Viverra leakeyi

Viverra leakeyi, also known as Leakey's civet^[2] or the giant civet,^[2] is an extinct species of civet. Its fossils have been found in Africa, from Langebaanweg, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and the Omo Valley.^[3][4]

Viverra leakeyi Temporal range: Late Miocene to Pleistocene
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Suborder:	Feliformia
Family:	Viverridae
Genus:	Viverra
Species:	†V. leakeyi
Binomial name
†Viverra leakeyi Leakey, 1982[1]
Synonyms
Civettictis leakeyi

Description

Being the largest viverrid currently known to ever exist,^[3] it grew to about the size of a small leopard, around 40 kilograms (88 lb) and 59 centimetres (23 in) high at the shoulder. V. leakeyi looked physically similar to living Asiatic civet species but is thought to be more closely related to the African Civettictis civetta due to their location.^[5][6]

Diet and behavior

This civet's dentition indicates it more than likely was strictly carnivorous, in comparison, living civet species are observed to be omnivorous instead. Because of V. leakeyi's size and dentition, the living animal is thought to be an active predator.^[2]