The Common Palm Civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus) is a small, cat-sized animal (family Viverridae) from South-east Asia and southern China.
The Common Palm Civet is an nocturnal omnivore. The primary food source is fruit.
Some Chinese eat Palm Civets. The SARS virus is thought to have entered the human population from Palm Civets captured in the wild for human consumption. Its species name comes from the fact that both sexes have scent glands underneath their tail that resemble testicles. They can spray a noxious secretion from this gland.
Kopi Luwak coffee is prepared from coffee cherries that have been eaten and partially digested by this animal.
