Common Palm Civet

The common palm civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus), or Asian Palm Civet, Musang (in Malaysia and Indonesia), Luak or Luwak, or Toddy Cat, is a cat-sized mammal in the family Viverridae. It is native to South-east Asia and southern China.

The common palm civet is a nocturnal omnivore. Its primary food source is fruit such as chiku, mango, and rambutan. It has a fondness for palm flower sap, which when fermented becomes sweet liquor. It inhabits forests, parks and suburban gardens with mature fruit trees, fig trees and undisturbed vegetation. Its species name comes from the fact that both sexes have scent glands underneath their tail that resemble testicles. It can spray a noxious secretion from these glands. Its sharp claws allow it to climb trees and house gutters.