Wildlifeof India
Northern Palm Civet
Civets, Mongooses & Hyena
Photo: Prashanth N S · CC BY 4.0 (May be cropped or resized)
Paradoxurus hermaphroditus
Basic stats
Diet
Mostly fruit (figs, palm fruit, mangoes, bananas); also rats, birds, insects, reptiles and eggs
Range
South and Southeast Asia, from India and Nepal to Indonesia and the Philippines
Litter size
2–5 young
Gestation period
About 60 days
Size
Head and body 43–71cm; tail about 48cm
Weight
1.3–5kg
The Asian palm civet has a short, coarse black or grey coat with black-tipped guard hairs, dark stripes down the back and three rows of black spots along each side. The face is banded with white patches, and the tail is black-tipped and has no rings. Head and body length is 43–71 cm, the tail about 48 cm, and weight 1.3–5 kg. It is widely distributed, from India, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh to Southeast Asia and the Indonesian islands (Animal Diversity Web; Wikipedia, general species account).
It is nocturnal, arboreal and solitary. Fruit is its main food, including figs, palm fruit, mangoes and bananas, with rats, birds, insects, reptiles and eggs taken as well. Gestation is about 60 days and litters are two to five young. The accounts consulted give no detail specific to India (Animal Diversity Web).
Quick answers
- What does the Northern Palm Civet eat?
- Mostly fruit (figs, palm fruit, mangoes, bananas); also rats, birds, insects, reptiles and eggs
- Where is the Northern Palm Civet found?
- South and Southeast Asia, from India and Nepal to Indonesia and the Philippines
- What is the litter size of the Northern Palm Civet?
- 2–5 young
- How long is the gestation period of the Northern Palm Civet?
- About 60 days
- How big is the Northern Palm Civet?
- Head and body 43–71cm; tail about 48cm
- How much does the Northern Palm Civet weigh?
- 1.3–5kg