viverrini

Viverrini is a Latin-derived specific epithet used in zoological nomenclature. It functions as the second part of a species name, attached to a genus to form a binomial. The epithet is derived from Latin roots related to viverridae, the family that includes civets and their relatives, and is typically interpreted as meaning “of the civet” or “civet-like.”

As a species epithet, viverrini does not designate a single taxon by itself. Instead, it appears in the scientific names of individual species within various genera, with the form and meaning shaped by Latin grammar to agree with the respective genus name. The use of viverrini reflects the broader practice in taxonomy of naming species with epithets that reference morphology, behavior, origin, or other characteristics associated with civets or civet-like traits.

Etymology and usage notes: the epithet derives from Latin terminology connected to the civet family (Viverridae). The exact interpretation can vary slightly depending on the genus and the taxonomic revision in which the name appears. Because it is a species-level epithet, its significance is contextual to the specific species bearing the name rather than to any single, standalone taxon.

See also: specific epithet, taxonomy, Viverridae, civets