KingdomPhylumClassOrderFamily
ANIMALIACHORDATAMAMMALIACARNIVORAVIVERRIDAE
Genus:Viverricula
Species:indica
Scientific Name:Viverricula indica
English Name:Small Indian Civet
Species Authority:É. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1803
Local Name:Khatash, Gandho Gakul,Choto Bagdash, Bham, Newl, Kolkat
Synonyms:Civetta indica Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1803 Viverricula indica (Desmarest, 1804) Viverricula malaccensis (Gmelin, 1788)
Taxonomic Others:
Taxonomic Notes:Thirteen sub-species has been reported world wide.
Group:Mammals

Physical Description

Small Indian civets have brown, yellow, or tawny orange pelage ornamented with black and white rings on their necks, small spots on the body which converge into six to eight dark stripes on the back toward the tail, and black-and-white banded tails.

Viverricula indica © M. Monirul H. Khan
Viverricula indica © M. Monirul H. Khan

The paws are typically dark brown or black, and the breast is a lighter brown or gray, with few if any markings. Small Indian civets are distinguished from closely related civets (Viverra) by their significantly smaller size, lack of a dorsal crest of fur, smaller gap between their ears, and shorter rostra. Males are generally larger than females.

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