The
Small Indian Civet (
Viverricula indica) or
Rasse is a species of
civet found across
south and
South-east Asia as well as in the
Indonesian archipelago. In
Sri Lanka's
Sinhala speaking community, this civet is known as
Kalawedda. The
Assamese name
Johamaal refers to its glandular odour similar to a scented rice variety called Joha. The species has been introduced to
Madagascar.
It is slender, agile in climbing trees, has no erectile mane and lives in holes in rocky and brushy locations. In
captivity, it is easily tamed and feeds on small animals, which it catches with cat-like dexterity. Hence it is often kept in houses as a ratter, and also for the sake of its
civet, which is artificially removed from the glands.
It is a little animal of a yellowish or brownish gray color, with longitudinal bands on the back and regular spots on the side; tail 16-17 inches long with eight or nine complete dark rings; length of body and head about 24 inches.
