Young male, in a mango tree in the Portsdown
area of Singapore.
Resting in the crown of a tall tree in Singapore's
central forest.
Young male, in the East
Coast area of Singapore.
Typical droppings of the Common Palm Civet, comprising seed husks
of Fishtail Palm Caryota mitis.
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Known to millions of rural
Malays as 'Musang', the Common Palm Civet occurs in secondary forests, fruit
orchards, near village houses or in the tops of trees close to human
habitation, indeed it sometimes inhabits the roof spaces of rural
properties. They usually nest, however, in hollow trees where they raise two
or three young. The species is fully nocturnal.
They are identified by the
three dark stripes along the back, on a creamy or grey background, and by
the dark mask across the eyes and nose. They feed mainly on fruits - being
particularly attracted to mangoes, but will also eat worms and insects. In
Singapore they frequently eat the fruits of the Fishtail Palm Caryota
mitis.
The species ranges from
India and Sri Lanka through southern China and the Southeast Asian mainland
to Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Sulawesi and the Philippines.
Order : CARNIVORA
Family : Viverridae
Species : Paradoxurus hermaphroditus
Head-body length : 42-50 cm
Tail length : 33-42cm
References : M1, M2
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