| Banded palm civet | |
|---|---|
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| A banded palm civet in theCincinnati Zoo | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Viverridae |
| Genus: | Hemigalus Jourdan, 1837 |
| Species: | H. derbyanus[1] |
| Binomial name | |
| Hemigalus derbyanus[1] (Gray, 1837) | |
| Subspecies[3] | |
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| Banded palm civet range | |
| Synonyms | |
Paradoxurus derbyanus[1] | |
Thebanded palm civet (Hemigalus derbyanus[a]), also called thebanded civet, is aviverrid native toIndomalaya. They primarily inhabit lowland conifer habitat, which is under threat from encroaching human activity. It is estimated the population of the banded palm civet has decreased by around 30% in just three generations. Banded palm civets are usually approximately the size of a domestic cat; their fur is pale but with dark bands on the back. They are believed to be closely related toHose's palm civets, which are similar in appearance and distribution.
The banded palm civet is the only species in its genus, firstscientifically described in 1837. The species comprises four subspecies, distributed across Indonesia and Southeast Asia. Two of the subspeciesdiverged from each other as long ago as 2.7 million years.
Banded palm civets are affected by a variety of parasites, such asnematodes, and are primarily carnivorous, eating small animals such as rodents and bugs. They have sensitive hairs on their paws which help them to detect potential prey.
ThegenusHemigalus was named and first described in 1837 byClaude Jourdan who had a skin andskeleton of onezoological specimen at his disposal.[5] In the same year,John Edward Gray described a specimen from theMalay Peninsula under the namesParadoxurus derbyanus andParadoxurus derbianus.[6][7] In 1939,Reginald Innes Pocock subordinated banded palm civet specimens described between 1837 and 1915 under the genusHemigalus and recognised that it is amonotypic taxon.[8] The genus name is derived from the Greekhemi (half) andgalus (weasel), due to its appearance.[4][better source needed]
The species is believed to be closely related toHose's palm civet – another species of civet in the subfamilyHemigalinae, also distributed in Southeast Asia, and with a similar build and appearance.[9]
There are four subspecies:H. derbyanus derbyanus, H. d. boiei, H. d. minor, andH. d. sipora.H. d. derbyanus is known from Myanmar and mainland Malaysia as well as Sumatra;H. d. boiei is known only from Borneo;H. d. minor, fromSouth Pagai and theMentawai islands; andH. d. sipora, fromSipora and the Mentawai islands. There is also a population onSiberut island, but it has not been attributed to any subspecies.[3]
It is estimated thatH. d. minor andH. d. derbyanusdiverged from each other some 2.7 million years ago.[10]
The banded palm civet's fur is usually pale in colour, and they have between seven and eight dark bands on their face and on their back.[11][12] The pale colour is typically pale brown, grey, whitish orbuff, but can also be yellowish; the bands are usually dark brown, black, orchestnut in colour.[8][13] It is roughly the size of domestic cat, growing up to 53 cm (21 in) in length – minus the tail – and weighing from 1–3 kg (2.2–6.6 lb).[4] The tail is usually three-quarters the length of the body and head combined,[8] and appear to swell in size in response to a threat. It has sensitive hairs in between the pads of itspaws for sensing prey.[12]
The banded palm civet is native toMyanmar,Thailand,Peninsular Malaysia,Sumatra, theMentawai Islands andBorneo from sea level up to an elevation of 1,660 m (5,450 ft).[2]
In Myanmar, only two individuals were recorded between the early 20th century and the 1960s, both in the far south.[14] In 2022, it was photographed by acamera trap for the first time in a reserved forest inTanintharyi Region.[15]In Thailand, it was photographed during camera trap surveys in the years 1996–2013 inKhlong Saeng Wildlife Sanctuary,Khao Sok National Park,Kui Buri National Park andHala-Bala Wildlife Sanctuary, all inevergreen forests at elevations of 162–695 m (531–2,280 ft).[16]In Peninsular Malaysia, it was recorded in just two locations during surveys in 2011–2012 in a hillydipterocarp forest inTerengganu.[17]
In Sumatra, it was recorded at an elevation of 150 m (490 ft) inprimary forest inKerinci Seblat National Park and on the west coast also at 800 m (2,600 ft).[18] InBukit Barisan Selatan National Park, it was photographed in primary evergreen forest at the elevation of 800–1,089 m (2,625–3,573 ft) in 2011.[19] InSouth Solok Regency, it was recorded in forest fragments within anoil palm plantation adjacent to Kerinci Seblat National Park in 2015.[20]
It wasextirpated in Singapore in the early 20th century.[12]
The banded palm civet is nocturnal and spends the day in low tree holes.[4] It is thought to be asolitary animal.[9] Its activity pattern overlaps with two other species of civet,rodents, as well as theclouded leopard – a potential predator.[12]
In response to a predator or other threat, banded palm civets swell their tails.[12]
The banded palm civet is a strictcarnivore and preys on a variety of small animals, includingcrustaceans, ants, spiders, worms, rats, frogs, small reptiles and birds.[12] It occasionally feeds on vegetation and fruits.[12]Twelve scat samples contained worms,orthopterans and invertebrates.[21]
Banded palm civets hunt around water or along the forest floor.[4] To attack large prey, the civets bite the back of the victim's neck and then shake vigorously, then hold their victim with their front paws, allowing them to attack with their teeth.[22]
Females have one or two litters a year with one or two young. The gestation period varies from 32 to 64 days.[22]Data from the wild suggests they usually live up to twelve years of age, although one civet taken into captivity is recorded having lived for eighteen years.[21] The newborns weigh as little as 125 g (4.4 oz) and usually first open their eyes eight to twelve days after being born. They typically nurse for up to 70 days.[22]
The generation length of the banded palm civet is five years.[2]
Analysis of the gut content of two banded palm civetroadkills in northern Borneo revealed a variety of parasites, includingnematodes, eggs oftrematodes,mites andpinworms.[23]
The major threat to the banded palm civet is loss and destruction of natural habitat loss bylogging and subsequent conversion to agriculture, plantations and construction of dams. It is hunted and eaten by local people in Sabah.[2] Its preferred habitat, lowland forest, is particularly prone to such threats.[9] In 2016, the population was thought to have declined by 30% over just three generations.[24] In 2022, it was estimated that the population has declined to just 21% of the IUCN Red List distribution.[12]
Some humans take them from their natural habitat to keep them as pets.[25]
The banded palm civet is listed asNear Threatened on theIUCN Red List, and the global population is thought to be decreasing. It is protected under CITES'Appendix II.[2]About 24% of its estimated range is inprotected areas.[9] but a later (2022) study estimated that value to be only 12%.[12]
This article incorporates text from this source, which is available under theCC BY 3.0 license.