Paradoxurus – Palm civets

These nocturnal animals are found mainly in South and Southeast Asia, including countries like India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the Philippines, and parts of Indonesia. They belong to the same family as mongooses and genets but are quite different in behavior and appearance. With their long bodies, short legs, sharp claws, and bushy tails, palm civets are expert climbers and spend a lot of time in trees, especially at night when they’re most active. Their faces are often compared to those of cats or raccoons, with a curious expression and big, round eyes that help them see in the dark.

What makes these civets especially interesting is their incredibly varied diet. Unlike predators that stick to one type of prey, palm civets are true opportunistic feeders. They’ll eat fruits, berries, insects, small animals, eggs, and even nectar. In fact, their love for ripe fruit makes them important seed spreaders in tropical forests. Some species have even developed a taste for cultivated fruits like mangoes, bananas, and papayas, which sometimes gets them into trouble with farmers.

Palm civets are also known for their solitary and secretive habits. They’re not pack animals and usually prefer to wander alone through the treetops or along fences and rooftops in villages and towns. Some have adapted quite well to urban environments and can be spotted in city gardens, rooftops, or even attics. Despite this, they’re often hard to see, since they’re mostly active after dark and tend to be quiet and stealthy. Their sense of smell is very sharp, and they use scent-marking to communicate with other civets, leaving clues behind as they move through their territory.