With most of these species, little to nothing is known about them due to lack of study or to their largely solitary and nocturnal habits. Many live in areas that makes them hard to study, and deforestation takes its toll, making the species even harder to study. Of all the species of genet, only information on the large spotted and common genet is known. It is hard to determine if the other species of genet are indeed separate species or simply subspecies of the common genet. Viverrids have, in general, long lithe bodies set on short legs. The length of the tail in most species equals the body length. Most species' heads are long and pointed, with rounded ears set high on the head. Their eyes are typically vertically ovular or slits, like feline cats or vulpine foxes. Most species have spots on their bodies and stripes on their tails. They have retractable or semi-retractable claws. They have glands near their genitals, called perineal glands, that produce a strong odor; civets have been used for centuries in making perfume. They lack anal glands. Males, like most carnivores, have a baculum, a bony-like structure in the penis. Viverrids have 32-40 teeth. They are, for the most part, nocturnal, solitary creatures. Their diet is omnivorous, and most viverrids will eat a variety of plant and animal matter. The majority of viverrids are arboreal.

The binturong lives in dense forests ranging across the following Asian countries: India, Indochina, Indonesia, Thailand, Burma, Malaysia, Sumatra, Bangka, the Rhio Archipelago, Java, Borneo, and Palawan.Physical AppearanceThe binturong can reach body lengths ranging from. Their weight usually does not exceed 45-50 lb (20-22 kg), but in one subspecies, A. b. penicillatus, it can be up to 90 lb (40 kg). Females are 20% heavier and larger than the males. Their long, shaggy hair is usually a dark brown to black in color. They have long hair hanging from the tips of their ears. Unlike any other viverrid, their tail is prehensile. Their eyes are usually a reddish brown.DietBinturongs are frugivorous, meaning they feed mostly on fruit. However, it has been known to eat carrion, small invertebrates, fish, birds, eggs, leaves, and shoots of plants. Binturongs are important seed dispersers throughout their range. They are also important as minor pest control for rodents.Social BehaviorBinturongs are very slow moving, arboreal animals. They usually live alone, but groups are occasionally seen, and they usually consist of adults and their young. The female is the dominant sex in this species. Males sometimes stay with the females after mating, even after she has given birth. It is unknown whether binturongs are nocturnal or diurnal, because they have been observed in both situations. Binturongs of both sexes will scent mark, with glands located in the anal and genital area, urine, and glands in the soles of their feet.ReproductionBreeding is non-seasonal, but mostly takes place in the months of February - April, July and November. Mating is similar to felids, with the female initiating copulation, and the female lays on her stomach. The gestation period is 90-92 days. The average litter size is 2-3 cubs. Their eyes open at 2-3 weeks old. Females do not usually conceive their first litter until they are almost three years old.ThreatsBinturongs are easily domesticated and kept as pets. Humans also like to eat their flesh and use their body parts in Oriental medicine.

The small toothed palm civet, or three striped palm civet, lives in dense forests of southeast Asia, from the Assam district of India to Indochina and the Malay Peninsula and on Sumatra, Bangka, Java, Borneo, and numerous small nearby islands of Indonesia.Physical AppearanceThe small toothed palm civet has short fur that is generally a tawny or buff color. Their head is a darker greyish tawny. Their muzzle is brown with a white streak that extends from the nose to the forehead. The back has three distinct black or dark brown stripes running along the length of the body. Only the females have the perineal scent gland, located near the vulva.DietThe small toothed palm civet is omnivorous, and will eat insects, small mammals, birds, fruits, frogs and lizards.Reproduction and Social BehaviorLike most palm civets, the small toothed is solitary, arboreal and nocturnal. Their gestation period is 45 days, and the average litter size is three, which are born in dens made in the trees. Young open their eyes at 11 days and are weaned at two months. They can have two litters a year. There is no set mating season. They can live for 11 years.ThreatsIt is threatened, probably due to deforestation, like most arboreal civets.

The Owston's plam civet lives in the forests and wooded lowland river basins of northern Vietnam, northern Laos, and southern China.Physical AppearanceThe Owston's palm civet has the appearance of an insectivore, like a shrew. It has a tawny buff-grey body with highly contrasted black markings on its back and tail. They usually only have 4 bands on their back. The last two-thirds of the tail is completely black. They look similar to the banded palm civet, Hemigalus derbyanus, except for that the hair on the back of their neck are not reversed, and the Owston's has spots on its legs.DietThey eat mostly earthworms, but probably eat other invertabrates as well.Reproduction and Social BehaviorNothing is known about their behavior in the wild. What is known is based on a few captive individuals. Mating season is apparently in late January. After a gestation period of 3 months, a litter of 1-3 young are born.

The Hose's palm civet is found on the island of Borneo, in the mountainous forests. This animal is known from only 15 museum specimens, the last of which had been collected in 1955. It is unknown if the Hose's palm civet is still alive.Physical AppearanceThe Hose's palm civet is dark brown to black on the top blending into a yellow-white, grey or rufous color underneath. A buff grey patch extends from above the eyes down to the cheeks. The insides of the limbs are a lighter grey, while the rest of the limb is black. The tail is not banded, and solidly dark colored.DietAbout 80% of the stomach contents of this species were worms, with the rest being other invertebrates.Reproduction and Social BehaviorIt is believed that they are mostly terrestrial (ground dwelling) civets, since all the specimens were taken on the ground. It is speculated that they are nocturnal.

Range and HabitatThe Angolan genet lives in Africa, ranging from southern Zaire, central and northeastern Angola, western Zambia, northern Mozambique, and probably southern Tanzania. They live in the rainforests and moist savannahs in their range.Physical AppearanceThe genet has fur that is reddish grey to dark grey in color, with small spots on its body and stripes on its tail. It has a black muzzle, with white around the eyes and mouth. A dark dorsal stripe runs from the base of the skull down to the tail. Five rows of elongated spots or stripes run down either side of its neck. Melanistic individuals also exist.Their claws are semi-retractable. Their body is long and lean, set on short legs. They can erect a mane of hair along their back when frightened. The Angolan genet's mane is relatively long, being about 2 inches (6 cm) in length. Like all viverrids, they have well-developed perineal glands used to mark territory. Genets have 40 teeth. Females have 4 teats, and males have a well-developed baculum. Both the front and hind feet have five digits, with well-furred soles. Their eyes are large and round, and their ears are large and triangular shaped.

The common genet is the most widespread species of genet. They can be found all over Europe and Africa, in the countries of France, Spain, Portugal, Balearic Islands, southwestern Arabian Peninsula, and in northwestern Africa and in savannah south of the Sahara. They prefer drier areas than other genet species, and live in forested areas.Physical AppearanceThe genet has fur that is yellowish to grey in color, with small spots on its body and stripes on its tail. It has a black muzzle, with white around the eyes and mouth. Genets from the drier areas of South Africa have lighter colors and less stark patters, while those in moister habitats have more vibrant colors and patterns. Melanistic individuals also exist.Their claws are semi-retractable. Their body is long and lean, set on short legs. They can erect a mane of hair along their back when frightened. Like all viverrids, they have well-developed perineal glands used to mark territory. Genets have 40 teeth. Females have 4 teats, and males have a well-developed baculum. Both the front and hind feet have five digits, with well-furred soles. Their eyes are large and round, and their ears are large and triangular shaped.DietGenets have a wide variety in diet, and tend to be carnivorous to omnivorous. They have been known to feed on fruits, small rodents, birds, reptiles, and invertebrates.Reproduction and Life CycleThe common genet can breed year round, but usually only come into heat heat during the wet season or around the time when food will be shortly available. Copulation lasts only five minutes, which follows foreplay that can last an hour. During copulation, both genets meow. After a gestation period of 10-11 weeks, 1-3 kittens are born. They are weaned at 8 weeks, and sexually mature at two years.Social BehaviorThe genets are primarily solitary and nocturnal. Territories of genets of the opposite sex may overlap, but same sex territories do not. Genets make sounds like cats, including purring, hissing, mewing, and growling. They excrete a musky odor from their scent glands when scared.ThreatsThey are preyed upon by owls, leopards and pythons. Although the common genet is not threatened, one subspecies, Genetta genetta isabelae, found in Spain, is listed as vulnerable by the IUCN Red List.

The large spotted genet lives in Africa south of 20º N latitude, from Senegal to Somalia, and south to Namibia and South Africa, but absent from the southwestern arid zone. They are found in a broad variety of habitats, from woodlands to grasslands, although they are more commonly found in wooded areas.Physical AppearanceThe large spotted genet is siimilar to the common genet in appearance. The genet has fur that is yellowish to greyish in color, with rust-colored and black rosette spots on its body and black and white rings on its tail. A dorsal black stripe runs along the back from the head to the tail. It has a black muzzle, with white around the eyes and mouth. Genets from the drier areas of South Africa have lighter colors and less stark patters, while those in moister habitats have more vibrant colors and patterns. Melanistic individuals also exist.Their claws are semi-retractable. Their body is long and lean, set on short legs. They can erect a mane of hair along their back when frightened. Like all viverrids, they have well-developed perineal glands used to mark territory. Genets have 40 teeth. Females have 4 teats, and males have a well-developed baculum. Both the front and hind feet have five digits, with well-furred soles. Their eyes are large and round, and their ears are large and triangular shaped.DietLarge spotted genets feed on a wide variety of food, including small rodents, birds, reptiles, fruit, and invertebrates.Reproduction and Life CycleNot much is known about the reproductive habits of this species. the scanty data that exists suggests breeding takes place throughout the year. They nest in boulder piles, on rooftops, and hollow trees.Social BehaviorLarge spotted genets are solitary and nocturnal. Males and females only come together to mate. Genets are arboreal, and spend large amounts of time in trees. They rest in nests in the trees during the daytime. They hunt in the trees as well, and can jump from one tree to another over a good distance. They kill their prey by holding it with their paws and biting it. Genets make sounds like cats, including growling, hissing, mewing, and even purring. They release a musky odor from their anal scent glands when stressed.ThreatsThe large spotted genet is generally left alone. They are considered hbebeficial to humans, as they kill rodents in agricultural areas.

The Sulawesi palm civet lives only on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia. They inhabit lowland and mountainous forests up to about 2600 m.Physical AppearanceThe Sulawesi palm civet is a rusty brown agouti color, with lighter undersides. They have faint brown spots on the sides and lower back, and their tail is heavily ringed. Their fur is very short and dense. They have a whorl of fur on their neck. They have 4 mammae.DietThe Sulawesi palm civet eats a variety of fruits, as well as rodents, birds, snails and scorpiansBehavior and ReproductionThey are believed to be arboreal, nocturnal, and solitary. Nothing is known about their reproduction.ThreatsThe Sulawesi palm civet is somewhat rare throughout its range, and is affected by deforestation.

The aquatic genet is found near streams in the rainforests of northeast Zaire.Physical AppearanceThe aquatic genet has a long thin body set on short legs. Their hind legs are longer than the front legs. Their coat is redish brown and is a darker brown to black on the legs, ears and tail. There are two elongated white spots between the eyes. They lack spots or bands on the body, and the tail is solid black, without rings. The palms of its feet are not furred.DietThe acquatic genet feeds mainly on fish and other aquatic creatures such as frogs. Even though it feeds on fish, it is not a good swimmer. They avoid getting wet whenever possible. It fished by tapping its paw on the surface of the water to attract fish. It then places its whiskers against the suface of the water to detect movement of fish underneath the surface. When a fish is detected, the genet dives in.BehaviorThere is not much known about the behaviors of this animal in the wild, but they are believed to be solitary

The common palm civet is found in the temperate and tropical rainforests from Kashmir in the west to the Philippines, from China in the north to the Sundas islands.Physical AppearanceThe common palm civet has coarse, shaggy hair that is usually a greyish color, with black on its feet, ears and muzzle. It has three rows of black markings on its body. The markings on its face resemble a raccoon's. It's tail does not have rings, unlike similar palm civet species. Their body is stocky and long. Its species name comes from the fact that both sexes have scent glands underneath their tail that resemble testicles. They can spray a noxious secretion from this gland.DietThe common palm civet is primarily frugivorous, but is omnivorous. It feeds mostly on berries, fleshy fruits, and the fruit of Ficus trees. It is picky about the fruit that it eats, picking only ripe fruit. It will also eat birds, rodents and insects as well as fruit.Reproduction and Social BehaviorThe common palm civet is solitary, nocturnal, and arboreal. They spend the day asleep in a tree hollow. They are territorial. Young are born in tree hollows or in boulder crevices.ThreatsIt is pursued by humans, who kil them for damaging orchards and plantations. Its feces are used in coffee made in Indonesia. The name Toddy cat comes from the name for wine that comes from the sap of the palm tree: toddy. The palm civet feeds on this sap.

The golden palm civet lives in the dense forests of Sri Lanka and India.Physical AppearanceThey look similar to the other Paradoxurus species. Their coat is a goldish brown color. The hair on the back of their neck grows reverse grain, from the shoulders toward the head.DietThey feed on fruits, berries, insects, birds, frogs, and lizards.Behavior and ReproductionLike the other palm civets, they are arboreal, nocturnal and solitary. They spend the day sleeping in the trees. Not much is known about their habits, and nothing is known on their life cycle.ThreatsDeforestation, like any other arboreal civet.

The African linsang lives in the African countries of Liberia, Cameroun, and Centreal African Republic.Physical AppearanceThe African linsang has a very long body set on short legs, with a tail as long as its body. Their coat is a yellowish color with black spots on the body, rings on the tail, and stripes on the neck. They are different from Asiatic linsang species in that their spots are small and definite, and don't tend to run into each other and form stripes or blotches.Diet and Social BehaviorThe African linsang eats cola nuts, insects, birds and vegetation. They are nocturnal, solitary and arboreal. They sleep in a nest made of leaves in the trees.

The banded linsang lives in the tropical rainforests of Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo, Java, Thailand, and Indonesia.Physical AppearanceThe banded linsang has a long body set on short, thin legs. Their skull is narrow and long. The fur is short and plush. Their coloration is a pale yellowish grey with five bands of connected spots along their backs. Their tail is banded. The claws are retractable. They do not seem to have the odor other viverrids have.DietBanded linsangs are omnivorous. The majority of their diet consists of small vertebrates like lizards, birds, rats and squirrels.Behavior and ReproductionIt is not a very well-studied creature, due to its nocturnal and secretive habits. They are solitary and largely arboreal. Nothing is known of their reproductive behavior. It is known that the female offspring stay with their mother until maturity, but the male offspring leaves after being weaned.

The spotted linsang lives in the thick forests of Nepal, Myanmar, southern China, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Sumatra, Java and Borneo.Physical AppearanceThe spotted linsang is the smallest living member of the civet family. Their coat color is generally a brownish grey to yellow buff, with lighter undersides and end of the muzzle and darker on the back and around the muzzle. They have black spots that form rows along their neck, and a ringed tail. They have a long, thin body set on very short legs. Their head is elongated and pointed.DietThe spotted linsang eats squirrels, rodents, small birds, lizards and insects.Behavior and ReproductionThey are arboreal, solitary and nocturnal. They spend a large part of their time in the hollows of trees. They breed twice a year, once in February and again in August.

The large spotted civet lives in the lowland forests of southeast Asia, in Cambodia, China, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.Once considered a separate species, the Malabar civet is now considered a subspecies of large spotted civet, as Viverra megaspila civettina. This subspecies is restricted to the Western Ghats province in India. Some authorities give them full species status, however.Physical AppearanceThe large spotted civet is similar in size to the Indian civet V. zibetha. Their long coat is a greyish buff color, with large mottled black spots. Their tail is banded, and black along the top and the tip. They have a black crest along their back of longer fur.DietIt is unknown what the large spotted civet feeds on, but it is believed that they eat small mammals, eggs, and some vegetation.Behavior and ReproductionThe large spotted civet is solitary, and can be very aggressive towards members of its own species. They are believed to forage entirely on the ground, as they have never been observed in the trees. They are nocturnal, and sepnd the day sleeping in thick vegetation.ThreatsThe subspecies of Malabar civet is endangered. 20-25 years ago this species was apparently widely used to collect civet oil. It is killed for raiding poultry, and also is declining from habitat loss. The Malabar civet was once very common in the districts of Malabar and Travancore in southwest India, but by the late 1960's it was thought to be near extinction. The animal was not sighted again until 1987. This species of sivet is one of the world's rarest mammals, with fewer than 250 adults in existance.

The Malaysian civet is found on the Malay peninsula in the islands of Sumatra, Bangka, Borneo, Rhio Archipelago, and the Phillippenes. They live in a variety of habitats, such as forests, brush, and grasslands. They dwell mostly on the ground, though they are proficient climbers should the need arise.Physical AppearanceThe Malaysian civet has short grey fur with black spots all over arranged in rows. The tail is banded, and their neck has three black stripes and two white stripes along the sides. The black hair along their back is longer, forming a mane. Their feet are also black.DietThe Malaysian civet is mostly carnivorous, and eats small mammals, birds, snakes, frogs, and insects. They will also eat eggs and fruit.Behavior and ReproductionThey are nocturnal and solitary. They mark territory with secretions from their anal glands. They can also squirt this secretion like a skunk when frightened. Females can have two litters of 1-4 young each a year. The young are born in dense vegetation or a hole in the ground. The young are weaned at one month old.

The lesser Indian civet lives in Myanmar, Thailand, India, Indonesia and China. They prefer areas of thick grass or low shrub, and tend to avoid forested areas. They also tend to live near villages, sleeping in drains and outhouses.Physical AppearanceThe lesser indian civet is generally a tawny to grey in color with dark black legs, ears, muzzle, and spots on its body arranged in rows. Their tail is striped.DietThis civet will feed on rats, squirrels, small birds, lizards, insects, grubs and fruit. If given the opportunity they will eat domestic poultry. They prefer to seek for food on the ground, though they can climb trees with agility.Reproduction and Social BehaviorThe lesser Indian civet is nocturnal. There is no apparent set breeding season. The litter usually consists of 4-5 young. The mother excavates a burrow to give birth in.ThreatsThey are kept in captivity to extract secretions from the glands near their anus.

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