The 35 species of civet (pronounced /ˈsɪvɪt/), genet, and linsang make up the family Viverridae. They are small, lithe-bodied, mostly arboreal members of the order Carnivora. General appearance is broadly cat-like, but the muzzle is extended and often pointed, rather like an otter or a mongoose. The Civet's length, excluding its long tail, is about 17 to 28 in (400 to 700 mm) and its weight is about 3 to 10 lb (1 to 5 kg).

Civet cat is an imprecise term that is used for a variety of cat-like creatures such as the Ringtail or North American Civet Cat (Bassariscus astutus), related to the racoon; the musk-producing African Civet Cat (Civettictis civetta); Asian Leopard Cat (Felis bengalensis - a true cat) and African Wildcat (Felis libyca - a true cat). The term is best avoided to prevent confusion between viverrids, racoons and cats. Viverrids are native to most of the Old World tropics, nearly all of Africa bar the area immediately south of the Mediterranean, Madagascar, and the Iberian Peninsula. Favoured habitats include woodland, savanna, mountains and, above all, tropical rainforest. In consequence, many are faced with severe loss of habitat: several species are classed as vulnerable and both the Otter Civet and the Falanouc are classified as endangered.

Although it resembles the other civets, the African Palm Civet (Nandinia binotata) is genetically distinct, and belongs to its own monotypic family, the Nandiniidae.

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New Word: Viverra stands for type genus of the family Viverridae - http://www.stand-for.com/what-does-viverra-stand-for.html #dictionary
endictionary (stand for) Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:50:04 -0000
New Word: Viverra stands for type genus of the family Viverridae - http://www.stand-for.com/what-does-viverra-stand-for.html #dictionary

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