otter civet
cynogale bennettii latin

Otter civets are distributed in Sumatra, Borneo and peninsular Thailand.

The otter civet is known to be semi-aquatic and has webbed feet; it occurs mainly in lowland rain forest.

The otter civet is a nocturnal species that obtains most of its food from the water, feeding on fish, crabs and freshwater mollusks.

In consequence, many are faced with severe loss of habitat; several species are considered vulnerable and the Otter Civet is classified as endangered.

The otter civet possesses several adaptations to its habitat, including a broad mouth and webbed feet with naked soles and long claws.

Otter civet (Cynogale bennettii)

In March 2005, an otter civet was camera trapped within an Acacia plantation in central Sarawak during 1,632 trap-nights.

The supposed origin of Lowe's otter civet (C. lowei) known only from one holotype found in 1926 in northern Vietnam was not confirmed.

The large snout and long facial whiskers of Hose's civet is similar to that of the otter civet (Cynogale bennettii).

The otter civet (Cynogale bennettii) is a semi-aquatic civet native to Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei.

Clear-cut logging is one of the major factors contributing to decline in suitable habitat, and even selective logging may sufficiently alter habitat such that it is the species can no longer occupy it; combined, this loss of primary forest may be responsible for the current rarity of the otter civet.