Civet

Civets
	African civet (Civettictis civetta)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Suborder:	Feliformia
Included genera
	Family Viverridae Chrotogale; Cynogale; Diplogale; Hemigalus; Arctogalidia; Macrogalidia; Paguma; Paradoxurus; Civettictis; Viverra; Viverricula; ; Family Nandiniidae Nandinia; ; Family Eupleridae Fossa; ;
Excluded genera (These carnivorans are not traditionally considered civets)
	Family Viverridae Arctictis; Genetta; Poiana; ; Family Eupleridae Cryptoprocta; Eupleres; Galidia; Galidictis; Mungotictis; Salanoia; ;

A civet (/ˈsɪvɪt/) is a small, lean, mostly nocturnal mammal native to tropical Asia and Africa, especially the tropical forests. The term civet applies to over a dozen different species, mostly from the family Viverridae. Most of the species's diversity is found in southeast Asia. Civets do not form a monophyletic group, as they consist only of certain members of the Viverridae, Eupleridae, and Nandiniidae.

The African civet, Civettictis civetta, has historically been the main species from which a musky scent used in perfumery, also referred to as "civet", was obtained.

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