Very little is known about the biology and behaviour of this species in the wild, with most information coming from captive individuals (6). This nocturnal hunter is believed to be a solitary species that scent-marks its territory. Dens are constructed under large tree trunks, in caves and in dense brush, or may be located high in the canopy in tree hollows or on sheltered branches (7). The Owston's civet leaves its den around dusk to feed on earthworms, which appear to form the bulk of the natural diet (5), as well as small vertebrates, invertebrates, including fish, frogs and insects and fruit (3) (4). Prey is predominantly found on the ground, where this animal's long snout is used to unearth its meal (5). All information on the reproduction of Owston's civet is derived from captive specimens. In captivity, mating usually occurs from January to March, although it may last until April or May (3) (4). After a 75 to 87 day gestation period, a litter of one to three young are born, and females can produce one litter a year (3) (4).

Owston's civet has an elongate body, neck and tail, small head and long, tapering, whiskered snout (5). The coat is tawny buff-grey with a contrasting pattern of black or brown longitudinal stripes on the head, neck and shoulders, transverse black or brown bands on the back and tail, and scattered black spots on the sides and limbs (2) (5) (6). Owston's civets are easily identified by four dark dorsal bands, and the last two thirds of the tail are completely black (2). The civet's underside is pale creamy white and in males this is suffused with orange from the chest to the groin. In females, the orange coloration occurs mainly around their genitalia. (2) (7).

This species is known to occur in northern and central provinces of Lao PDR (Duckworth et al.1999, Johnson et al. 2004), Viet Nam and southern China in Yunnan and Guangxi provinces (CITES 1997; Wang Ying-Xiang pers. comm.). Northern and central Viet Nam appear to hold the largest area of this species distribution range (Long and Roberton in prep., Roberton et al. in prep.) occurring from the most northern provinces in the Hoang Lien Son mountains and northern limestone highlands and throughout the northern and central Annamites (Long and Roberton in prep.; Rozhnov et al. 1992; Long et al., 2004). It has not been found west of the Mekong river (Corbet and Hill 1992, Rozhnov et al. 1992). In the Southern Annamites, the potential range is based on the occurrence of suitable forest type and elevation, unconfirmed village reports and similarly distributed species but there is no confirmed data from this area (Roberton et al. in prep.). The range may also potentially extend into Cambodia for the same reasons, and two stuffed individuals have been seen in the Phnom Tamao zoo collection of stuffed mounts, yet lack any information on their source (Long and Roberton, in prep.)

Chrotogale owstoni is found in southern Yunan and southwest Guangxi provinces in China; northern Vietnam; and northern Laos.

Biogeographic Regions: oriental (Native )

Known from northern and central Vietnam, northern Laos, and southern China's southern Yunnan and southwest Guangxi provinces (2) (5).

The body form and markings of Owston's palm civet are similar to those of the banded palm civet, Hemigalus derbyanus, but without neck-hairs that are reversed in direction. Both species have a pattern of stripes and bands arranged longitudinally in dark and light crescents over their body and tail (four dorsal bands seem to be the maximum number for C. owstoni), but unlike H. derbyanus, C. owstoni has rows of small, black spots on its neck, sides, and limbs as well as a tail that is dark for its last two-thirds. On the otherwise pale underside of C. owstoni, a narrow, orange line is situated mid-ventrally from the chest to the groin (Nowak 1997). The head of C. owstoni is fairly small with a long tapering snout containing small teeth (Kanchanasakha et alia 1998). The incisors are close-set, broad, and arranged in a semicircle, a unique, distinguishable characteristic from the rest of the viverrids and even carnivores (Nowak 1997). Contrastingly, Grzimek's states that the species has a similar dentition to that of H. derbyanus, related to their similarity in diet (Grzimek 1990).

Average mass: 2-3 kg.

Average length: 50-64 cm.

Average mass: 3250 g.

Habitat and Ecology

Systems

• Terrestrial

This species is said to be largely terrestrial, however it has been documented to climb into trees in search of food (Nowak 1999). It prefers densely vegetated habitats near water sources in both primary and secondary forests (Nowak 1999, Schreiber 1989). Local hunters state that the species may approach houses to feed on kitchen wastes, showing that C. owstoni may survive near villages (Schreiber 1989).

Habitat Regions: tropical ; terrestrial

Terrestrial Biomes: forest

Other Habitat Features: riparian

Owston's civet prefers densely vegetated habitats near lowland water sources, in both primary and secondary broadleafed, evergreen forest (5) (6). Although this species is thought to be largely terrestrial (5), they are also known to search for food, rest and even sleep in trees (7).

The natural diet of C. owstoni consists largely of earthworms (Nowak 1999); however, small vertebrates, invertebrates, and some fruit may also be included in their diet. In captivity the species has been shown to eat beef, chicken, and bananas (Nowak 1999). C. owstoni is a nocturnal hunter, beginning roughly at dusk and returning to its den early the next morning (Nowak 1999). It feeds both terrestrially and in trees aided by its long snout, which is used as a digging tool for invertebrates under leaves and loose soil. C. owstoni also uses its forepaws to scratch at the ground in search of food (Grzimek 1990, Kanchanasakha et al. 1998).

Animal Foods: mammals; amphibians; reptiles; insects; terrestrial non-insect arthropods

Plant Foods: fruit

Primary Diet: carnivore (Vermivore)

Chrotogale owstoni preys on:
Insecta

This list may not be complete but is based on published studies.

Observations: Not much is known about the longevity of these animals. One specimen was still living in captivity at 12.7 years of age (Richard Weigl 2005).

Based on information gathered from captive animals, mating usually occurs in January and March; however, it may last until November. There is a 60-day gestation period, and each female has one to two litters each year containing one to three young per litter. Newborn C. owstoni weigh around 75-88 grams (Nowak 1999).

Breeding season: January-March (sometimes lasts until November)

Range number of offspring: 1 to 3.

Average gestation period: 60 days.

Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); viviparous

Average birth mass: 81.5 g.

Average gestation period: 61 days.

Average number of offspring: 2.

Year Assessed

Assessor/s

Reviewer/s

Justification

History

• 1996
  Vulnerable
• 1994
  Indeterminate
  (Groombridge 1994)
• 1990
  Insufficiently Known
  (IUCN 1990)
• 1988
  Insufficiently Known
  (IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre 1988)

Due to the restricted the range of this species, habitat destruction and over-hunting are believed to have an impact on populations of C. owstoni. Without sufficient information on the species in the wild, there can be no exact conservation status. Nevertheless, IUCN has placed Chrotogale on its Red List as Vulnerable, and CITES lists it in Appendix II (Zoos Victoria, 2001).

C. owstoni occurs in several protected areas in China (the Dawei Mountain National Reserve, Jinping Divide National Reserve, and Huanlian Mountain National Reserve) and one protected area in Vietnam (the Cuc Phuong National Park) (Schreiber 1989). A conservation study of C. owstoni has been established in Cuc Phuong National park by the Flora and Fauna Institute (Zoos Victoria, 2001).

US Federal List: no special status

CITES: appendix ii

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: vulnerable

Classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List 2007 (1).

Population

Population Trend

Major Threats

The exact conservation status of Owston's civet is unknown, as little research has been conducted on the species in the wild (8). However, this civet is believed to be under serious threat due to its restricted range, habitat destruction, and over-hunting for its meat and body parts to be used in traditional medicine (5) (8) (9). Owston's civet is highly vulnerable to snare trapping, which is widespread across its range, due to its ground-dwelling nature (9). Civet meat is eaten and sold to restaurants, while body parts (including its bones, penis, scent gland and gall bladder) are used for traditional medicine and the beautiful pelts are sold to taxidermists or kept as trophies (10).

Conservation Actions

Owston's civet occurs in several protected areas in China, including the Dawei Mountain National Reserve, Jinping Divide National Reserve and Huanlian Mountain National Reserve (5), and ten protected areas in Vietnam, including Cuc Phuong National Park (3) (4). When five infants were taken into the care of Cuc Phuong National Park in 1995, the Owston's Palm Civet Programme was established to research the ecology and behaviour of the species before releasing them back into the park, where they would be monitored (9). After further research revealed that considerable illegal hunting continued in the National Park, increasing the risk to released animals, a captive breeding programme was initiated, which has been successfully producing and raising young most years since 1997 (9). In December 2004, the first six Owston's civets were sent to European zoos under a Breeding Loan Programme, in order to broaden and strengthen captive breeding of this species (8). The Owston's Palm Civet Programme later developed a more multifaceted approach to the conservation of this and other small carnivores in Vietnam. This included educational programmes, capacity building for forest rangers and zoo keepers, rescue, rehabilitation and development of placement options for small carnivores, captive research and field research (8). The programme has also taken in a number of civets seized by forest protection rangers from illegal wildlife traders (10). In 2005, this programme became the Small Carnivore Conservation Program (SCP) and from 2008 has become the Carnivore and Pangolin Conservation Program (3) (4).

C. owstoni is hunted in the forests of Northern Indochina for its meat and for its traditional medicinal properties.

Positive Impacts: food ; source of medicine or drug