Hose's civet (Diplogale hosei)

Description

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Hose's civet fact file

• Description
• Biology
• Range
• Habitat
• Status
• Threats
• Conservation
• Find out more
• Glossary
• References
• Print factsheet

Hose's civet description

The elusive Hose’s civet (Diplogale hosei) is so rare that it has only been caught on film once. Prior to 2004, the only descriptions of this species came from observations of fifteen museum specimens ⁽²⁾.

Hose’s civet has a long, sinewy body and short legs ⁽⁴⁾. The elongated head has a pointed muzzle, with long facial whiskers ⁽⁴⁾.

The fur is blackish-brown on the upperparts, and greyish or yellowish-white on the cheeks, sides of the forehead and underparts ^{(2) (4)}. The thinly-haired ears are white on the inside ⁽⁴⁾.

Also known as

Hose's palm civet.

Size

Head-body length: 47 - 54 cm ^{(2) (3)}

Tail length: 29 - 35 cm ^{(2) (3)}

Weight

1.4 - 1.5 kg ^{(2) (3)}

Hose's civet biology

Although little is known about Hose’s civet, it is assumed to be a nocturnal animal that rests by day in holes in rocks and tree roots. When it leaves its resting place at night, it possibly forages on small fish, shrimp, crabs and frogs near streams. It also may catch insects and other small animals on the mossy ground ⁽²⁾.

Hose's civet range

Hose’s civet is endemic to the island of Borneo, where it occurs in Sabah and Sarawak (Malaysia) and Brunei ⁽¹⁾.

Hose's civet habitat

Little is known about the habitat of the rarely-seen Hose’s civet ⁽⁵⁾. It has been recorded in forest, in places where the ground was exceedingly wet and moss covered the rocks and trees ⁽²⁾. It is thought to inhabit areas at elevations between 450 and 1,700 metres ^{(5) (6)}.

Hose's civet status

Hose's civet is classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List ⁽¹⁾.

Hose's civet threats

It is likely that habitat loss and degradation are major threats to Hose’s civet, as throughout Borneo, forests have been lost to logging and converted for other land-uses ^{(7) (8)}.  

The conversion of forest to palm oil plantations is of particular concern ⁽⁸⁾. As the demand for palm oil, which is used for food products, detergents, cosmetics and biofuel, grows, the pressure on Borneo’s forests is likely to increase ⁽⁹⁾.

Hose's civet conservation

Hose’s civet is legally protected in both Sarawak and Sabah ⁽¹⁾. It is also known to occur in a number of protected areas, such as Mount Kinabulu National Park in Sabah and Ulu Temburong National Park in Brunei ⁽¹⁾, which may offer its habitat some protection. 

Find out more

Learn about conservation in Borneo:

• Borneo Conservation Trust:
  http://www.borneotrust.com/
• WWF - Borneo Forests:
  http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/where_we_work/borneo_forests

 Discover more about palm oil:

• WWF - Palm Oil:
  http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/footprint/agriculture/palm_oil
• Greenpeace:
  http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/forests/palm-oil

Authentication

This information is awaiting authentication by a species expert, and will be updated as soon as possible. If you are able to help please contact:
arkive@wildscreen.org.uk

This species information was authored as part of the ARKive and Universities Scheme.

Glossary

Endemic

A species or taxonomic group that is only found in one particular country or geographic area.

Nocturnal

Active at night.

References

1. IUCN Red List (November, 2010)
   http://www.iucnredlist.org/
2. Yasuma, S. (2004) Observations of a live Hose’s civet Diplogale hosei. Small Carnivore Conservation, 31: 5-7.
3. Payne, J., Francis, C.M. and Phillips, K. (1985) A Field Guide to the Mammals of Borneo. The Sabah Society, Malaysia.
4. Nowak, R.M. (1999) Walker’s Mammals of the World. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland.
5. Francis, C.M. (2002). An observation of Hose's civet in Brunei. Small Carnivore Conservation, 26: 16.
6. Dinets, V. (2003) Records of small carnivores from Mount Kinabalu, Sabah, Borneo. Small Carnivore Conservation, 28: 9.
7. Schreiber, A., Wirth, R., Riffel, M. and Van Rompaey, H. (1989) Weasels, Civets, Mongooses and their Relatives: An Action Plan for the Conservation of Mustelids and Viverrids. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland.
8. WWF - Borneo Forests (June, 2011)
   http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/where_we_work/borneo_forests
9. WWF - Palm Oil (June, 2011)
   http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/footprint/agriculture/palm_oil