Everything about Civet totally explained
Civets are small, lithe-bodied, mostly arboreal
mammals native to the tropics of Africa and Asia.
Taxonomy
The common name is used for a variety of
carnivorous mammalian species, mostly of the
family Viverridae (although it resembles the other civets, the
African Palm Civet (Nandinia binotata) is genetically distinct and belongs in its own monotypic family,
Nandiniidae).
In 2005, the
World Wide Fund for Nature released photos taken by a night time camera trap of an unknown
carnivore (nicknamed the
cat-fox) on
Borneo. Scientists debate whether this animal is new species of civet, or a known, but rare, species (such as
Hose's Palm Civet, thought previously to be extinct).
Physical Characteristics
Civets have a broadly cat-like general appearance, though the muzzle is extended and often pointed, rather like an
otter or a
mongoose. They range in length from about 17 to 28 in (400 to 700 mm) (excluding their long tails) and in weight from about 3 to 10 lb (1 to 5 kg).
Habitat
Viverrids are native to
Africa (bar the area immediately south of the
Mediterranean),
Madagascar, the
Iberian Peninsula, southern
China, and Southeast Asia. Favoured habitats include woodland, savanna, and mountain biomes and, above all,
tropical rainforest. In consequence, many are faced with severe loss of habitat; several species are considered vulnerable and the Otter Civet is classified as endangered.
Behavior
Very little is known about civets' mating habits. They breed year round, producing litters of 1-6 fully-furred babies after a gestation period of 60-81 days. Some species may have 2 litters per year.
Civets are
omnivorous, supplementing a meat diet (both hunted and scavenged) with fruit, eggs, and possibly roots.
Musk
The civet produces a
musk (also called civet) highly valued as a fragrance and stabilizing agent for perfume. Both male and female civets produce the strong-smelling secretion, which is produced by the civet's perineal glands. It is harvested by either killing the animal and removing the glands, or by scraping the secretions from the glands of a live animal. The latter is the preferred method today.
Animal rights groups, such as the World Society for the Protection of Animals, express concern that harvesting musk is cruel to animals. Between these ethical concerns and the availability of synthetic substitutes, the practice of raising civets for musk is dying out.
Chanel, maker of the popular perfume
Chanel No. 5, claims that natural civet has been replaced with a synthetic substitute since 1998.
Kopi Luwak
Kopi Luwak, also known as
caphe cut chon (fox-dung coffee) in Vietnam and
kape alamid in the Philippines, is
coffee that's prepared using
coffee cherries that have been eaten and partially digested by the
Asian Palm Civet, then harvested from its feces.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Civet'.
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