viverrid

viverrid
viverrid [vī ver′īn, vī ver′invī ver′id]
n.
< L viverra, a ferret < redupl. of IE base * wer- > Pers vavrarah, OPrus weware, OE (ac)weorna, squirrel + -IDAE
any of a family (Viverridae) of small, slender carnivores, including the civets and mongooses
adj.
of or belonging to this family: Also viverrine [vī ver′īn, vī ver′in]

* * *

vi·ver·rid (vī-vĕrʹĭd) adj. & n.
Viverrine.
  [From New Latin Vīverridae, family name, from Vīverra, type genus. See viverrine.]

* * *

▪ mammal family
Introduction
 any of 35 species of small Old World mammals including civets, genets, and linsangs. Viverrids are among the most poorly known carnivores. They are rarely encountered, being small and secretive inhabitants of forests and dense vegetation. In addition, many species live only on islands or in small areas.

      Most viverrids have slender bodies with a long tail and short legs terminating in four- or five-toed feet. The neck and head are typically elongated, with a tapered muzzle and small ears. Most species have anal scent glands. Some viverrids are nocturnal, some diurnal. Many bear two annual litters of two to four young. Life expectancy ranges from 5 to 15 years.

Viverrid diversity
 The smallest member of the viverrid family is the spotted linsang (Prionodon pardicolor), which weighs 0.6 kg (1.3 pounds). The two largest species are the African civet (Civettictis civetta) and the fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox) of Madagascar, both of which can reach 20 kg. The most common viverrid, however, is the European genet (Genetta genetta), which weighs 1–2.5 kg. It is found in Spain, Portugal, France, Saudi Arabia, and Israel and throughout the savannas of Central Africa as well as most of Southern Africa.

      Most viverrids are good climbers. Some, such as the fossa and the binturong (Arctictis binturong), spend most of their lives in trees, as do several palm civets, such as the masked palm civet (Paguma larvata) and the golden palm civet (Paradoxurus zeylonensis). Many are good swimmers, and two species, the aquatic genet (Osbornictis piscivora) and the otter civet (Cynogale bennettii), are semiaquatic. Viverrids are mostly carnivorous, their diet consisting of small rodents such as mice and voles, birds and their eggs, reptiles, amphibians, fruits, nuts, and insects. Some, such as palm civets, eat mostly fruit; their frugivorous habit is reflected in the molars, which are larger and flatter than those of carnivourous viverrids.

      Viverrids rely heavily on scent for communication. In civets, perineal glands produce a secretion that is stored in a pouch and used for scent marking. Although the secretions of most civets are strong and disagreeable, those of African civets (Civettictis civetta) are musky and have a pleasant odour. These secretions and those of the Oriental civets (genera Viverricula and Viverra) are used in the perfume industry, and captured civets are kept specifically for the production of “civet musk.” For this reason the African civet is probably the most economically important viverrid.

Classification
Family Viverridae (viverrids)
 35 species in 20 genera belonging to 6 subfamilies, found in the Old World.
      Subfamily Viverrinae
 

      Genus Genetta ( genets)
 9 African species except for the European genet.

      Genus Viverra (Oriental civets)
 4 Asian species.

      Genus Prionodon (Oriental linsangs)
 2 Asian species.

      Genus Civettictis (African civet)
 1 African species.

      Genus Osbornictis (aquatic civet)
 1 African species.

      Genus Poiana (African linsang)
 1 African species.

      Genus Viverricula (lesser Oriental civet, or rasse)
 1 Asian species.

      Subfamily Paradoxurinae
 

      Genus Paradoxurus (palm civets)
 4 Asian species.

      Genus Arctictis ( binturong)
 1 Asian species.

      Genus Arctogalidia (small-toothed palm civet)
 1 Asian species.

      Genus Macrogalidia (Sulawesi palm civet)
 1 Asian species.

      Genus Paguma (masked palm civet)
 1 Asian species.

      Subfamily Hemigalinae
 

      Genus Chrotogale (Owston's palm civet)
 1 Asian species.

      Genus Cynogale (otter civet)
 1 Asian species.

      Genus Diplogale (Hose's palm civet)
 1 Asian species.

      Genus Hemigalus (banded palm civet)
 1 Asian species.

      Subfamily Euplerinae
 

      Genus Eupleres (falanouc)
 1 species of Madagascar.

      Genus Fossa (striped civet)
 1 species of Madagascar.

      Subfamily Cryoproctinae
 

      Genus Cryoprocta ( fossa)
 1 species of Madagascar.

      Subfamily Nandiniinae
 

      Genus Nandinia (African palm civet)
 1 African species.

Serge Lariviere

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • viverrid — [vī ver′īn, vī ver′invī ver′id] n. [< L viverra, a ferret < redupl. of IE base * wer > Pers vavrarah, OPrus weware, OE (ac)weorna, squirrel + IDAE] any of a family (Viverridae) of small, slender carnivores, including the civets and… …   English World dictionary

  • viverrid — noun Etymology: New Latin Viverridae, from Viverra, type genus, from Latin viverra ferret; akin to Old English ācweorna squirrel, Lithuanian voverė Date: 1902 any of a family (Viverridae) of carnivorous mammals that include the civets, genets,… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • viverrid — vi•ver•rid [[t]vaɪˈvɛr ɪd, vɪ [/t]] adj. 1) mam of or pertaining to the Viverridae, a family of small carnivorous mammals including the civets, genets, and mongooses 2) mam a viverrid animal • Etymology: 1790–1800; < NL Viverridae, der. of… …   From formal English to slang

  • viverrid — noun Any member of the family Viverridae …   Wiktionary

  • vivèrrid — vi|vèr|rid Mot Pla Nom masculí …   Diccionari Català-Català

  • viverrid — [vɪ vɛrɪd, vʌɪ ] noun Zoology a mammal of the civet family (Viverridae). Origin early 20th cent.: from mod. L. Viverridae, from L. viverra ferret …   English new terms dictionary

  • viverrid — vi·ver·rid …   English syllables

  • viverrid — n. & adj. n. any mammal of the family Viverridae, including civets, mongooses, and genets. adj. of or relating to this family. Etymology: L viverra ferret + ID(3) …   Useful english dictionary

  • carnivore — carnivoral /kahr niv euhr euhl/, adj. /kahr neuh vawr , vohr /, n. 1. an animal that eats flesh. 2. a flesh eating mammal of the order Carnivora, comprising the dogs, cats, bears, seals, and weasels. 3. an insectivorous plant. [1850 55; < L… …   Universalium

  • Hyena — This article is about the family of animals. For other uses, see Hyena (disambiguation). Hyenas Temporal range: 26–0 Ma …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”