Civet

Civets
African civet (Civettictis civetta)
African civet (Civettictis civetta)
Scientific classificationEdit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Suborder: Feliformia
Included genera
Excluded genera
(These carnivorans are not traditionally considered civets)

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.

  1. ^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Civet" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 6 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 402.