Civet

Rare card · No. 39895

A civet () 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 diversity of species is found in southeast Asia. Animals bearing the name “civet” do not form a monophyletic group, as they include members of both the Viverridae and Eupleridae, the latter being not technically civets. The common name “civet cat,” applied in popular usage to a variety of animals including actual civets, is inaccurate as a civet is not a form of cat. The African civet, Civettictis civetta, has historically been the main species from which a musky scent used in perfumery, also referred to as "civet", was obtained.

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