# Owston's palm civet (*Chrotogale owstoni*) Owston's palm civet is a small, furry animal that loves to climb trees! They have big eyes and a long tail, which helps them balance as they explore their forest home. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Owston's palm civet](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Chrotogale_owstoni_PWP.jpg&width=800) Photo: Subhumanfreak, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chrotogale_owstoni_PWP.jpg) ## Appearance The Owston's palm civet has a striking appearance with a long, slender body covered in bold black and white stripes and spots. Its face features a distinctive long snout and a white mask, while its bushy tail is ringed with black and white bands, making it easily recognizable. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Carnivora - **Family:** Viverridae - **Genus:** Chrotogale ## Interesting facts - It marks its territory with a special scent from glands under its tail! - Its striking patterns are unique, like fingerprints, no two civets are exactly alike! - This civet uses its long snout to root around like a tiny pig for food! - Unlike many civets, Owston's spends more time on the ground hunting worms! ## Special abilities - **Scent Detective:** Owston's palm civet has a super-sensitive nose that helps them sniff out tasty insects, worms, and fallen fruits. - **Digging Claws:** Owston's palm civet can dig for hidden prey because of its strong, non-retractable claws, perfect for unearthing invertebrates. - **Night Vision:** Owston's palm civet has excellent night vision that helps them hunt insects and worms in the dark forest undergrowth. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 57-77 cm - **Weight:** 3.6-4.8 kg - **Lifespan:** 8-13 years - **Speed:** 20 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-3 ## Diet & Feeding This civet loves to snack on a variety of creepy crawlies like worms and insects, plus some fruits! - **Primary Foods:** Earthworms, Insects (e.g., crickets, beetles), Millipedes, Fallen fruits, Small rodents, Frogs - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Common earthworm (*Lumbricus terrestris*) — A key food source, dug up from the forest floor. - **Eats:** Cluster fig (*Ficus racemosa*) — Enjoys fallen fruits from these trees when available. - **Eaten by:** [Burmese python](https://www.snappit.app/explore/burmese-python) (*Python bivittatus*) — Young or unwary civets can become prey for large snakes. - **Eats:** [Black rat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-rat) (*Rattus rattus*) — Occasionally preys on small rodents found in its habitat. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [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. - [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:** 2/5 · Low If you see a wild animal, it's best to watch from a distance and not approach. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Owston's palm 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 Owston's palm civet? 57-77 cm ### How much does Owston's palm civet weigh? 3.6-4.8 kg ### How long does Owston's palm civet live? 8-13 years ### How fast can Owston's palm civet move? 20 km/h ### What does Owston's palm civet eat? This civet loves to snack on a variety of creepy crawlies like worms and insects, plus some fruits! ### Where is Owston's palm civet usually found? Forests ### How does Owston's palm 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: [Owston's palm civet: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/owstons-palm-civet)