Small Indian Civet (Viverricula indica) lives in tropical forest across Southeast Asia. It feeds on fruits and insects. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the Small Indian Civet
- The small Indian civet is the sole representative of its genus, making it taxonomically unique among civets. It belongs to the species Viverricula indica, a carnivore native to South and Southeast Asia. No other civet shares the genus Viverricula, so all scientific references to this group point to this single species alone.
- Beyond its Asian heartland, the small Indian civet has been introduced to islands off Africa. In Madagascar it has become feral, with confirmed sightings in Ranomafana National Park, an unprotected dry deciduous forest near Mariarano, and the protected Masoala-Makira area. It was also brought to Pemba and Mafia islands in the Zanzibar Archipelago, where locals once kept it for its musk, a product added to traditional African medicine and used as a perfume scent.
- The small Indian civet's tail is a striking feature, displaying alternating black and whitish rings with typically seven to nine bands of each colour. This tail measures between 38 and 43 centimetres in length, complementing a body that ranges from 53 to 58 centimetres from head to the base of the tail. Together these proportions give the animal a distinctive, banded silhouette when it moves through its habitat.
- In northeast India the species has been recorded at elevations up to 2,500 m, and a separate sighting placed it at 1,770 m in Dachigam National Park. It also occurs at mid-altitudes of 700-900 m in Thailand's Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary and at lower elevations of 240-580 m in Myanmar's Hukawng Valley. These records show the civet can inhabit a wide vertical range, from foothill forests to high-land grasslands, adapting to varied climate and vegetation zones.
- Adults measure 53-58 cm from head to the base of the body and bear a long tapering tail of 38-43 cm. The tail is marked by alternating black and whitish rings, usually seven to nine of each colour, giving it a banded appearance. Its coarse fur ranges from brownish-grey to pale yellowish-brown, often with five or six dark longitudinal bands on the back and rows of spots on the sides.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeSoutheast Asia
HabitatTropical forest
DietFruits and insects
About the Small Indian Civet
In the dappled shadows of the forest, the Small Indian Civet emerges as a phantom, its tawny coat blending seamlessly with the underbrush as it pads silently through the dense undergrowth. With eyes aglow like lanterns in the dark, this enigmatic creature navigates its nocturnal realm with an air of quiet confidence, its long, bushy tail twitching with every subtle vibration. As it moves, the civet leaves behind a trail of mystery, its elusive nature and rare glimpses making it a cherished sighting for those fortunate enough to encounter it.
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