Wildlifeof Vietnam
Masked Palm Civet
Civets, Linsangs & Mongooses
Photo: Nick Brierley
Paguma larvata
Rare visitor: recorded only occasionally in this country
Basic stats
Diet
Rats, birds, fruit such as figs, mangoes and bananas, leaves, molluscs, arthropods and bark
Habitat
Partly arboreal
Range
Northern Indian subcontinent, especially the Himalayas, east to China and Southeast Asia
Litter size
Up to 4 young
Size
Body 50–60cm; tail 40–50cm
Weight
3–5kg
The masked palm civet, or gem-faced civet, has grey to ochre fur, black on the head, shoulders and neck and blackish brown on the tail and feet, with no spots or stripes. A white blaze on the forehead and white marks above and below the eyes reach the ears, forming a half-collar. The lips, chin and throat are white and the tail is more than two-thirds the length of head and body. Adults are 50–60 cm long with a 40–50 cm tail and weigh 3–5 kg (Wikipedia, general species account).
It is a nocturnal, solitary and partly arboreal omnivore, occasionally active by day, eating rats, birds and fruit such as figs, mangoes and bananas, as well as leaves, molluscs, bark and, less often, snakes and frogs. There are two breeding seasons a year and a female bears up to four young.
Quick answers
- What does the Masked Palm Civet eat?
- Rats, birds, fruit such as figs, mangoes and bananas, leaves, molluscs, arthropods and bark
- What habitat does the Masked Palm Civet live in?
- Partly arboreal
- Where is the Masked Palm Civet found?
- Northern Indian subcontinent, especially the Himalayas, east to China and Southeast Asia
- What is the litter size of the Masked Palm Civet?
- Up to 4 young
- How big is the Masked Palm Civet?
- Body 50–60cm; tail 40–50cm
- How much does the Masked Palm Civet weigh?
- 3–5kg