Otter Civet

Observations: In captivity, these animals have lived for 5.2 years (Richard Weigl 2005), though given the longevity of similar species this appears considerably underestimated. More detailed studies are needed to determine the maximum longevity of this species.

Perception Channels: tactile ; chemical

Experts hypothesize that otter civet populations may have declined by at least 50 percent. Suspected causes include habitat loss due to human settlement and agriculture. Competition from other more adapted species has also been mentioned (Nowak 1999).

US Federal List: no special status

CITES: appendix ii

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: endangered

From the glands in the genital area, civet oil or civet is secreted. This substance has been used for centuries in the perfume industry. It is refined and processed into the base of perfume (Gould et al. 1998).

Judging from the Otter Civet's dention patterns, scientists believe the diet consists of fish, mollusks, crayfish, small mammals, and birds (Parker 1990). Cynogale bennettii is also thought to capture small mammals and birds as the prey drinks from the edges of streams and rivers. It has been hypothesized that the Otter Civet lies in wait for its prey, actually skimming the surface of the water, much like a crocodile or alligator (Parker 1990).

Cynogale bennettii, more commonly known as the otter civet or mampalon, inhabits the Malay Penninsula and the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. They may also occur in southern Thailand.

Biogeographic Regions: oriental (Native )

Due to its semi-aquatic nature, Cynogale bennettii resides in swampy wetlands and borders of streams and rivers in tropical Southeast Asia and Indonesia (Nowak 1999). Otter Civets are terrestrial animals, but will never stray too far from water (Burton et al. 1987).

Terrestrial Biomes: rainforest

Average lifespan
Status: captivity: 5.0 years.

Average lifespan
Status: captivity: 5.0 years.

Otter civets are approximately 705-880 mm. from head to tail (Nowak 1999). The fur ranges in color from pale close to the skin to almost black at the tips. The blackish fur is interspersed with longer gray hairs, giving it a frosted look (Nowak 1999). The vibrissae, or whiskers, are very long and there are many of them (Burton and Pearson 1987). Cynogale bennettii is a prime example of the diversification and specializations that have arisen in the family Viverridae (Joshi et al. 1995).

Cynogale bennettii possess several features which suit its aquatic lifestyle. Their nostrils can be closed with flaps, as can their ears (Nowak 1999). Their feet are webbed and rather wide for swimming. Their teeth show similarities to those of a seal. Otter civets have three premolars, two of which have jagged edges. The molars are wide with many ridges. The tooth pattern is different from the typical secodont dentition of most carnivores (Parker 1990).

Range mass: 3 to 5 kg.

Range length: 705 to 880 mm.

Other Physical Features: endothermic ; homoiothermic; bilateral symmetry

Very little information exists on the breeding patterns of Cynogale bennettii. Females will generally have between two and three young per season. Young have been found still with their mothers in May. The young are born without the frosted hairs on their backs. Scent glands have been found near the genital areas of males, which may play a role in reproduction

(Nowak 1999).

Key Reproductive Features: gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual

Average number of offspring: 2.

The otter civet or mampalon is a semi-aquatic civet native to peninisular Thailand [3,9-11], Malaysia, Indonesia, Sumatra [3] and Borneo [12]. A very old record from Singapore [8] may involve an animal taken there or one with a trade locality; there is also a possible record from southern Yunnan, China in 1973 [12], so the civet may also occur in Lao PDR (13]. Its preferred habitat seems to be lowland primary dry and peat swamp forests [3,4] along the borders of streams and rivers [14], but it has also been recorded in freshwater swamp forest, limestone forest, secondary forest, bamboo and logged forest [3,12,17,18]. The civet is @ 705-880 mm. from head to tail (14) and weighs 3-5 kg. The fur ranges in color from pale close to the skin to almost black at the tips. The blackish fur is interspersed with longer gray hairs, giving a frosted look [14]. The many vibrissae, or whiskers, are very long and there are many of them [15]. The civet's adaptations include a long muzzle, broad mouth and wide, webbed feet with long claws and naked soles for swimming. The nostrils and ears can be closed with flaps [14]. The teeth resemble those of a seal. Two of the three premolars have jagged edges. The wide molars have many ridges. The tooth pattern is differs from the typical secodont dentition of most carnivores (16). The otter civet is nocturnal, terrestrial, semiaquatic and secretive [3,4], but may be active by day [4]. It gets most of its food from the water [9,19,20], so never strays far from water [15]. It eats fish, crabs and freshwater molluscs, as well as small mammals and birds [9,21], which it may capture as the prey drinks from the edges of streams and rivers. It may lie in wait for its prey, skimming the surface of the water [21]. It can climb to feed on birds and fruit. Males have scent glands near their genitals and these may play a role in reproduction [14]. Females have 2-3 young per season. The young are born without the frosted hairs on their backs and may still be with their mother in May. Captives may live for 5.2 years [22]. The civet is listed as Endangered and is on CITES Appendix II [1,11], due to a serious ongoing population decline, estimated to be over 50% over the past three generations (about 15 years), inferred from direct habitat destruction and indirect inferred declines due to pollutants [1]. Major threats include converting peat swamp forests to oil palm plantations using clear-cut logging [3]. Selective logging may alter the habitat so that the civet can't survive there [3,17]. The civet also faces competition from better adapted species [14]. The civet occurs in many protected areas including Samunsam Wildlife Sanctuary in western Sarawak [4], Kaeng Krachan National Park in Thailand, Bukit Sarang Conservation Area in Sarawak [12], Way Kambas National Park in Sumatra [3], Danau Sentarum National Park [24] and Leuser National Park in Sumatra [25](van Strien, 1996).
There is no evidence that the civet is specifically hunted, but this ground-dwelling species is exposed to snares and other ground-level traps set for other species [1]. Civet oil or civet is secreted from the glands in the genital area and has been used for centuries in the perfume industry. It is refined and processed into the base of perfume [10]. The supposed origin of Lowe's otter civet (C. lowei), known from one holotype found in 1926 in northern Vietnam, has not been confirmed.[3]

The otter civet (Cynogale bennettii) is a semiaquatic viverrid native to Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei. It is listed as Endangered because of a serious ongoing population decline, estimated to be more than 50% over the past three generations (estimated to be 15 years), inferred from direct habitat destruction, and indirect inferred declines due to pollutants.

Cynogale is a monospecific genus.