# Banded Civet (*Hemigalus derbyanus*) The Banded Civet is a small, nocturnal animal with beautiful stripes and spots on its fur. It loves to explore the forest at night, looking for tasty fruits and insects to eat. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate - **Habitat:** Forests ![Banded Civet](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Banded_Palm_Civet.png&width=800) Photo: Photographer: bobinoz , Cleanup: Yamavu, CC BY 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Banded_Palm_Civet.png) ## Appearance The Banded Civet is a slender mammal covered in cream to buff fur with broad, dark brown or black bands across its back and flanks. It has a short, pointed snout, a dark mask across its eyes, and a bushy tail also ringed with dark bands. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Carnivora - **Family:** Viverridae - **Genus:** Hemigalus ## Interesting facts - Baby civets, called "kits," are born tiny, weighing less than a bar of soap! - Their unique scientific name "Hemigalus" means "half-weasel," even though they are civets! - They often walk with a strange, waddling gait, looking clumsy on the ground. - They rub special scent glands on trees, leaving secret "messages" for others. ## Special abilities - **Keen Night Senses:** Banded Civet has excellent night vision and a powerful sense of smell that helps them locate prey in the dense forest undergrowth. - **Agile Climber:** Banded Civet possesses strong claws and a flexible body that allows them to climb trees effortlessly to find food and escape danger. - **Scent Communication:** Banded Civets can produce a musky scent from glands that helps them mark their territory and communicate with other civets. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 40-50 cm - **Weight:** 1-3 kg - **Lifespan:** 8-14 years - **Speed:** 20 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-4 - **Gestation:** 56-64 days ## Diet & Feeding This civet is an omnivore, munching on insects, worms, fruits, and small creatures found on the forest floor. - **Primary Foods:** Earthworms, Insects, Snails, Fruit, Frogs, Lizards - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Reticulated Python](https://www.snappit.app/explore/reticulated-python) (*Python reticulatus*) — Adult pythons can ambush and prey on civets. - **Eaten by:** Clouded Leopard (*Neofelis nebulosa*) — One of the top predators in their jungle home. - **Eats:** Cluster Fig (*Ficus racemosa*) — Enjoys eating the sweet fruits from forest trees. - **Eats:** [Field Cricket](https://www.snappit.app/explore/field-cricket) (*Gryllus bimaculatus*) — Hunts various insects and invertebrates found on the ground. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [Striped](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/striped): Marked with parallel bands or lines of color. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate Banded Civets are wild animals and should be admired from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Banded Civet? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Banded Civet? 40-50 cm ### How much does Banded Civet weigh? 1-3 kg ### How long does Banded Civet live? 8-14 years ### How fast can Banded Civet move? 20 km/h ### What does Banded Civet eat? This civet is an omnivore, munching on insects, worms, fruits, and small creatures found on the forest floor. ### Where is Banded Civet usually found? Forests ### How does Banded Civet hunt? Foraging ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Banded Civet: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/banded-civet)