Large-spotted civet

The large-spotted civet is a viverrid native to Southeast Asia, occurring in Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and southern China, where it was last sighted in 1998. Pocock described its colour as varying from silvery-grey to golden-buff or tawny, with a black to brown pattern of large or comparatively small spots that may fuse into blotches or vertical stripes behind the shoulders, and tail bands that rarely form complete rings. Adults measure 76 to 77 centimetres in head and body length with a tail of 33 to 39 centimetres and weigh 6.6 to 8.4 kilograms. It inhabits evergreen, deciduous and dry dipterocarp forests below 300 metres. Nothing is documented about its feeding or behaviour. Habitat loss, degradation and hunting with snares and dogs have driven a steady decline, and it is sold as food in Chinese and Vietnamese markets. It is listed as Endangered.