# List of viverrids

Viverridae is a family of mammals in the order Carnivora, composed mainly of the civets and genets. A member of this family is called a viverrid. They are widespread primarily throughout Africa, India, and southeast Asia, and are found primarily in forests, shrublands, and grasslands, though some species can be found in savannas or wetlands. Most viverrids are 40 to 65 cm (16 to 26 in) long, plus a 35 to 60 cm (14 to 24 in) tail, though the West African oyan can be as small as 30 cm (12 in) plus a 35 cm (14 in) tail, and some binturongs can be up to 96 cm (38 in) plus a 89 cm (35 in) tail. Most species do not have population estimates, though three viverrids are classified as endangered, and one, the Malabar large-spotted civet, is classified as critically endangered with a population size of around 200. No viverrid species have been domesticated.
The thirty-three species of Viverridae are split into fourteen genera within four subfamilies: the three civet subfamilies Viverrinae, Hemigalinae, and Paradoxurinae, and the genet subfamily Genettinae. A fifth subfamily, Prionodontinae, was previously included in Viverridae, while the species in Genettinae were considered part of Viverrinae, but more recent genetic evidence resulted in the consensus to separate Prionodontinae into its own family and split out Genettinae into its own subfamily. Extinct species have also been placed into Viverrinae, as well as the extinct subfamily Lophocyoninae, though most extinct species have not been categorized into a subfamily. Nearly twenty extinct Viverridae species have been discovered, though due to ongoing research and discoveries the exact number and categorization is not fixed.

## Conventions

Conservation status codes listed follow the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Range maps are provided wherever possible; if a range map is not available, a description of the viverrid's range is provided. Ranges are based on the IUCN Red List for that species unless otherwise noted.

## Classification

The family Viverridae consists of 33 extant species belonging to 14 genera in 4 subfamilies and divided into dozens of extant subspecies. This does not include hybrid species or extinct prehistoric species.
* Subfamily Genettinae
** Genus Genetta: fourteen species
** Genus Poiana: two species
* Subfamily Hemigalinae
** Genus Chrotogale: one species
** Genus Cynogale: one species
** Genus Diplogale: one species
** Genus Hemigalus: one species
* Subfamily Paradoxurinae
** Genus Arctictis: one species
** Genus Arctogalidia: one species
** Genus Macrogalidia: one species
** Genus Paguma: one species
** Genus Paradoxurus: three species
* Subfamily Viverrinae
** Genus Civettictis: one species
** Genus Viverra: four species
** Genus Viverricula: one species
Viverridae
Paradoxurinae
Paradoxurus
Macrogalidia
Paguma
Arctictis
Arctogalidia
Hemigalinae
Cynogale
Chrotogale
Diplogale
Hemigalus
Viverrinae
Viverra
Civettictis
Viverricula
Genettinae
Poiana
Genetta :

## Viverrids

The following classification is based on the taxonomy described by Mammal Species of the World (2005), with augmentation by generally accepted proposals made since using molecular phylogenetic analysis. This includes the promotion of the Prionodontinae subfamily into its own family, and the moving of the Poiana and Genetta genera out of the Viverrinae subfamily into their own Genettinae subfamily. There are several additional proposals which are disputed, such as splitting the golden palm civet into three species or adding three additional species to Genetta, which are not included here.

### Subfamily Genettinae

Genus Genetta – Cuvier, 1816 – fourteen species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Abyssinian genet | G. abyssinica (Rüppell, 1836) | Northeast Africa | Size: 40–43 cm (16–17 in) long, plus 38–41 cm (15–16 in) tail Habitat: Forest, shrubland, and grassland Diet: Primarily eats rodents, birds, and seeds, as well as insects and fruit | DD  Unknown |
| Angolan genet | G. angolensis Bocage, 1882 | Scattered south-central Africa | Size: 44–48 cm (17–19 in) long, plus 38–43 cm (15–17 in) tail Habitat: Savanna Diet: Believed to primarily eat insects, as well as fruit | LC  Unknown |
| Aquatic genet | G. piscivora (Allen, 1919) | Central Africa | Size: 44–50 cm (17–20 in) long, plus 34–42 cm (13–17 in) tail Habitat: Forest and inland wetlands Diet: Primarily eats fish | NT  10,000 |
| Bourlon's genet | G. bourloni Gaubert, 2003 | West Africa | Size: 49–50 cm (19–20 in) long, plus 40–42 cm (16–17 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Unknown | VU  9,800 |
| Cape genet | G. tigrina (Schreber, 1776) Two subspecies G. t. methi G. t. tigrina | South Africa | Size: 42–58 cm (17–23 in) long, plus 38–46 cm (15–18 in) tail Habitat: Forest, shrubland, and grassland Diet: Omnivorous; primarily eats insects and small mammals | LC  Unknown |
| Common genet | G. genetta (Linnaeus, 1758) Five subspecies G. g. afra G. g. dongolana G. g. felina G. g. genetta G. g. senegalensis | Bands of north, central, and south Africa and parts of Arabian peninsula (green), introduced in southwest Europe (red), formerly introduced in Nile river area (black) | Size: 46–52 cm (18–20 in) long, plus 42–52 cm (17–20 in) tail Habitat: Forest, savanna, shrubland, and rocky areas Diet: Primarily eats small mammals, as well as birds, other small vertebrates, insects, and fruit | LC  Unknown |
| Crested servaline genet | G. cristata Hayman, 1940 | Northwest Africa | Size: 49–63 cm (19–25 in) long, plus 43 cm (17 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Primarily eats insects, as well as small mammals, reptiles, and vegetables | VU  7,000 |
| Giant forest genet | G. victoriae Thomas, 1902 | Central Africa | Size: 55–60 cm (22–24 in) long, plus 41–49 cm (16–19 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Primarily eats fruit, as well as rodents, birds, and insects | LC  Unknown |
| Hausa genet | G. thierryi Matschie, 1902 | West Africa | Size: 44–45 cm (17–18 in) long, plus 40–43 cm (16–17 in) tail Habitat: Forest, savanna, and shrubland Diet: Unknown | LC  Unknown |
| Johnston's genet | G. johnstoni Pocock, 1908 | Northwest Africa | Size: 47–52 cm (19–20 in) long, plus 46–50 cm (18–20 in) tail Habitat: Forest, savanna, and shrubland Diet: Believed to primarily eat insects | NT  Unknown |
| King genet | G. poensis Waterhouse, 1838 | Scattered parts of west Africa | Size: 42–68 cm (17–27 in) long, plus 35–47 cm (14–19 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Unknown; believed to eat mammals and fruit | DD  Unknown |
| Pardine genet | G. pardina Geoffroy, 1832 | Northwest Africa | Size: 41–56 cm (16–22 in) long, plus 39–45 cm (15–18 in) tail Habitat: Forest, savanna, and shrubland Diet: Primarily eats rodents, as well as insects, fruit, birds, and other small mammals | LC  Unknown |
| Rusty-spotted genet | G. maculata (Gray, 1830) | Central and south Africa | Size: 41–53 cm (16–21 in) long, plus 39–54 cm (15–21 in) tail Habitat: Forest, savanna, and shrubland Diet: Primarily eats invertebrates, fish, amphibians, reptiles, small birds, eggs, and small mammals, as well as fruit, seeds, and berries | LC  Unknown |
| Servaline genet | G. servalina Pucheran, 1855 Five subspecies G. s. archeri (Zanzibar servaline genet) G. s. bettoni G. s. lowei G. s. schwarzi G. s. servalina | Central africa | Size: 44–51 cm (17–20 in) long, plus 36–49 cm (14–19 in) tail Habitat: Forest and shrubland Diet: Primarily eats small mammals and insects, as well as snakes, birds, and fruit | LC  Unknown |
Genus Poiana – Gray, 1865 – two species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Central African oyan | P. richardsonii (Thomson, 1842) Two subspecies P. r. ochracea P. r. richardsonii | Central Africa | Size: 33–38 cm (13–15 in) long, plus 35–40 cm (14–16 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Believed to eat small vertebrates and invertebrates | LC  Unknown |
| West African oyan | P. leightoni Pocock, 1908 | West Africa | Size: 30–38 cm (12–15 in) long, plus 35–40 cm (14–16 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Believed to eat small vertebrates and invertebrates | VU  6,700-10,000 |

### Subfamily Hemigalinae

Genus Chrotogale – Thomas, 1912 – one species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Owston's palm civet | C. owstoni Thomas, 1912 | Southeast Asia around Vietnam | Size: 51–63 cm (20–25 in) long, plus 38–48 cm (15–19 in) tail Habitat: Forest and shrubland Diet: Believed to primarily eat earthworms and other invertebrates | EN  Unknown |
Genus Cynogale – Gray, 1837 – one species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Otter civet | C. bennettii (Gray, 1837) Two subspecies C. b. bennettii C. b. lowei | Southeast Asia | Size: 57–68 cm (22–27 in) long, plus 12–21 cm (5–8 in) tail Habitat: Forest and inland wetlands Diet: Primarily eats fish, crabs, molluscs, small mammals, and birds | EN  2,500 |
Genus Diplogale – Thomas, 1912 – one species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Hose's palm civet | D. hosei Thomas, 1892 | Borneo in Southeast Asia | Size: 47–54 cm (19–21 in) long, plus 29–34 cm (11–13 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Believed to primarily eat small fish, shrimp, crabs, and frogs as well as insects | VU  9,500 |
Genus Hemigalus – Jourdan, 1837 – one species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Banded palm civet | H. derbyanus (Gray, 1837) Four subspecies H. d. boiei H. d. derbyanus H. d. minor H. d. sipora | Southeast Asia | Size: 45–56 cm (18–22 in) long, plus 25–36 cm (10–14 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Primarily eats insects | NT  Unknown |

### Subfamily Paradoxurinae

Genus Arctictis – Temminck, 1824 – one species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Binturong | A. binturong (Raffles, 1821) Six subspecies A. b. albifrons A. b. binturong A. b. kerkhoveni A. b. menglaensis A. b. penicillatus A. b. whitei (Palawan binturong) | Southeast Asia | Size: 61–96 cm (24–38 in) long, plus 56–89 cm (22–35 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Primarily eats fruit | VU  Unknown |
Genus Arctogalidia – Merriam, 1897 – one species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Small-toothed palm civet | A. trivirgata (Gray, 1832) Fourteen subspecies A. t. bancana A. t. fusca A. t. inornata A. t. leucotis A. t. macra A. t. major A. t. millsi A. t. minor A. t. simplex A. t. stigmaticus A. t. sumatrana A. t. tingia A. t. trilineata A. t. trivirgata | Southeast Asia | Size: 44–60 cm (17–24 in) long, plus 48–66 cm (19–26 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Omnivorous; primarily eats fruit | LC  Unknown |
Genus Macrogalidia – Schwarz, 1910 – one species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Sulawesi palm civet | M. musschenbroekii (Schlegel, 1877) | Sulawesi island in Southeast Asia | Size: 65–72 cm (26–28 in) long, plus 44–54 cm (17–21 in) tail Habitat: Forest, shrubland, and grassland Diet: Primarily eats rodents and palm fruit, as well as other small mammals, birds, fruit, and grass | VU  9,000 |
Genus Paguma – Gray, 1831 – one species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Masked palm civet | P. larvata (H. Smith, 1827) Sixteen subspecies P. l. chichingensis P. l. grayi P. l. hainana P. l. intrudens P. l. janetta P. l. jourdanii P. l. lanigera P. l. larvata P. l. leucomystax P. l. neglecta P. l. nigriceps P. l. ogilbyi P. l. robusta P. l. taivana P. l. tytlerii P. l. wroughtoni | East and southeast Asia | Size: 50–76 cm (20–30 in) long, plus 50–64 cm (20–25 in) tail Habitat: Forest and shrubland Diet: Omnivorous; primarily eats fruit | LC  Unknown |
Genus Paradoxurus – F. Cuvier, 1821 – three species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Asian palm civet | P. hermaphroditus (Pallas, 1777) 30 subspecies P. h. balicus P. h. bondar P. h. canescens P. h. canus P. h. cochinensis P. h. dongfangensis P. h. enganus P. h. exitus P. h. hermaphroditus P. h. javanica P. h. kangeanus P. h. laotum P. h. lignicolor P. h. milleri P. h. minor P. h. musanga P. h. nictitans P. h. pallasii P. h. pallens P. h. parvus P. h. philippinensis P. h. pugnax P. h. pulcher P. h. sacer P. h. scindiae P. h. senex P. h. setosus P. h. simplex P. h. sumbanus P. h. vellerosus | South and southeast Asia (green), introduced (red) | Size: 47–57 cm (19–22 in) long, plus 47–56 cm (19–22 in) tail Habitat: Forest, shrubland, and grassland Diet: Primarily eats rats and fruit, as well as insects and molluscs | LC  Unknown |
| Brown palm civet | P. jerdoni Blanford, 1885 Two subspecies P. j. caniscus P. j. jerdoni | Southwest India | Size: 43–62 cm (17–24 in) long, plus 38–53 cm (15–21 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Primarily eats fruit, as well as birds, rodents, and insects | LC  Unknown |
| Golden palm civet | P. zeylonensis (Schreber, 1778) | Sri Lanka | Size: 50–58 cm (20–23 in) long, plus 43–53 cm (17–21 in) tail Habitat: Forest and shrubland Diet: Primarily eats berries, fruits, and invertebrates, as well as small vertebrates | LC  Unknown |

### Subfamily Viverrinae

Genus Civettictis – Pocock, 1915 – one species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| African civet | C. civetta (Schreber, 1776) Six subspecies C. c. australis C. c. civetta C. c. congica C. c. pauli C. c. schwarzi C. c. volkmanni | Central and south Africa | Size: 60–92 cm (24–36 in) long, plus 43–61 cm (17–24 in) tail Habitat: Forest, savanna, shrubland, and inland wetlands Diet: Omnivorous; primarily eats fruit | LC  Unknown |
Genus Viverra – Linnaeus, 1758 – four species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Large-spotted civet | V. megaspila Blyth, 1862 | Southeast Asia | Size: 77–90 cm (30–35 in) long, plus 32–40 cm (13–16 in) tail Habitat: Forest, shrubland, and inland wetlands Diet: Primarily eats birds, frogs, snakes, small mammals, eggs, crabs, fish, fruit, and roots | EN  Unknown |
| Large Indian civet | V. zibetha Linnaeus, 1758 Five subspecies V. z. ashtoni V. z. hainana V. z. picta V. z. pruinosus V. z. zibetha | Southeast Asia | Size: 50–95 cm (20–37 in) long, plus 38–59 cm (15–23 in) tail Habitat: Forest and shrubland Diet: Primarily eats fish, birds, lizards, frogs, insects, arthropods, and crabs, as well as poultry and rubbish | LC  Unknown |
| Malabar large-spotted civet | V. civettina Blyth, 1862 | Southwest India | Size: 76 cm (30 in) long, plus 33 cm (13 in) tail Habitat: Forest and inland wetlands Diet: Unknown | CR  200 |
| Malayan civet | V. tangalunga Gray, 1832 Two subspecies V. t. lankavensis V. t. tangalunga | Southeast Asia | Size: 58–95 cm (23–37 in) long, plus 30–49 cm (12–19 in) tail Habitat: Forest and shrubland Diet: Omnivorous | LC  Unknown |
Genus Viverricula – Hodgson, 1838 – one species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Small Indian civet | V. indica (Desmarest, 1804) Twelve subspecies V. i. atchinensis V. i. baliensis V. i. baptistae V. i. deserti V. i. indica V. i. klossi V. i. mayori V. i. muriavensis V. i. pallida V. i. schlegelii V. i. thai V. i. wellsi | South and southeast Asia | Size: 45–63 cm (18–25 in) long, plus 30–43 cm (12–17 in) tail Habitat: Forest, savanna, shrubland, grassland, and inland wetlands Diet: Primarily eats rodents, birds, snakes, fruit, roots, carrion, and insects | LC  Unknown |