The common name is used for a variety of carnivorous mammalian
species, mostly of the family Viverridae.
The African Palm Civet (Nandinia binotata) is
genetically distinct and belongs in its own monotypic family, Nandiniidae.
Civets are also called "toddycats"
in English and "musang" in Malay.
The latter may lead to some confusion as the indigenous word "musang"
has been appropriated to foxes, which exist in popular culture but are not native and
generally never encountered in that geographical region.
Scientific classification
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