Malabar civet [1] ( lat. Viverra civettina ) is a rare species of carnivorous mammal of the Viverridae family. Previously considered as a subspecies of large-spotted civet ( Viverra megaspila ), however, it is currently isolated as an independent species [2] , the status of which has not yet been confirmed [3] . The total population of the species is less than 250 adults.
| Malabar civet |
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| No rank : | Bilateral symmetrical |
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Viverra civettina ( Blyth , 1862) |
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Endangered SpeciesIUCN 3.1 Critically Endangered : 23036 |
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Paw pads of Malabar civet (left: A, B) and large spotted civet (right: C, D)
Malabar civet looks like a large-spotted civet, although it is smaller in size. The length of the body is from 76 to 85 cm, the length of the tail is 30-40 cm. The body weight is from 6.6 to 8.0 kg. Body color from gray to yellow-brown with black spots on the sides and thighs. The spots are relatively large. A black stripe runs along the spine on the back. On the tail, transverse black and gray stripes alternate. Black and white transverse stripes on the throat also stand out. The legs are brownish. Malabar civet differs from large-spotted civet in the structure of the paw pads, and also in that the skin around them is bare, while in large-spotted civet it is covered with hair [2] . Dental formula: {\ displaystyle I {3 \ over 3} C {1 \ over 1} P {4 \ over 4} M {2 \ over 2} = 40}
It lives in a small area of southwestern India. Once inhabited by lowland forests, lowland marshes , coastal forests and coastal plains of the Western Ghats , but now, the range of the species is limited to thickets in the cashew plantations and degraded highly floodplain forests in the northern part of Kerala , as natural forests completely disappeared throughout plot of coastal Western Ghats. In 2006-2007, a special search for this species was conducted in the Indian states of Kerala and Karnataka , a night-time camera recorded no more than a thousand hits of animals in the frame, but there was no Viverra civettina on any frame [4] .
It leads a nocturnal and probably solitary secretive lifestyle [3] . It moves on the ground. Almost nothing is known about nutrition and the biology of reproduction [2] .
Malabar civet is one of the rarest species of predatory mammals in the world. The total population does not exceed 250 adults, while the number of individual populations does not exceed 50 individuals. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assigned the critically endangered status to the species . The main threat to this species is the loss and degradation of the forest habitat. Cashew plantations, where most animals of this species can hide, are at risk of large-scale felling for planting rubber trees . There are no protected areas in the species distribution area. The creation of such territories seems impossible due to the high population density in the region. Careful investigation of the threat situation and captive breeding are considered as the best defense strategies [3] .
Initially, the view was quite frequent in the region. In the 20th century, the population declined dramatically. At times, the species was considered extinct. Between 1950 and 1990, there were only two unconfirmed meetings. Only in the early 1990s were the skins of animals killed shortly before this obtained. Thus, it was proved that Malabar civet still exist [3] .
