Animal Diversity Web

Geographic Range

Chrotogale owstoni is found in southern Yunan and southwest Guangxi provinces in China; northern Vietnam; and northern Laos. (Schreiber, 1989)

• Biogeographic Regions
• oriental
  • native

Habitat

This species is said to be largely terrestrial, however it has been documented to climb into trees in search of food (Nowak 1999). It prefers densely vegetated habitats near water sources in both primary and secondary forests (Nowak 1999, Schreiber 1989). Local hunters state that the species may approach houses to feed on kitchen wastes, showing that C. owstoni may survive near villages (Schreiber 1989). (Nowak, 1999; Schreiber, 1989)

• Habitat Regions
• tropical
• terrestrial

• Terrestrial Biomes
• forest

• Other Habitat Features
• riparian

Physical Description

The body form and markings of Owston's palm civet are similar to those of the banded palm civet, Hemigalus derbyanus, but without neck-hairs that are reversed in direction. Both species have a pattern of stripes and bands arranged longitudinally in dark and light crescents over their body and tail (four dorsal bands seem to be the maximum number for C. owstoni), but unlike H. derbyanus, C. owstoni has rows of small, black spots on its neck, sides, and limbs as well as a tail that is dark for its last two-thirds. On the otherwise pale underside of C. owstoni, a narrow, orange line is situated mid-ventrally from the chest to the groin (Nowak 1997). The head of C. owstoni is fairly small with a long tapering snout containing small teeth (Kanchanasakha et alia 1998). The incisors are close-set, broad, and arranged in a semicircle, a unique, distinguishable characteristic from the rest of the viverrids and even carnivores (Nowak 1997). Contrastingly, Grzimek's states that the species has a similar dentition to that of H. derbyanus, related to their similarity in diet (Grzimek 1990). (Grzimek, 1990; Kanchanasakha, et al., 1998; Nowak, 1999)

• Other Physical Features
• endothermic
• bilateral symmetry

• Average mass

  2-3 kg

  lb

• Average mass

  3250 g

  114.54 oz

  AnAge

• Average length

  50-64 cm

  in

Reproduction

Based on information gathered from captive animals, mating usually occurs in January and March; however, it may last until November. There is a 60-day gestation period, and each female has one to two litters each year containing one to three young per litter. Newborn C. owstoni weigh around 75-88 grams (Nowak 1999). (Nowak, 1999)

• Key Reproductive Features
• iteroparous
• seasonal breeding
• gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate)
• sexual
• viviparous

• Breeding season

  January-March (sometimes lasts until November)

• Range number of offspring

  1 to 3

• Average number of offspring

  2

  AnAge

• Average gestation period

  60 days

• Average gestation period

  61 days

  AnAge

Behavior

Owston's palm civet is a nocturnal forager and supposedly is solitary in the wild. Dens are constructed under large tree trunks and in dense brush or may be located in natural holes in trees, rocks, or the soil. C. owstoni marks its territory with secretions from its anal/genital (Nowak 1999). This foul-smelling secretion may also be used in predator defense. Their conspicuous pelage may serve as a warning of this toxicity (Nowak 1999).

In captivity, males and females are said to peacefully co-exist. Even when a new individual is released inside the paddock, there is no aggression or hostility in the group (Nowak 1999). (Nowak, 1999)

• Key Behaviors
• terricolous
• nocturnal
• motile
• solitary

Communication and Perception

• Perception Channels
• tactile
• chemical

Food Habits

The natural diet of C. owstoni consists largely of earthworms (Nowak 1999); however, small vertebrates, invertebrates, and some fruit may also be included in their diet. In captivity the species has been shown to eat beef, chicken, and bananas (Nowak 1999). C. owstoni is a nocturnal hunter, beginning roughly at dusk and returning to its den early the next morning (Nowak 1999). It feeds both terrestrially and in trees aided by its long snout, which is used as a digging tool for invertebrates under leaves and loose soil. C. owstoni also uses its forepaws to scratch at the ground in search of food (Grzimek 1990, Kanchanasakha et al. 1998). (Grzimek, 1990; Kanchanasakha, et al., 1998; Nowak, 1999)

• Primary Diet
• carnivore
  • vermivore

• Animal Foods
• mammals
• amphibians
• reptiles
• insects
• terrestrial non-insect arthropods

• Plant Foods
• fruit

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

C. owstoni is hunted in the forests of Northern Indochina for its meat and for its traditional medicinal properties. (Zoos Victoria, 2001)

• Positive Impacts
• food
• source of medicine or drug

Conservation Status

Due to the restricted the range of this species, habitat destruction and over-hunting are believed to have an impact on populations of C. owstoni. Without sufficient information on the species in the wild, there can be no exact conservation status. Nevertheless, IUCN has placed Chrotogale on its Red List as Vulnerable, and CITES lists it in Appendix II (Zoos Victoria, 2001).

C. owstoni occurs in several protected areas in China (the Dawei Mountain National Reserve, Jinping Divide National Reserve, and Huanlian Mountain National Reserve) and one protected area in Vietnam (the Cuc Phuong National Park) (Schreiber 1989). A conservation study of C. owstoni has been established in Cuc Phuong National park by the Flora and Fauna Institute (Zoos Victoria, 2001). (Schreiber, 1989; Zoos Victoria, 2001)

• IUCN Red List

  Vulnerable
  More information

• US Federal List

  No special status

• CITES

  Appendix II

Contributors

Robert Adams (author), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Kate Teeter (editor), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.

References

Grzimek, B. 1990. Grzimek's Encyclopedia of Mammals. New York: McGraw-Hill.

Kanchanasakha, B., S. Simcharoen, U. Than. 1998. Carnivores of Mainland South-East Asia. Bangkok: Endangered Species Unit, WWF-Thailand Project Office.

Nowak, R. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World. 6th ed. v.1. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press.

Schreiber, A. 1989. Weasels, Civets, Mongooses, and Their Relatives : an action plan for the conservation of mustelids and viverrids. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN.

Zoos Victoria, 2001. "Owston's Palm Civet Conservation Program" (On-line). Conservation Concerns. Accessed November 19, 2001 at http://www.zoo.org.au/conservation/31_civet.htm.