Small Indian Civet
Kingdom
Phylum
Subphylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Viverricula indica
Population size
Unknown
Life Span
8-9 years
Weight
2-4
4.4-8.8
kglbs
kg lbs 
Length
53-58
20.9-22.8
cminch
cm inch 

The small Indian civet (Viverricula indica ) is a civet native to South and Southeast Asia. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List because of its widespread distribution, widespread habitat use and healthy populations living in agricultural and secondary landscapes of many range states.

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The small Indian civet is a monotypic genus.

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Appearance

The Small Indian civet is a species of civet native to South and Southeast Asia. It has a coarse brownish grey to pale yellowish brown fur, with several longitudinal black or brown bands on the back and longitudinal rows of spots on the sides. Usually, there are five or six distinct bands on the back and four or five rows of spots on each side. There are also two dark stripes from behind the ear to the shoulders, and often a third in front, crossing the throat. Its underfur is often grey on the upper parts of the body and brown on the lower. The head is grey or brownish grey, the chin often brown. The ears are short and rounded with a dusky mark behind each ear, and one in front of each eye. The feet are brown or black. Its tail has alternating black and whitish rings, seven to nine of each color.

Distribution

Geography

Small Indian civets occur in most of India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Lao PDR, Cambodia, Viet Nam, south and central China, Pakistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Peninsular Malaysia, and Nepal. These animals live in a wide range of habitats, including grasslands and savannah, riverine areas and near a tea plantation, marshes, deciduous, semi-evergreen, thorn and bamboo forests, scrubby areas, and near villages.

Small Indian Civet habitat map

Climate zones

Small Indian Civet habitat map
Small Indian Civet
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Habits and Lifestyle

Small Indian civets are nocturnal and mostly terrestrial animals. Their homes are holes in the ground, under rocks or in thick bush. They can dig their own burrows, but also occupy abandoned burrows of other species. In suburban habitats, they use gutters or other hollow, dark spaces as makeshift burrows. Occasionally, pairs are seen during the mating season and hunting their food. In areas not disturbed by humans, these civets may sometimes hunt during the day. Small Indian civets spend most of the time on the ground but they also climb well. As they are solitary creatures the main way to communicate with each other is scent marking which also warns other Small Indian civets of territory boundaries.

Seasonal behavior

Diet and Nutrition

Small Indian civets are carnivorous (insectivorous) animals that feed mainly on rats, mice, birds, snakes, and carrion. The may also eat fruit and roots. Some individuals were spotted while carrying off poultry.

Mating Habits

REPRODUCTION SEASON
year-round, seasonal
BABY CARRYING
2-5 pups
BABY NAME
pup

Little is known about the mating system in Small Indian civets. In some areas, the breeding season can occur throughout the year while in other areas it's seasonal. Females usually give birth to 2-5 pups which are weaned at 4 to 4.5 months after birth.

Population

Population threats

The main threats to Small Indian civets include hunting and trapping. These animals are used for different reasons. Small Indian civets are hunted for their skins and gland secretion which is called a "civet" musk; this ingredient is widely used in perfumes, medicine, and other industries. They are also used as snaring, for domestic consumption and are sold into the urban and international wildlife trade.

Population number

According to the IUCN Red List, the Small Indian civet is abundant and widespread throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are stable.

References

1. Small Indian Civet on Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_Indian_civet
2. Small Indian Civet on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/41710/45220632

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