Wildlifeof Sri Lanka
Northern Palm Civet
Civets & Mongooses
Photo: Prashanth N S · CC BY 4.0 (May be cropped or resized)
Paradoxurus hermaphroditus
Basic stats
Diet
Mostly fruit (figs, palms, mangoes, bananas, papayas); also rodents, birds, insects, reptiles and eggs
Litter size
2-5
Gestation period
60 days
Size
43-71cm body, 48cm tail
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 without rings. Body length is 43 to 71 cm, the tail about 48 cm, and weight 1.3 to 5 kg (Animal Diversity Web).
It is nocturnal, arboreal and solitary, and eats mostly fruit, including figs, palm fruit, mangoes and bananas, plus rats, birds, insects, reptiles and eggs. Gestation is about 60 days, with litters of two to five. Nationally Least Concern (Sri Lanka National Red List 2012).
Quick answers
- What does the Northern Palm Civet eat?
- Mostly fruit (figs, palms, mangoes, bananas, papayas); also rodents, birds, insects, reptiles and eggs
- What is the litter size of the Northern Palm Civet?
- 2-5
- How long is the gestation period of the Northern Palm Civet?
- 60 days
- How big is the Northern Palm Civet?
- 43-71cm body, 48cm tail
- How much does the Northern Palm Civet weigh?
- 1.3-5kg