Paradoxurus stenocephalus
Paradoxurus stenocephalus, or the golden dry-zone palm civet, is a viverrid species point endemic to Sri Lanka where it is known as ශ්රී ලංකා රන් කලවැද්දා in Sinhala. It was considered as the same species as Paradoxurus aureus, but confined to new species status in 2009.[1]
| Paradoxurus stenocephalus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Suborder: | Feliformia |
| Family: | Viverridae |
| Genus: | Paradoxurus |
| Species: | P. stenocephalus |
| Binomial name | |
| Paradoxurus stenocephalus Groves et al., 2009 | |
Description
Body color is golden brown as its relative P. aureus, but is distinguished by having dark brown stripes (usually three) from the shoulder to the base of the tail. Ventral area is pale golden brown and can be easily separated due to clear color phases in dorsal and ventral areas.[1]
Distribution
It is believed that the animal can be found in Wilpattu National Park, Haputale, and nearby cities.[1]
Taxonomy
Initially, all three endemic civet species in Sri Lanka were classified as a single species, Paradoxurus zeylonensis (1777), but based on phylogenetic experiments, genetic makeup, and morphogenetics, in 2009 they were reclassified into three separate species in the same genus: Paradoxurus stenocephalus, Paradoxurus montanus, and Paradoxurus aureus.[2]
References
- Yapa, A.; Ratnavira, G. (2013). Mammals of Sri Lanka. Colombo: Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka. p. 1012. ISBN 978-955-8576-32-8.
- Srinivasulu, Chelmala; Srinivasulu, Bhargavi (19 May 2012). South Asian Mammals: Their Diversity, Distribution, and Status. Springer Science & Business Media. pp. 344, 346. ISBN 978-1-4614-3449-8.