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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 | |
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]
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]
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