Overview
Distribution
Range Description
It was also introduced to Japan in the late 1800s, and still persists there today (S. Roy in litt. 2006). It has also been recorded from the islands of Bawean (Indonesia), Con Son (Viet Nam), Koh Samui (Thailand), Koh yao (Thailand), Samar (Philippines), and Telebon (Thailand) (Meiri, 2005), in addition to many others (Pocock 1939). Paradoxurus lignicolor (included in Paradoxurus hermaphroditus by Wilson and Reeder 2005) was recorded by Abegg (2003) on Siberut of the Mentawai Islands of Indonesia.
In addition it has been found on the Philippine islands of Biliran, Maripipi (Rickart et al. 1993) Mindoro, Catanduanes (Heaney et al. 1991), Cebu, Masbate, Polillo, Ilin, Samar, Dumaran and Panay (Timm and Birney 1980; Lastimosa pers. comm.).
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Geographic Range
Paradoxurus hermaphroditus is found from Kashmir in the west to the Philippines in the east; from southern China and the Himalayas in the north to the Greater Sundas and many lesser Sunda Islands in the south.
Biogeographic Regions: oriental (Native )
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Physical Description
Morphology
Physical Description
Average mass: 3100 g.
Average basal metabolic rate: 5.534 W.
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Ecology
Habitat
Habitat and Ecology
In the Philippines the species has been recorded in agricultural (including coffee plantations) and forested areas from sea level up to at least 2,400 m asl (Balete and Heaney in press, Heaney et al. 1991 in press, Hoogstraal 1951, Rabor 1986, Thomas 1898) and in montane and mossy forest from 925-2150 m asl in Balbalasang, Kalinga Province (Heaney et al.
2004).
In Lao PDR, this species has been found in all habitats surveyed, from Mekong lowlands to montane areas, evergreen to deciduous forest to scrub (Duckworth et al. 1999). This species is adapted for forest living, yet it tolerates living in areas near humans; sleeping in barns, drains, or roofs during the day, and coming out at night to catch rats or forage for mango, coffee, pineapples, melons, and bananas, it also eats insects and mollusks (Lekagul and McNeely 1977). In Myanmar, it was recorded in mixed deciduous forest and a wide range of evergreen forest-dominated sites (Su Su, 2005, than Zaw et al. in press). This species was recorded in primary lowland rainforest in Tawau Hills National Park in Borneo by Wells et al. (2005). All Bornean civets (except Diplogale hosei) have been recorded in disturbed forest areas, though abundance declines in this habitat (Heydon and Bulloh, 1996; Colon, 2002; pers. comm.). It was recorded in disturbed habitat in Malaysia by Ratnam et al. (1995). It was recorded in secondary forest, that was logged in the 1970s, and which surrounds a palm estate, in Malaysia in 2000-01 by Azlan (2003). This species is largely arboreal (Payne et al. 1985), crepuscular (Azlan, 2005) and nocturnal (e.g. Duckworth 1997). There is interesting variation across its mainland range in habitat use. In Lao PDR it occurs commonly deep within old-growth evergreen and semi-evergreen forest (Duckworth 1997) but it seems to avoid such habitat in the Western Ghats (Mudappa in press).
Systems
- Terrestrial
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Habitat
Palm civets live in tropical forested habitats.
Terrestrial Biomes: rainforest
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Trophic Strategy
Food Habits
Palm civets are primarily frugivorous, feeding on berries and pulpy fruits, including those of Ficus trees and palms. P. hermaphroditus is said to pick its fruit carefully, apparently leaving the less ripe fruit for a later date. Palm civets will eat reptiles, eggs, and insects as well.
Paradoxurus hermaphroditus sometimes feeds on the fruits of coffee trees. The coffee beans (seeds) pass through the digestive tract of these civets whole and are collected by humans for use in coffee. This kind of coffee is sought after for its unusual flavor and for its rarity. It was once a regional specialty but is now marketed in high end coffee markets worldwide.
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Life History and Behavior
Life Expectancy
Lifespan/Longevity
Average lifespan
Status: captivity: 22.4 years.
Average lifespan
Status: wild: 22.0 years.
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Lifespan, longevity, and ageing
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Reproduction
Reproduction
During brief periods of mating and when the females have their young, the civets occupy resting trees together.
Average birth mass: 88.65 g.
Average gestation period: 60 days.
Average number of offspring: 3.4.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female)
Sex: female: 341 days.
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Conservation
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List Assessment
Red List Category
Red List Criteria
Version
Year Assessed
Assessor/s
Reviewer/s
Contributor/s
Justification
History
- 1996Lower Risk/least concern
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Conservation Status
Palm civets are persecuted by fruit agriculturalists. Their habitats are also threatened.
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern
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Trends
Population
Population Trend
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Threats
Threats
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Management
Conservation Actions
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Relevance to Humans and Ecosystems
Benefits
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
Palm civets are sometimes considered pests to fruit plantations.
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Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
Palm civets disperse the seeds of the trees on which they feed.
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Wikipedia
Asian palm civet
The Asian palm civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus), also called toddy cat, is a small member of the Viverridae family native to South and Southeast Asia. In 2008, the IUCN classified the species as Least Concern as it is tolerant of a broad range of habitats, is widely distributed with large populations that are unlikely to be declining.[2]
Contents |
Characteristics
The Asian palm civet is a small, mottled gray and black viverrid weighing 2 to 5 kg (4.4 to 11 lb). It has a body length of about 53 cm (21 in) with a 48 cm (19 in) long tail. Its long, stocky body is covered with coarse, shaggy hair that is usually greyish in color. There is a white mask across the forehead, a small white patch under each eye, a white spot on each side of the nostrils, and a narrow dark line between the eyes. The muzzle, ears, lower legs, and distal half of the tail are black, with three rows of black markings on the body. The tail is without rings, unlike in similar civet species. Anal scent glands emit a nauseating secretion as a chemical defense when threatened or upset.[3] Despite its species name hermaphroditus, the civets (like all other mammals) have two distinct sexes and are not hermaphrodites.
Distribution and habitat
Asian palm civets are native to India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Singapore, Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei Darussalam, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Philippines and the Indonesian islands of Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, Bawean and Siberut. They were introduced to Irian Jaya, the Lesser Sunda Islands, Maluku, Sulawesi and Japan. In Papua New Guinea, their presence is uncertain.[2]
They normally inhabit primary forests, but also occur at lower densities in secondary and selectively logged forest.[4]
They also inhabit parks and suburban gardens with mature fruit trees, fig trees and undisturbed vegetation. Their sharp claws allow them to climb trees and house gutters. In most parts of Sri Lanka, palm civets are considered a nuisance since they litter in ceilings and attics of common households, and make loud noises fighting and moving about at night.
Ecology and behaviour
Feeding and diet
The Asian palm civet is an omnivore utilizing fruits such as berries and pulpy fruits as a major food source, and thus help to maintain tropical forest ecosystems via seed dispersal.[4] They eat chiku, mango, rambutan and coffee, but also small mammals and insects. Ecologically, they fill a similar niche in Asia as Common Raccoons in North America.[5] It also feeds on palm flower sap, which when fermented becomes toddy, a sweet liquor. Because of this habit it is called the toddy cat. It plays a role in the germination of the Pinanga kuhlii and P. zavana palm trees.[6]
Behavior
The Asian palm civet is believed to lead a solitary lifestyle, except for brief periods during mating. It is both terrestrial and arboreal, showing nocturnal activity patterns with peaks between late evening until after midnight.[4] It is usually active between 6:00 pm and 4:00 am, being less active during nights when the moon is brightest.[5]
It performs scent marking using anal glands, urine, and feces. The most common marking behavior is dragging the anal glands on a surface to leave a scent. It is able to identify animal species, sex, and whether the animal that left the scent is known or unknown by smelling an anal scent secretion.[7]
Subspecies
Since Peter Simon Pallas's first description published in 1777, a significant number of subspecies have been described between 1820 and 1992. They are listed according to the year of description:[1]
- P. h. hermaphroditus (Pallas, 1777)
- P. h. bondar (Desmarest, 1820)
- P. h. musanga (Raffles, 1821)
- P. h. javanica (Horsfield, 1824)
- P. h. pallasii (Gray, 1832)
- P. h. philippinensis (Jourdan, 1837)
- P. h. setosus (Jacquinot and Pucheran, 1853)
- P. h. nictitans (Taylor, 1891)
- P. h. lignicolor (Miller, 1903)
- P. h. minor (Bonhote, 1903)
- P. h. canescens (Lyon, 1907)
- P. h. milleri (Kloss, 1908)
- P. h. kangeanus (Thomas, 1910)
- P. h. sumbanus (Schwarz, 1910)
- P. h. exitus (Schwarz, 1911)
- P. h. cochinensis (Schwarz, 1911)
- P. h. canus (Miller, 1913)
- P. h. pallens (Miller, 1913)
- P. h. parvus (Miller, 1913)
- P. h. pugnax (Miller, 1913)
- P. h. pulcher (Miller, 1913)
- P. h. sacer (Miller, 1913)
- P. h. senex (Miller, 1913)
- P. h. simplex (Miller, 1913)
- P. h. enganus (Lyon, 1916)
- P. h. laotum (Gyldenstolpe, 1917)
- P. h. balicus (Sody, 1933)
- P. h. scindiae (Pocock, 1934)
- P. h. vellerosus (Pocock, 1934)
- P. h. dongfangensis (Corbet and Hill, 1992)
The taxonomic status of these subspecies has not yet been evaluated.[2]
Local names
- Musang or Alamid in the Philippines;
- Musang or Luwak in Indonesia, where Kopi Luwak, an expensive type of coffee, is produced.
- Motit in the Gran Cordillera Central mountain range of northern Philippines;
- Punugu Pilli in southwest Andhra Pradesh, South Central India;
- Marapatti or "മരപ്പട്ടി", translates as 'tree-dog' or 'wood-dog', in the indigenous language of Malayalam in the state of Kerala in southern India;
- Maranai in Tamil, also meaning 'tree-dog' or 'wood-dog'
- Uguduwa in Sinhala of Sri Lanka;
- Bham in Bengali;
- Cầy vòi hương in Vietnamese;
- PuLi.ngaa maajjar in Konkani Language.
Interactions with humans
Oil extract
The oil extracted from small pieces of the meat kept in linseed oil in a closed earthen pot and regularly sunned is used indigenously as a cure for scabies.[8]
Coffee
Kopi Luwak is coffee prepared using coffee cherries that have been eaten by the animal, partially digested, and harvested from its feces. Kopi Luwak is currently the most expensive coffee in the world.
References
- ^ a b Wozencraft, W. Christopher (16 November 2005). "Order Carnivora (pp. 532-628)". In Wilson, Don E., and Reeder, DeeAnn M., eds. Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2 vols. (2142 pp.). ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494. http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3/browse.asp?id=14000317.
- ^ a b c d Duckworth, J.W., Widmann P., Custodio, C., Gonzalez, J.C., Jennings, A., Veron, G. (2008). "Paradoxurus hermaphroditus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.4. International Union for Conservation of Nature. http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/41693.
- ^ Lēkhakun, B., McNeely, J. A. (1977) Mammals of Thailand. Association for the Conservation of Wildlife, Bangkok
- ^ a b c Grassman Jr., L. I. (1998) Movements and fruit selection of two Paradoxurinae species in a dry evergreen forest in Southern Thailand. Small Carnivore Conservation 19: 25–29.
- ^ a b Joshi, A. R., Smith, J. L. D., Cuthbert, F. J. (1995). "Influence of Food Distribution and Predation Pressure on Spacing Behavior in Palm Civets". Journal of Mammalogy (American Society of Mammalogists) 76 (4): 1205–1212. doi:10.2307/1382613. JSTOR 1382613.
- ^ Thohari, M., Santosa, Y. (9–11 May 1984). "A preliminary study on the role of civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus) in the natural regeneration of palms (Pinanga kuhlii and P. zavana) at Gunung Gede-Pangrango National Park, West Java (Indonesia)". Symposium on Forest Regeneration in Southeast Asia. Bogor (Indonesia).
- ^ Rozhnov, V. V., Rozhnov, Y. V. (November, 2003). "Roles of Different Types of Excretions in Mediated Communication by Scent Marks of the Common Palm Civet, Paradoxurus hermaphroditus Pallas, 1777 (Mammalia, Carnivora)". Biology Bulletin (MAIK Nauka/Interperiodica) 30 (6): 584–590. doi:10.1023/B:BIBU.0000007715.24555.ed. ISSN 1062-3590.
- ^ Singh, L. A. K. (1982). "Stomach Contents of a Common Palm Civet, Paradoxurus hermaphroditus (Pallas)". J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 79 (2): 403–404.
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