Little Civet

The small Indian civet is a captivating species native to South and Southeast Asia. It is classified as "Least Concern" on the IUCN Red List due to its robust populations and wide distribution across various habitats. This species, belonging to a monotypic genus, is easily identifiable by its coarse fur adorned with distinctive bands and spots. These civets are found in countries such as India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, and Taiwan. They thrive in diverse environments, ranging from grasslands to forests at different altitudes.

As nocturnal animals, small Indian civets spend most of their time on the ground and have a varied diet. They primarily feed on insects but also consume rodents, birds, fruit, and carrion. These civets are known to form mating pairs and often use burrows for shelter. Their lifespan is typically about eight to nine years, and they usually have litters of four or five offspring.

In terms of conservation, the small Indian civet is listed on CITES Appendix III and is fully protected under Myanmar's Wildlife Act of 1994. Throughout the years, scientists have proposed various names for this species, and several subspecies have been recognized based on their geographical distribution.

A phylogenetic study has revealed that the small Indian civet is closely related to other genera such as Civettictis and Viverra, with an estimated divergence around 16.2 million years ago. This study also suggested dividing the subfamily Viverrinae into two groups: Genettinae and Viverrinae, each encompassing different genera.