CIVETS

Common Name: Small Indian Civet

Scientific Name: Viverricula indica bengalensis
Bangla Name: Khatash / Gandhagokool

A smaller version of the large Indian Civet, this and all the other species do not possess the crest of dorsal erecitle hairs so prominent in the large civet. Colour greyish with a wash of yellow. It has two to three dark lines on either sides of the back and dark spots all over the body often forming definite pattern. There are dark streaks on sides of the neck, black and white markings on the throat, and a black tail having white rings. Head and body 95 cm, tail 35 cm and weighs 4 kg. Small civet still has a wide distribution, being present in all the districts, including the forest areas. Possibly it does not occur inside the Sundarbans and other mangrove formations along the coastal belt.

Common Name: Large Indian civet

Scientific Name: Viverra zibetha zibetha
Bangla Name: Bagdash / Bagkhandash

The largest of the civets occurring within our limits. It is a sturdily built animal with long head, longish body and tail, stumpy limbs. Colour overall dark hoary grey with a tinge of yellow or pale brown, dark bands may ornament chest and shoulders, and form loops and rosettes on the hindquarters (Prater 1980), six broad black rings on the tail alternating with white ones. There are several black followed by white, muffler-like markings on the throat and an oval yellowish white patch on the cheek. The hairs along the centre of the back are rough, erectile and black. Two indistinct, broad, faded lines run parallel to the central ones, becoming very distinct on the rump. The erectile dorsal line of black hairs seperates it from rest of the civets. Head and body 80 cm, tail 45 cm, height at shoulder 37 cm, ears round and 5 cm in length and weighs 8 kg.

A pair or two were invariably present in every village of Bangladesh around the sixties. Nowadays it is ratehr rare in the countryside because of the dissapearance of village groves and thickets. But areas still possessing good tree covers, such as those of Barisal, Patuakhali, Jessore, Khulna, Mymensingh, Tangail, Comilla, Chittagong districts and the forested areas do support a good and viable population. Husain (1974) reported Arctogalidea trivirgata three striped palm civet and assumed it to be present in the Sylhet district.

Common Name: Common Palm Civet / Toddy Cat

Scientific Name: Paradoxurus hermaphroditus bondar
Bangla Name: Bhondar / Nongor

Palm civet is of the size of small civet but devoid of all black and white markings of the two preceding species. Overall colour is slaty grey or greyish black. The coat is rather long and rough, often with dark spots suggesting the formation of lines on the back of the body. Limbs are either black or deep chocolate brown. There are two to three white patches on the head with one invariably below the eye. It has a very long tail, blackish, becoming jet black at the tip, without any black or white rings on it. Head and body 55 cm, an equally long tail and weighs 4 kg.

It is the most commonest of the civets and widely distributed in the country. It is found both in towns, villages and forests and is well known as a poultry and pigeon lifter.

Common Name: Masked Civet / Himalayan Palm Civet

Scientific Name: Paguma larvata neglecta
Bangla Name: Pahari Bham

Only civet showing no sign of markings on the body excepting a pale grey broad one running down from the back of each ear to the throat. There is a small whitish scar below the eyes and a longish one over the nose. Overall it is grey in colour with whitish underparts and yellowish paws, whiskers are long and the long fluffy tail is devoid of any rings.

Common Name: Binturong / Bear Cat

Scientific Name: Arctictis binturong albifrons
Bangla Name: Bhallook-akar Bham

Other than pangolins, binturong is the only mammal of Bangladesh having tip of the tail to be prehensile. Binturong is neither a bear nor a cat but a civet. The coat is shaggy, unkempt like the sloth bear, hairs long, the longest hairs are on the thick muscular tail and the ears are tufted. Bangladeshi specimens are all blackish or slaty, rarely grizzled. Head and body 85 cm, tail 80 cm and weighs 12 kg.