| Masked palm civet | |
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Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Viverridae |
| Subfamily: | Paradoxurinae |
| Genus: | Paguma Gray, 1831 |
| Species: | P. larvata[1] |
| Binomial name | |
| Paguma larvata[1] | |
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| Masked palm civet range | |
Themasked palm civet (Paguma larvata), also called thegem-faced civet orHimalayan palm civet, is aviverrid species native to theIndian subcontinent andSoutheast Asia. It has been listed asleast concern on theIUCN Red List since 2008 as it occurs in many protected areas, is tolerant to some degree of habitat modification, and widely distributed with presumed large populations that are unlikely to be declining.[2]
ThegenusPaguma was first named and described byJohn Edward Gray in 1831. All described forms are regarded as asingle species.[4]
In 2003, masked palm civets at awildlife market in China were found to have been infected with thesevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus.[5]
The masked palm civet's fur is grayish toochraceous, black on the head, shoulders and neck, and blackish brown on the tail and feet. It has a white blaze on the forehead; white marks above and below the eyes extend to the ears, forming a half-collar.[6]Inmorphology the masked palm civet resembles otherpalm civets, but does not have spots or stripes. Its tail is more than two-thirds the length of head and body. It has two pairs ofmammae.[7]
The whitish mask extendslaterally to the far edges of the cheeks and caudally up the forehead, past the ears, and down the back of the neck before stopping just under the shoulder blades. The eyes are surrounded by white fur that can vary from faint, incomplete outlines to well-definedblotches. The lips, chin, and throat are white. In some, white stripes of fur, comparable tosideburns on humans due to shape and location, curve up from the throat. These curves vary in thickness and have ends that terminate either in small blotches at the ear base or large blotches that surround the base of both darkly furred ears.[8]
The species having a large repartition, differences in morphological parameters can be observable in different populations. Adults of this species usually have a body length of 50 to 60 cm (20 to 24 in), a tail measuring 40 to 50 cm (16 to 20 in) and a weight between 3 and 5 kg (6.6 and 11.0 lb), although some adults can be lighter or heavier (see table below).
| Attribute | Japan (Kase et al., 2011) (Females; n = 4)[9] | Japan (Kase et al., 2011) (Males; n = 2)[9] | China (Zhou et al., 2014) (Females; n = 17)[10] | China (Zhou et al., 2014) (Males; n = 16)[10] | Thailand (Chutipong et al., 2015) (Females; n = 2)[11] | Thailand (Chutipong et al., 2015) (Males; n = 1)[11] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight (kg) | 2.5–3.3 | 2.9–3.4 | 4.20 | 4.24 | 3.4–5.2 | 6.2 |
| Total Length (cm) | 94.0–101.0 | 99.0–102.0 | - | - | - | - |
| Head-Body Length (cm) | 53.0–58.0 | 56.0–57.0 | 53.60 | 53.88 | - | - |
| Tail Length (cm) | - | - | 47.89 | 48.68 | - | - |
The masked palm civet is distributed from the northern parts of theIndian subcontinent, especially theHimalayas, ranging eastwards acrossBhutan,Bangladesh,Myanmar,Thailand,Peninsular Malaysia,Laos,Cambodia,Vietnam toChina,Borneo,Sumatra,Taiwan, and theAndaman andNicobar islands. It was introduced toMainland Japan andRyukyu Islands.[2]It has been recorded in bothevergreen anddeciduous forest, and in disturbed habitat.[12] It also inhabits fragmented forest habitats, albeit at reduced density.[2]
It is also found in Japan, where genetic studies indicate that it is an introduced species with multiple introductions over the centuries, at least two of which are from Taiwan.[13]
The masked palm civet is anocturnal solitarypredator that is occasionally active during the day.[12][14][15]It is partlyarboreal.[16]
When alarmed, the animal sprays a secretion from its anal gland against the predator. The spray is similar in function to that of askunk, and its conspicuousness serves to deter other predators.[17][18]
The masked palm civet is anomnivore feeding onrats andbirds as well as on fruit such asfigs,mangoes,bananas, and leaves.[16] Scat analysis indicates that they also eatmollusks,arthropods,bark and to a lesser extentsnakes andfrogs. The composition of the diet varies between seasons and sites.[19]
Masked palm civets arepolyestrous and their mating behavior ispromiscuous.[10] There are twobreeding seasons per year. The female bears up to four young. Masked palm civets are known to reach 15 years of age in captivity.[16]
Copulation in masked palm civets can last for more than 30 minutes.[20] Upon completion of copulation, males leave acopulation plug in the female's vaginal tract. The young grow to the size of an adult in about three months.[21]
The major threats for the masked palm civet are continuedhabitat destruction and hunting forbushmeat. It is widely offered in restaurants in southern China and is also eaten in Vietnam.[2] Masked palm civets are often victims of illegal animal trafficking to meet the demands in China and Vietnam; 100 civets were confiscated in April 2021. Despite relocation to Save Vietnam Wildlife, a wildlife rehabilitator, at least 8 civets died due to stress and injuries.[22]
Paguma larvata is protected in Malaysia and China, but not Thailand and Nepal. The population of India is listed onCITES Appendix III.[2]
In May 2003, the SARS virus was isolated in several masked palm civets found in a wildlife market inGuangdong, China. Evidence of virus infection was also detected in other animals including araccoon dog, and in humans working at the same market.[23]In 2006, scientists from the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention ofthe University of Hong Kong and theGuangzhou Centre for Disease Control and Prevention established a direct genetic link between the SARS coronavirus appearing in civets and humans, bearing out claims that the disease had jumped across species.[24]
Media related toPaguma larvata at Wikimedia Commons| National | |
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