountainous regions. They also inhabit tropical rain forests and are often seen near human settlements.
Masked palm civets are nocturnal solitary predators that can be occasionally active during the day. These animals are partly arboreal. They sleep in 'beds', which are usually located in trees and near a water source. When alarmed, Masked palm civets spray a secretion from their anal gland against the predator. The spray is similar in function to that of a skunk, and its conspicuousness serves to deter other predators.
Masked palm civets are omnivores that feed on rats and birds as well as on fruit such as figs, mangoes, bananas, and leaves. They also eat mollusks, arthropods, bark and to lesser extent snakes and frogs.
Masked palm civets are polygynandrous (promiscuous) breeders. This means that both males and females have multiple mates during each breeding season. Masked palm civets breed in early spring and late autumn. Females give birth to up to four pups after the gestation period that lasts for a couple of months. Pups are usually weaned when they are strong enough to take care of themselves.
The major threats for the Masked palm civets are continued habitat destruction and hunting for bushmeat. They are widely offered in restaurants in southern China and are also eaten in Viet Nam.
According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of the Masked palm civet is unknown. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List but its numbers today are decreasing.
By eating fruits, Masked palm civets play a very important role as seed dispersers through fecal material. They also affect predator populations, as items of prey.
