Paradoxurus montanus


Paradoxurus montanus, the Sri Lankan brown palm civet, is a viverrid species endemic to Sri Lanka where it is known as ශ්‍රී ලංකා බොර කලවැද්දා in Sinhala. Until 2009, it was considered as the same species as the golden palm civet, but proposed to be given specific rank.

Taxonomy

The scientific name Paradoxurus montanus was proposed by Edward Frederick Kelaart in 1852 for a fulvous brown palm civet form the mountains of Sri Lanka. It used to be considered a synonym of the golden palm civet P. zeylonensis.
It was proposed to be reclassified as a distinct species by Colin Groves in 2009 based on coat colour and skull measurements of zoological 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 body color of the Sri Lankan brown palm civet is dark, slightly greyish-toned wood-brown, and paler on the underside. The tip of the tail is yellowish-white.
It differs from Paradoxurus aureus. All the other morphological appearances is equal to P. aureus, by having large eyes with vertical pupils, round prominent ears and furry skin and tail. Its feet have retractable claws.
A remarkable feature of this species is its scent. This civet is known to emit a very pleasant odour from anal glands, where other palm civets emit an unpleasant odour. This scent is reminiscent of Michelia champaca flowers, known colloquially as sapumal in Sinahala language. So, this animal is sometimes known as "Sapumal kalawedda - සපුමල් කලවැද්දා".