viverrid

American  

[vahy-ver-id, vi-] / vaɪˈvɛr ɪd, vɪ- /

noun

plural

viverrids

1. Zoology. any mammal of the family Viverridae, which includes such small carnivorous mammals as civets, mongooses, and genets.

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adjective

1. Zoology. viverrine.

viverrid Scientific  

/ vī-vĕr′ĭd /

1. Any of various mostly small carnivorous mammals of the family Viverridae, having long, slender bodies with short legs and bushy tails. Viverrids include the civets, mongooses, meerkats, and binturong.

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Other Word Forms

• viverrine adjective

Example Sentences

Given that giant flying squirrels are awesome and deeply weird I’m no less impressed by the Kayan Mentarang animal than I was when I thought it likely to be an unusual new viverrid.

From Scientific American • Feb. 25, 2013

The image above, produced by Wahyu Gumelar for WWF Indonesia, was widely reproduced and clearly depicts the animal as a new, hitherto unknown viverrid.

From Scientific American • Feb. 25, 2013

Other authors also interpreted the animal as a viverrid, but as a member of a known species, not a new one.

From Scientific American • Feb. 25, 2013

Named in 1892 and known from less than 20 specimens, Hose’s civet is a poorly known, terrestrial, forest-dwelling viverrid.

From Scientific American • Feb. 25, 2013