Viverridae is a family of mammals in the order Carnivora, composed mainly of the civets and genets. A member of this family is called a viverrid. They are widespread primarily throughout Africa, India, and southeast Asia, and are found primarily in forests, shrublands, and grasslands, though some species can be found in savannas or wetlands. Most viverrids are 40 to 65 cm (16 to 26 in) long, plus a 35 to 60 cm (14 to 24 in) tail, though the West African oyan can be as small as 30 cm (12 in) plus a 35 cm (14 in) tail, and some binturongs can be up to 96 cm (38 in) plus a 89 cm (35 in) tail. Most species do not have population estimates, though three viverrids are classified as endangered, and one, the Malabar large-spotted civet, is classified as critically endangered with a population size of around 200. No viverrid species have been domesticated.

The thirty-three species of Viverridae are split into fourteen genera within four subfamilies: the three civet subfamilies Viverrinae, Hemigalinae, and Paradoxurinae, and the genet subfamily Genettinae. A fifth subfamily, Prionodontinae, was previously included in Viverridae, while the species in Genettinae were considered part of Viverrinae, but more recent genetic evidence resulted in the consensus to separate Prionodontinae into its own family and split out Genettinae into its own subfamily. Extinct species have also been placed into Viverrinae, as well as the extinct subfamily Lophocyoninae, though most extinct species have not been categorized into a subfamily. Nearly twenty extinct Viverridae species have been discovered, though due to ongoing research and discoveries the exact number and categorization is not fixed.

Conventions

Conservation status codes listed follow the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Range maps are provided wherever possible; if a range map is not available, a description of the viverrid's range is provided. Ranges are based on the IUCN Red List for that species unless otherwise noted.

Classification

The family Viverridae consists of 33 extant species belonging to 14 genera in 4 subfamilies and divided into dozens of extant subspecies. This does not include hybrid species or extinct prehistoric species.

Viverrids

The following classification is based on the taxonomy described by Mammal Species of the World (2005), with augmentation by generally accepted proposals made since using molecular phylogenetic analysis. This includes the promotion of the Prionodontinae subfamily into its own family, and the moving of the Poiana and Genetta genera out of the Viverrinae subfamily into their own Genettinae subfamily. There are several additional proposals which are disputed, such as splitting the golden palm civet into three species or adding three additional species to Genetta, which are not included here.^[1][2]

Subfamily Genettinae

Genus Genetta – Cuvier, 1816 – fourteen species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Abyssinian genet	G. abyssinica (Rüppell, 1836)	Northeast Africa	Size: 40–43 cm (16–17 in) long, plus 38–41 cm (15–16 in) tail[3] Habitat: Forest, shrubland, and grassland[4] Diet: Primarily eats rodents, birds, and seeds, as well as insects and fruit[4][5]	DD  Unknown [4]
Angolan genet	G. angolensis Bocage, 1882	Scattered south-central Africa	Size: 44–48 cm (17–19 in) long, plus 38–43 cm (15–17 in) tail[3] Habitat: Savanna[6] Diet: Believed to primarily eat insects, as well as fruit[6][5]	LC  Unknown [6]
Aquatic genet	G. piscivora (Allen, 1919)	Central Africa	Size: 44–50 cm (17–20 in) long, plus 34–42 cm (13–17 in) tail[5] Habitat: Forest and inland wetlands[7] Diet: Primarily eats fish[7]	NT  10,000 [7]
Bourlon's genet	G. bourloni Gaubert, 2003	West Africa	Size: 49–50 cm (19–20 in) long, plus 40–42 cm (16–17 in) tail[5] Habitat: Forest[8] Diet: Unknown[8][5]	VU  9,800 [8]
Cape genet	G. tigrina (Schreber, 1776) Two subspecies G. t. methi G. t. tigrina	South Africa	Size: 42–58 cm (17–23 in) long, plus 38–46 cm (15–18 in) tail[5] Habitat: Forest, shrubland, and grassland[9] Diet: Omnivorous; primarily eats insects and small mammals[9][5]	LC  Unknown [9]
Common genet	G. genetta (Linnaeus, 1758) Five subspecies G. g. afra G. g. dongolana G. g. felina G. g. genetta G. g. senegalensis	Bands of north, central, and south Africa and parts of Arabian peninsula (green), introduced in southwest Europe (red), formerly introduced in Nile river area (black)	Size: 46–52 cm (18–20 in) long, plus 42–52 cm (17–20 in) tail[3] Habitat: Forest, savanna, shrubland, and rocky areas[10] Diet: Primarily eats small mammals, as well as birds, other small vertebrates, insects, and fruit[10]	LC  Unknown [10]
Crested servaline genet	G. cristata Hayman, 1940	Northwest Africa	Size: 49–63 cm (19–25 in) long, plus 43 cm (17 in) tail[3] Habitat: Forest[11] Diet: Primarily eats insects, as well as small mammals, reptiles, and vegetables[11][5]	VU  7,000 [11]
Giant forest genet	G. victoriae Thomas, 1902	Central Africa	Size: 55–60 cm (22–24 in) long, plus 41–49 cm (16–19 in) tail[5] Habitat: Forest[12] Diet: Primarily eats fruit, as well as rodents, birds, and insects[12][5]	LC  Unknown [12]
Hausa genet	G. thierryi Matschie, 1902	West Africa	Size: 44–45 cm (17–18 in) long, plus 40–43 cm (16–17 in) tail[3] Habitat: Forest, savanna, and shrubland[13] Diet: Unknown[13][5]	LC  Unknown [13]
Johnston's genet	G. johnstoni Pocock, 1908	Northwest Africa	Size: 47–52 cm (19–20 in) long, plus 46–50 cm (18–20 in) tail[5] Habitat: Forest, savanna, and shrubland[14] Diet: Believed to primarily eat insects[14][5]	NT  Unknown [14]
King genet	G. poensis Waterhouse, 1838	Scattered parts of west Africa	Size: 42–68 cm (17–27 in) long, plus 35–47 cm (14–19 in) tail[5] Habitat: Forest[15] Diet: Unknown; believed to eat mammals and fruit[15]	DD  Unknown [15]
Pardine genet	G. pardina Geoffroy, 1832	Northwest Africa	Size: 41–56 cm (16–22 in) long, plus 39–45 cm (15–18 in) tail[5] Habitat: Forest, savanna, and shrubland[16] Diet: Primarily eats rodents, as well as insects, fruit, birds, and other small mammals[16][5]	LC  Unknown [16]
Rusty-spotted genet	G. maculata (Gray, 1830)	Central and south Africa	Size: 41–53 cm (16–21 in) long, plus 39–54 cm (15–21 in) tail[3] Habitat: Forest, savanna, and shrubland[17] Diet: Primarily eats invertebrates, fish, amphibians, reptiles, small birds, eggs, and small mammals, as well as fruit, seeds, and berries[17][5]	LC  Unknown [17]
Servaline genet	G. servalina Pucheran, 1855 Five subspecies G. s. archeri (Zanzibar servaline genet) G. s. bettoni G. s. lowei G. s. schwarzi G. s. servalina	Central africa	Size: 44–51 cm (17–20 in) long, plus 36–49 cm (14–19 in) tail[5] Habitat: Forest and shrubland[18] Diet: Primarily eats small mammals and insects, as well as snakes, birds, and fruit[18][5]	LC  Unknown [18]

Genus Poiana – Gray, 1865 – two species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Central African oyan	P. richardsonii (Thomson, 1842) Two subspecies P. r. ochracea P. r. richardsonii	Central Africa	Size: 33–38 cm (13–15 in) long, plus 35–40 cm (14–16 in) tail[19] Habitat: Forest[20] Diet: Believed to eat small vertebrates and invertebrates[20][3]	LC  Unknown [20]
West African oyan	P. leightoni Pocock, 1908	West Africa	Size: 30–38 cm (12–15 in) long, plus 35–40 cm (14–16 in) tail[3] Habitat: Forest[21] Diet: Believed to eat small vertebrates and invertebrates[21][3]	VU  6,700-10,000 [21]

Subfamily Hemigalinae

Genus Chrotogale – Thomas, 1912 – one species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Owston's palm civet	C. owstoni Thomas, 1912	Southeast Asia around Vietnam	Size: 51–63 cm (20–25 in) long, plus 38–48 cm (15–19 in) tail[22] Habitat: Forest and shrubland[23] Diet: Believed to primarily eat earthworms and other invertebrates[23]	EN  Unknown [23]

Genus Cynogale – Gray, 1837 – one species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Otter civet	C. bennettii (Gray, 1837) Two subspecies C. b. bennettii C. b. lowei	Southeast Asia	Size: 57–68 cm (22–27 in) long, plus 12–21 cm (5–8 in) tail[22] Habitat: Forest and inland wetlands[24] Diet: Primarily eats fish, crabs, molluscs, small mammals, and birds[24]	EN  2,500 [24]

Genus Diplogale – Thomas, 1912 – one species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Hose's palm civet	D. hosei Thomas, 1892	Borneo in Southeast Asia	Size: 47–54 cm (19–21 in) long, plus 29–34 cm (11–13 in) tail[25] Habitat: Forest[26] Diet: Believed to primarily eat small fish, shrimp, crabs, and frogs as well as insects[26]	VU  9,500 [26]

Genus Hemigalus – Jourdan, 1837 – one species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Banded palm civet	H. derbyanus (Gray, 1837) Four subspecies H. d. boiei H. d. derbyanus H. d. minor H. d. sipora	Southeast Asia	Size: 45–56 cm (18–22 in) long, plus 25–36 cm (10–14 in) tail[22] Habitat: Forest[27] Diet: Primarily eats insects[27]	NT  Unknown [27]

Subfamily Paradoxurinae

Genus Arctictis – Temminck, 1824 – one species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Binturong	A. binturong (Raffles, 1821) Six subspecies A. b. albifrons A. b. binturong A. b. kerkhoveni A. b. menglaensis A. b. penicillatus A. b. whitei (Palawan binturong)	Southeast Asia	Size: 61–96 cm (24–38 in) long, plus 56–89 cm (22–35 in) tail[28] Habitat: Forest[29] Diet: Primarily eats fruit[29]	VU  Unknown [29]

Genus Arctogalidia – Merriam, 1897 – one species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Small-toothed palm civet	A. trivirgata (Gray, 1832) Fourteen subspecies A. t. bancana A. t. fusca A. t. inornata A. t. leucotis A. t. macra A. t. major A. t. millsi A. t. minor A. t. simplex A. t. stigmaticus A. t. sumatrana A. t. tingia A. t. trilineata A. t. trivirgata	Southeast Asia	Size: 44–60 cm (17–24 in) long, plus 48–66 cm (19–26 in) tail[30] Habitat: Forest[31] Diet: Omnivorous; primarily eats fruit[31]	LC  Unknown [31]

Genus Macrogalidia – Schwarz, 1910 – one species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Sulawesi palm civet	M. musschenbroekii (Schlegel, 1877)	Sulawesi island in Southeast Asia	Size: 65–72 cm (26–28 in) long, plus 44–54 cm (17–21 in) tail[3] Habitat: Forest, shrubland, and grassland[32] Diet: Primarily eats rodents and palm fruit, as well as other small mammals, birds, fruit, and grass[32]	VU  9,000 [32]

Genus Paguma – Gray, 1831 – one species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Masked palm civet	P. larvata (H. Smith, 1827) Sixteen subspecies P. l. chichingensis P. l. grayi P. l. hainana P. l. intrudens P. l. janetta P. l. jourdanii P. l. lanigera P. l. larvata P. l. leucomystax P. l. neglecta P. l. nigriceps P. l. ogilbyi P. l. robusta P. l. taivana P. l. tytlerii P. l. wroughtoni	East and southeast Asia	Size: 50–76 cm (20–30 in) long, plus 50–64 cm (20–25 in) tail[33] Habitat: Forest and shrubland[34] Diet: Omnivorous; primarily eats fruit[34]	LC  Unknown [34]

Genus Paradoxurus – F. Cuvier, 1821 – three species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Asian palm civet	P. hermaphroditus (Pallas, 1777) 30 subspecies P. h. balicus P. h. bondar P. h. canescens P. h. canus P. h. cochinensis P. h. dongfangensis P. h. enganus P. h. exitus P. h. hermaphroditus P. h. javanica P. h. kangeanus P. h. laotum P. h. lignicolor P. h. milleri P. h. minor P. h. musanga P. h. nictitans P. h. pallasii P. h. pallens P. h. parvus P. h. philippinensis P. h. pugnax P. h. pulcher P. h. sacer P. h. scindiae P. h. senex P. h. setosus P. h. simplex P. h. sumbanus P. h. vellerosus	South and southeast Asia (green), introduced (red)	Size: 47–57 cm (19–22 in) long, plus 47–56 cm (19–22 in) tail[35] Habitat: Forest, shrubland, and grassland[36] Diet: Primarily eats rats and fruit, as well as insects and molluscs[36]	LC  Unknown [36]
Brown palm civet	P. jerdoni Blanford, 1885 Two subspecies P. j. caniscus P. j. jerdoni	Southwest India	Size: 43–62 cm (17–24 in) long, plus 38–53 cm (15–21 in) tail[37] Habitat: Forest[38] Diet: Primarily eats fruit, as well as birds, rodents, and insects[38]	LC  Unknown [38]
Golden palm civet	P. zeylonensis (Schreber, 1778)	Sri Lanka	Size: 50–58 cm (20–23 in) long, plus 43–53 cm (17–21 in) tail[3] Habitat: Forest and shrubland[39] Diet: Primarily eats berries, fruits, and invertebrates, as well as small vertebrates[39]	LC  Unknown [39]

Subfamily Viverrinae

Genus Civettictis – Pocock, 1915 – one species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
African civet	C. civetta (Schreber, 1776) Six subspecies C. c. australis C. c. civetta C. c. congica C. c. pauli C. c. schwarzi C. c. volkmanni	Central and south Africa	Size: 60–92 cm (24–36 in) long, plus 43–61 cm (17–24 in) tail[40] Habitat: Forest, savanna, shrubland, and inland wetlands[41] Diet: Omnivorous; primarily eats fruit[41]	LC  Unknown [41]

Genus Viverra – Linnaeus, 1758 – four species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Large-spotted civet	V. megaspila Blyth, 1862	Southeast Asia	Size: 77–90 cm (30–35 in) long, plus 32–40 cm (13–16 in) tail[35] Habitat: Forest, shrubland, and inland wetlands[42] Diet: Primarily eats birds, frogs, snakes, small mammals, eggs, crabs, fish, fruit, and roots[35][42]	EN  Unknown [42]
Large Indian civet	V. zibetha Linnaeus, 1758 Five subspecies V. z. ashtoni V. z. hainana V. z. picta V. z. pruinosus V. z. zibetha	Southeast Asia	Size: 50–95 cm (20–37 in) long, plus 38–59 cm (15–23 in) tail[35] Habitat: Forest and shrubland[43] Diet: Primarily eats fish, birds, lizards, frogs, insects, arthropods, and crabs, as well as poultry and rubbish[43]	LC  Unknown [43]
Malabar large-spotted civet	V. civettina Blyth, 1862	Southwest India	Size: 76 cm (30 in) long, plus 33 cm (13 in) tail[44] Habitat: Forest and inland wetlands[45] Diet: Unknown[45]	CR  200 [45]
Malayan civet	V. tangalunga Gray, 1832 Two subspecies V. t. lankavensis V. t. tangalunga	Southeast Asia	Size: 58–95 cm (23–37 in) long, plus 30–49 cm (12–19 in) tail[46] Habitat: Forest and shrubland[47] Diet: Omnivorous[47]	LC  Unknown [47]

Genus Viverricula – Hodgson, 1838 – one species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Small Indian civet	V. indica (Desmarest, 1804) Twelve subspecies V. i. atchinensis V. i. baliensis V. i. baptistae V. i. deserti V. i. indica V. i. klossi V. i. mayori V. i. muriavensis V. i. pallida V. i. schlegelii V. i. thai V. i. wellsi	South and southeast Asia	Size: 45–63 cm (18–25 in) long, plus 30–43 cm (12–17 in) tail[48] Habitat: Forest, savanna, shrubland, grassland, and inland wetlands[49] Diet: Primarily eats rodents, birds, snakes, fruit, roots, carrion, and insects[49]	LC  Unknown [49]