Civets | |
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African civet (Civettictis civetta) | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Carnivora |
Suborder: | Feliformia |
Included genera | |
Excluded genera (These carnivorans are not traditionally considered civets)
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A civet (/ˈsɪvɪt/) is a small, lean, mostly nocturnal mammal native to tropical Asia and Africa, especially the tropical forests. The term civet applies to over a dozen different species, mostly from the family Viverridae. Most of the species's diversity is found in southeast Asia. Civets do not form a monophyletic group, as they consist only of certain members of the Viverridae, Eupleridae, and Nandiniidae.
The African civet, Civettictis civetta,[1] has historically been the main species from which a musky scent used in perfumery, also referred to as "civet", was obtained.