The Asian palm civet, also called "toddy cat", is a small member of the Viverridae family native to South and Southeast Asia. In 2008, the IUCN classified the species as Least Concern as it is tolerant of a broad range of habitats. It is widely distributed with large populations that in 2008 were thought unlikely to be declining.
Similar species: Carnivorans
By SUGIAN1212
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Uploaded Mar 8, 2023. Captured Mar 3, 2023 16:54 in 4QM6+V9V, Jl. Palasari, Sundawenang, Kec. Parungkuda, Kabupaten Sukabumi, Jawa Barat 43357, Indonesia.
comments (4)
"Asian palm civet comprises three major clades that should be recognized as separate species: namely one in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia (as Paradoxurus hermaphroditus sensu stricto), one in Sumatra, Java and other small islands (Paradoxurus musanga), and the third in the Philippines and the Mentawai Islands (Paradoxurus philippensis). Genetic data, however, do not support species level distinction."
It seems to basically be saying that genetic studies don't support Paradoxurus musanga as being a separate species.
IUCN lists Paradoxurus musangus as a synonym of Paradoxurus hermaphroditus, rather than as a separate species:
https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/41693/45217835
ITIS lists it as a subspecies of Paradoxurus hermaphroditus:
https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=621985#null
Although, iNat has Paradoxurus musangus as it’s own species:
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/854000-Paradoxurus-musangus
Plus, there seems to be confusion as to whether it is Paradoxurus musangus or musanga.
So, is it it’s own species, a subspecies, a synonym? I have no idea.
Posted 2 years ago
Normally, I consider iNat to be pretty trustworthy and typically also most up-to-date, albeit at times opinionated. In any case they are clear on it being musangus, not musanga, scroll to bottom of this page:
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/854000-Paradoxurus-musangus
The seemingly more neutral gbif also supports Paradoxurus musangus, which they consider a synonym for the subspecies Paradoxurus hermaphroditus subsp. musanga.
https://www.gbif.org/species/11001339
So it's weird, a synonym between two taxon levels: species and subspecies. That would make Paradoxurus musangus ssp javanicus impossible as that would make it a sub species of a sub species.
For now, hope you're OK to go with "Paradoxurus hermaphroditus", as we already have a record for it. Posted 2 years ago