civet

The banded linsang (a mammal of the civet family) has a boldly marked coat that breaks up its body outline. It lives in forested regions of SE Asia and is active at night, hunting small mammals, birds, and insects.

The African palm civet Nandinia binotata spends most of its life in trees, resting among the branches during the day and searching for food at night.

Small to medium-sized carnivorous mammal found in Africa and Asia, belonging to the family Viverridae, which also includes mongooses and genets. Distant relations of cats, they generally have longer jaws and more teeth. All have a scent gland in the inguinal (groin) region. Extracts from this gland are taken from the African civet Civettictis civetta and used in perfumery.

As well as eating animal matter, many species, for example, the Southeast Asian palm civet Arctogalidia trivirgata, are fond of fruit.