Paguma larvata (Himalayan palm civet)
Paguma larvata – Himalayan palm civet (click to enlarge)
| Common name | Himalayan palm civet. |
| Latin name | Paguma larvata C.E.H.SMITH,1827. |
| Local name | Bichul /Bijju( Garhwali ) |
| IUCN/WPA/Indian status | Least concern/II/ Locally common |
| Social unit | Solitary |
| Size / weight | HBL: 41-76 cm. TL : 50-63 cm. WT : 3.6-5 kg. |
| Description | The Himalayan Palm civet is a dark brown to black large hill civet with greyish buff under parts. It has a thick black un patterned tai and a black chin and throat. The latter characteristic distinguishes it from the yellow throated martin with which it shares a distribution range. Adults do not have spots on their body though flank spots may be present in juvenile. The face has dark mask that is split by a greyish whit line down the fore head white splotches around the eye nose and markings from the ear to the cheek. |
| Behavior | Skunk-like it ejects a foul smelling liquid when disturbed. |
| Distribution | Himalayas from Jammu & Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh( up to 2500 m) north- eastern hills and the Andaman Islands. |
| Habitat | Evergreen and deciduous montane forests and near human habitation( up to 2500 m). |
| Best seen | Himalayan forests |