Viverra zibetha sigillata

(Robinson & Kloss, 1920)

Vernacular names
English : Large Indian civet
French : Grande civette Indienne

Classification
Class : Mammalia
Order : Carnivora
Family : Viverridae
Notes : 5 other subspecies known.

Identification
The species grows to 95 cm long with a 59 cm long tail for a weight up to 9 kg. Fur is tawny to greyish-colored with black band running from head to base of tail. Tail is thick, with large black and white rings. Flanks show faint rosette-like spots, becoming more visible on back half of body. Legs are dark, neck has two double black and white collars reaching near back of head. White patches on sides of muzzle.

Range and habitat
This subspecies is found in south Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia (to Singapore). The species lives from South China, east India to Indochina and Malaysia. It can be found in primary and secondary forests up to 2250 meters asl.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : NEAR THREATENED
CITES : Not listed
Status : The species has a very large range but can locally be threatened by poaching (capture for the pet trade and especially these days hunting for bushmeat and fur trade) and habitat loss (deforestation). Populations of Hong Kong is likely extirpated and Hainan subspecies could be extinct.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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