in the shape works the Zibetkatzen or Civetten quite feline. In contrast to the cats, however, they possess smaller and more pointed heads. they are high-legged, fünffingrig and five-toe-y with pointed, sharp, half re-ductile claws at all toes and fingers. its fur is shortly, easily fleecy, brown or gray and roved usually gloomily or scored points. White insignia frequently are found.
its anus-glandular-bags, in which a white, frothy, strongly fragrant secretion is formed, are an outstanding characteristic of the Zibetkatzen that Zibet, about dessentwegen already against end of the Middle ages Civetten in the Orient and Southern Europe, but also in Holland and Germany was held. In high dilution, the Zibet is esteemed by the perfume-industry, particularly in the Orient, also still today.
System Zibetkatzen live in Africa with its 6 types south from the Sahara and in South-Asia. In the individual one, we distinguish: 1. Zibetkatzen; 2. Broom-cats; 3. Wasserzivette; 4. Linsangs. The most known Zibetkatze is the Afrika-Zibetkatze (Civettictis civetta), that gains the size of a house-cat approximately and lives in Africa south from the Sahara.
Way of life Is only little known over the way of life of the Sneak cats in general. So, the Civetten seem to be active mainly at night. They oversleep the day in any caves, tree or burrows, that they usually don't dig themselves themselves, but from other animals takes on. they are very precinct-loyal loners presumably, that frequently with the secretion the anal its territory at prominent places - or intestine-glands mark. Only the Asian Linsangs, that don't possess any scent-glands, form an exception here but with urine marks. Thanks to its sharp, part-re-ductile claws, the Zibetkatzen move extremely quickly and skillfully in the branches of the trees and don't take second place to the cats about anything here. Katzenähnlich is also creeping along at the loot, that they often waylay patiently previously. However, it is not killed with head or neck-bite but through several bites at at will distributed places. As food, Zibetkatzen prefer animal food, like for example worms and insects, small vertebrates until bird and small-mammal-size. In individual cases, Zibetkatzen beat also hares, Springhasen and even young antelopes. It is remarkably that Zibetkatzen loot-birds never pluck.
If a Zibetkatze is harassed, it leaves a threatening snarl and Fauchen as well as the singular "saliva" noted also from cheetahs sounds.
Reproduction The combination of the Zibetkatzen often is interconnected with feline meowing. The male rides on the female from the back on and includes it with its front-legs. Several combinations take place daily. The exact Tragzeit is unknown. Throws occur increasingly often March / April and September / October for itself in the months. Was usually born 1 - 4 kids. One knows still little about the development of the boys.
Relatives types The Indien-Zibetkatze (Viverra zibetha) is close the Afrika-Zibetkatze. it is external very similar for the African type, works even slimmer only through the somewhat longer body and the longer muzzle. This type is represented in Indonesia by the smaller Kleinfleck-Zibetkatze or Tangalunga (Viverra tangalunga). These two types also like the Großfleck-Zibetkatze (Viverra megaspila) from Burma and rear-India and the Malabar-Zibetkatze (Viverra civettina) from South-India and from the Malabar-Inseln are also consulted for the Zibetgewinnung and are held in small cages partially only for this purpose. The male animals deliver 4 -19 g of the glandular-secretion, that one wins through Umstülpen and expressions of the glandular-bags, weekly.
Little one Zibetkatze (Viverricula indica)) Another representative of the Zibetkatzen, over which little more we one knows, should still be mentioned here: the little one Zibetkatze or race. This small, sallow-dun Schleichkatze with dark, alongside-proceeding stain-rows of the shoulders as far as to the tail-base possesses a powerfully white crosswise-curled tail.
it lives in India, south and East-China, Taiwan and rear-India. On Madagascar and Zansibar, it was introduced by the human being. The little one Zibetkatze can climb mainly like the other representatives of the subfamily a ground-inhabitant, who marked thanks to its very sharp claws, however, in trees. With the downward-mountaineering, it is capable to leave the tree head-downward.
The little one Zibetkatze is on more than its bigger relatives tried at a life on the day, particularly in the early morning hours. So, it seems to rely above all on its good eye with the loot-catch.
The little one Zibetkatze doesn't perceive immovable sitting there mice, however, it immediately pursues as soon as the Nager moves. Also one, even if modest Farbsehen was proved for this Zibetkatze. So, it can certainly distinguish red and green from corresponding gray-steps, for example, confuses yellow and blue, however, with equally-lightens gray-sounds. In its comfort-holding back, the little one Zibetkatze resembles our house-cats in many points. So, cleaning and the reaction to strongly smelling materials, like Z, are, for example. B. Valerian, to quite mark as "kätzisch".
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