y
_Viverrinae_, are characterized by their sharp, curved and largely
retractile claws, the presence of five toes to each foot, and of
perineal and one pair of anal glands, and a tympanic bone which
retains to a great extent the primitive ring-like form, so that the
external auditory meatus has scarcely any inferior lip, its orifice
being close to the tympanic ring. The first representatives of the
subfamily are the civet-cats, or civets (_Viverra_ and _Viverricula_),
and the genets (_Genetta_), in all of which the dentition is _i. 3/3,
c. 1/1, p. 4/4, m. 2/2_; total 40. The skull is elongated, with the
facial portion small and compressed, and the orbits well-defined but
incomplete behind. Vertebrae: C. 7, D. 13, L. 7 (or D. 14, L. 6), S.
3, Ca. 22-30. Body elongated and compressed. Head pointed in front;
ears rather small. Extremities short. Feet small and rounded. Toes
short, the first on fore and hind feet much shorter than the others.
Palms and soles covered with hair, except the pads of the feet and
toes, and in some species a narrow central line on the under side of
the sole, extending backwards nearly to the heel. Tail moderate or
long. The pair of large glands situated on the perineum (in both
sexes) secretes an oily substance of a peculiarly penetrating odour.
In the true civets, which include the largest members of the group,
the teeth are stouter and less compressed than in the other genera;
the second upper molar being especially large, and the auditory bulla
smaller and more pointed in front; the body is shorter and stouter;
the limbs are longer; the tail shorter and tapering. The under side of
the tarsus is completely covered with hair, and the claws are longer
and less retractile. Fur rather long and loose, and in the middle line
of the neck and back especially elongated so as to form a sort of
crest or mane. Pupil circular when contracted. Perineal glands greatly
developed. These characters apply especially to _V. civetta_, the
African civet, or civet-cat, as it is commonly called, an animal
rather larger than a fox, and an inhabitant of intratropical Africa.
_V. zibetta_, the Indian civet, of about equal size, approaches in
many respects, especially in the characters of the teeth and feet and
absence of the crest of elongated hair on the back, to the next
section. It inhabits Bengal, China, the Malay Peninsula and adjoining
islands. _