Viverridae

Viverridae[1]
Fossil range: 50–0 Ma
Eocene to Recent
Binturong
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Suborder: Feliformia
Family: Viverridae
Gray, 1821
Subfamilies

Paradoxurinae
Hemigalinae
Prionodontinae
Viverrinae

The family Viverridae is made up of 35 species, including all of the genets, the Binturong, most of the civets, and the four linsangs.[1]

Viverrids are native to most of the Old World tropics, nearly all of Africa (bar the area immediately south of the Mediterranean), and the Iberian Peninsula. Favoured habitats include woodland, savanna, mountains and, above all, tropical rainforest. Due to heavy deforestation, many are faced with severe loss of habitat; several species are considered vulnerable and the Otter Civet is classified as endangered.[1]

Contents

Characteristics

Viverrids are amongst the primitive families of the Carnivora, with skeletons very similar to those of fossils dating back to the Eocene, up to 50 million years ago. They are variable in form, but generally resemble long-nosed cats. Most have retractile or partially-retractile claws, a baculum, and an anal scent gland.

Viverrids range in size from the African Linsang with a body length of 33 cm (13 in), and a weight of 650 g (1.4 lb), to the African Civet at 84 cm (33 in) and 18 kg (40 lb), although very large Binturongs, to 25 kg (55 lb), attain the greatest mass.

They are nocturnal animals, with excellent hearing and vision. They are generally solitary. Despite their placement in the order Carnivora, they are omnivorous, or, in the case of the Palm Civets, almost entirely herbivorous. In reflection of this, their flesh-shearing carnassial teeth are relatively undeveloped [2]. The usual dental formula is:Upper: 3.1.4.2, lower: 3.1.4.2

Classification

Although it resembles the other civets, the African Palm Civet (Nandinia binotata) is genetically distinct and belongs in its own monotypic family, Nandiniidae.[1] The Madagascan Fossa Cryptoprocta ferox was similarly long thought to be a member of Viverridae, but genetic evidence indicates that this animal is a member of the family Eupleridae, an endemic Madagascan carnivore radiation related to the family Herpestidae.[1] Furthermore, recent genetic research indicates that the Asiatic linsangs of the genus Prionodon, may be more closely related to the species of the family Felidae; if so, then they should be removed from Viverridae and placed in their own family, Prionodontidae.[1] There is little dispute, however, that the African linsangs of genus Poiana are viverrids.[1]

Species

Asian Palm Civet
The Spotted Genet
African Civet

Civet/Genet Hybrids

In The Variation of Animals and Plants under Domestication Charles Darwin noted: "The Genetta has bred both here and in the Jardin des Plantes, and produced hybrids."[3] Others have also reported civet/genet hybrids.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 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.). pp. 548-559. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494. http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3. 
  2. ↑ Wozencraft, W. Chris (1984). Macdonald, D.. ed. The Encyclopedia of Mammals. New York: Facts on File. pp. 134–135. ISBN 0-87196-871-1. 
  3. ↑ *Darwin, Charles (1868). The Variation of Animals and Plants under Domestication. Volume 2 (1st ed.). London: John Murray. p. 151. http://darwin-online.org.uk/EditorialIntroductions/Freeman_VariationunderDomestication.html. 

External links