By Adria Jackson
Geographic Range
Viverra zibetha, also known as the Indian civet, is found from Indochina to southern China. It is also found in Nepal, Bangladesh, the Malay Peninsula, Hainan, and Vietnam.
Habitat
Viverra zibetha live in grasslands, scrub, and densely forested areas. They are commonly found near human habitats. They live in burrows that have been dug by other animals.
Terrestrial Biomes:
savanna or grassland 
; forest ; rainforest .
Physical Description
(11 to 24.2 lbs)
Indian civets have large bodies that are gray or brown in color. Body length is about 34 inches with a tail length of 13 inches. They have black spots on the body as well as black and white stripes on the sides of the neck. In most cases there are two white stripes and three black stripes. The tail has a number of black rings around it. Limbs are black and the forefeet contain lobes of skin on the third and fourth digit that protect the retractile claws. Males are slightly larger than females.
Some key physical features:
endothermic ; homoiothermic; bilateral symmetry .
Sexual dimorphism: male larger.
Reproduction
Females are polyestrous, breeding throughout the year. They have two litters per year and each litter can have up to four young. They are born in a hole in the ground or in very dense vegetation. Young can open their eyes in ten days and begin being weaned at one month of age. Weight at birth is less than 100g and doubles in 12 days. At the end of one month, the birth weight has increased four fold. The females raise the young on their own.
Key reproductive features:
gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual .
Behavior
Viverra zibetha are solitary, nocturnal animals. They are terrestrial and are able to climb. They live in holes in the ground that have been dug by other animals. They mark territory with their glandular secretions. This is done to communicate their presence and identify territory. It is unkown if Viverra zibetha defend territory. They range extensively and average daily and monthly range have been estimated to be between 1.7 km and 5.4 sq km.
Indian civets grasp their prey with their teeth and shake until the spinal column is broken.
Key behaviors:
motile .
Food Habits
Civets are carnivorous. They prey on birds, frogs, snakes, small mammals, chickens, and hens. They also eat fruit, roots, eggs, and have been recorded eating fish and crabs.
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
Viverra zibetha prey upon domestic animals, such as chickens, placing them in conflict with farmers.
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
Viverra zibetha secrete a substance called civet. It is used commercially to produce perfumes. They may also influence forest structure and re-growth by aiding in seed dispersal.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List: [link]:
Lower Risk - Least Concern.
US Federal List: [link]:
No special status.
CITES: [link]:
No special status.
The Ahmedabad Zoo in India has a small population of Indian civets. They were formerly kept in order to collect their glandular secretions.
Other Comments
Viverra zibetha are secretive and nocturnal. Therefore there is little comprehensive data on its natural history characteristics. Natural life span averages 15 years. Iin captivity they have lived over 20 years.
For More Information
Find Viverra zibetha information at
Contributors
Adria Jackson (author), University of Michigan.
Phil Myers (editor), Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan.
