Masked Palm Civet
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| Masked Palm Civet | |||
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| ハクビシン | |||
| Character Data | |||
| AKA | Gem-faced civet, Himalayan Palm Civet
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| Romaji | Hakubishin
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| Debut | Kemono Friends (2015 Game) | ||
| Animal Data | |||
| Scientific Name | Paguma larvata
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| Distribution | Southeast Asia
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| Diet | Omnivore
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| Avg. Lifespan | 10 years
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| Read More | Masked palm civet
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| Conservation | 
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| Masked Palm Civet | Season 2 | Festival | Nexon Game | Gallery |
The Masked Palm Civet is a type of mammal Friend that appeared in the original Kemono Friends mobile game.
Appearance
Masked Palm Civet's Old and New designs are very similar;
In her old design, she had an olive-brown bob cut with two white dots on the inner bangs and white stripes on the outer bangs. The center piece of hair had a white diamond-shaped marking that "dragged" to a peach pink diamond shape at the tip, likely representing the real life animal's nose. On the top of her head were two ears the same shade as her hair. She also had bright green eyes.
The clothes were very simple- a white sleeveless button down dress shirt and tan skirt. Her opera length gloves, thigh high socks, and shoes were the same color as her hair. Around her neck was a tiny green ascot that matched her eyes. Lastly, she had a thick, bushy tail that started as a tan and gradually turned into the signature olive-brown her species is known for. She also carried around a big pink lollipop.
In her current design, she resembles the real life animal much more closely; her hair is still the same bob-cut style it was, but is now a more charcoal gray-black. The white dots and stripes on her bangs are also the same, but more pronounced and clear. The pink nose-shape also stayed on the center bang. Her eyes are now a rich brown and her ears are also more pronounced with little white tufts on the inside.
She now dons a cream gray dress shirt with puffy sleeves and the skirt is more of an ivory white. The shirt collar is a charcoal gray-black fur trim with a softer gray bow in the middle. While the gloves, socks, and shoes are the same, the gloves are partially hidden by the new sleeves of her updated shirt. Her tail is much less fluffy, and is more sleek and refined. Masked Civet has also since let go of her lollipop.
Series Appearances
| Media | Role | First Appearance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Nexon Game | ↪ Minor character, playable character | |
| 2018 | Kemono Friends Festival | ↪ Playable character | |
| 2019 | Kemono Friends 2 | ↪ Background character | S2E08 |
In Real Life
A Masked palm civet in Assam, India. Photo by Rejaul karim.rk, 2020.
Masked Palm Civets (Paguma larvata) are a member of the Viverridae family. It is native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Adults of this species usually have a body length of 50 to 60 cm (20 to 24 in), a tail measuring 40 to 50 cm (16 to 20 in) and a weight between 3 and 5 kg (6.6 and 11.0 lb.)
They have a wide distribution area, which includes The Himalayas, Butan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Borneo, Sumatra, Taiwan, and the Andaman and Nicobar islands. While it can also be found in some parts of Japan, these are not natural habitats- these civets were introduced several times over the last few centuries. The preferred environment is forests and "disturbed" habitats.
The Masked Palm Civet is a nocturnal, omnivorous, solitary creature, though they will occasionally venture out during the day. Being omnivores, their diet consists of rats, birds, figs, mangoes, leaves, mollusks, insects, and sometimes the odd snake or frog. The diet itself varies between seasons and location.
There are two breeding seasons per year, in which the civets are rather promiscuous. Each litter can have up to four cubs. The young reach the size of an adult in as little as three months.
Trivia
- In 2003, masked palm civets at a wildlife market in China were found to have been infected with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus.
- They are tolerant to some degree of habitat modification.
- At least two (2) of the introduced Masked Palm Civets that can be found in Japan have ancestors that originated from Taiwan.
- When startled, they can spray a secretion from their rear ends, very similarly to a skunk.
- Masked Palm Civets are known to reach 15 years of age in captivity.
- They are a popular dish in Southern China and Vietnam.
References
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masked_palm_civet
- Xiao, Y.; Meng, Q.; Yin, X.; Guan, Y.; Liu, Y.; Li, C.; Wang, M.; Liu, G.; Tong, T.; Wang, L.F. & Kong, X. (2008). "Pathological changes in masked palm civets experimentally infected by severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus". Journal of Comparative Pathology. 138 (4): 171–179. doi:10.1016/j.jcpa.2007.12.005. PMC 7094611. PMID 18343398.
- Duckworth, J.W.; Timmins, R.J.; Chutipong, W.; Choudhury, A.; Mathai, J.; Willcox, D.H.A.; Ghimirey, Y.; Chan, B.; Ross, J. (2016). "Paguma larvata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T41692A45217601. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T41692A45217601.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- Lekagul, B. and McNeely, J. A. (1988). Mammals of Thailand. White Lotus Press, Bangkok, Thailand.