Golden palm civet

Viverra zeylonensis was the scientific name proposed by Peter Simon Pallas in 1778 for a palm civet specimen from Sri Lanka. • Paradoxurus montanus by Edward Frederick Kelaart in 1852 who described a fulvous brown palm civet from the mountains of Sri Lanka, which he considered a variety of the golden palm civet. • Paradoxurus stenocephalus by Colin Groves and colleagues in 2009 who described a golden brown specimen from Sri Lanka's dry zone. They proposed to regard P. montanus, P. aureus and P. stenocephalus as distinct species based on coat colour and skull measurements of specimens. Genetic analysis indicates that specimens of P. montanus, P. aureus and P. stenocephalus share the same haplotype. Because of their low genetic difference, they should neither be considered distinct species nor subspecies, but junior synonyms of the golden palm civet. == Characteristics ==

The golden palm civet is gold to golden brown on the upper side and paler gold on the belly. The golden palm civet has two morphs — one golden and one dark brown. Specimens from montane areas are darker, slightly greyish-toned wood-brown, and paler on the underside with a yellowish-white tail tip. Golden palm civets weigh between 1.4 and 3.2 kg. Their overall length is approximately 90cm. (Approximately 50cm from nose to base of the tail with a tail that is approximately 40cm long). == Distribution and habitat ==

The golden palm civet's distribution is largely contiguous across the island's wet, intermediate, and dry zones. An isolated population exists in Wilpattu National Park. The species' elusive, nocturnal, and arboreal nature has likely led to significant under-reporting of its true range. == Ecology and behaviour ==

The golden palm civet is forest-dependent, yet tolerant of minor habitat modification where some continuous forest remains. It is arboreal, nocturnal, and solitary; its diet consists of fruits, berries, invertebrates, and a wide range of small vertebrates. ==In culture==

In Sri Lanka the golden palm civet is called , , or / , by the Sinhala speaking community. Both golden and Asian palm civets are sometimes collectively called in Sinhala and maranai (மரநாய்) in Tamil. ==References==