Civet cat (Viverrid)

Japanese: ジャコウネコ(麝香猫) - ジャコウネコ（英語表記）viverrid

A general term for a mammalian species belonging to the Viverridae family of the superfamily Mongoose in the order Carnivora. It is endemic to the tropical and subtropical regions of the Old World, and is found in Africa, Madagascar (the only carnivorous species found there), southern Europe, and southern Asia, with 35 genera and about 72 species. This is an old genus that appeared in the Eocene, and has undergone remarkable adaptive radiation, with a wide variety of morphology and habits, making it difficult to identify common characteristics. Its body is small to medium-sized, with a body length of 17 to 100 cm, a tail length of 12 to 90 cm, and a weight of 0.45 to 14 kg. Its body shape is generally similar to that of a small cat, but it has a long head, a pointed snout, a long body, short limbs, and usually five digits on its front and back feet (rarely four on its back feet). Many of them have a sac-shaped scent gland (perineal sac) in the perineum that secretes a liquid with a strong musky odor.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

食肉目マングース上科ジャコウネコ科Viverridaeに属する哺乳類の総称。旧世界の熱帯，亜熱帯の特産で，アフリカ，マダガスカル(ここに分布する唯一の食肉類)，ヨーロッパ南部，アジア南部に分布し，35属約72種がある。始新世に現れた古い類で適応放散が著しく，形態･習性とも変化に富み共通の特徴を示すことがむずかしい。体は小型～中型で，体長17～100cm，尾長12～90cm，体重0.45～14kg，体型は一般に小型のネコ類に似るが頭が長く吻（ふん）がとがり，胴が長く四肢が短く，前･後足にはふつう5指(後足はまれに4指)を備え，多くは会陰部に袋状の臭腺(会陰囊)があって強い麝香臭のある液を分泌する。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

<<: Musk shrew (Japanese musk rat)

>>: Social dance - Shakodansu (English spelling) social dance