Also called as Malabar Large-spotted Civet. There are some taxonomic disputes over recognition of this as a separate species. Some taxonomists consider it as subspecies of Viverra megaspila (Large-spotted Civet) a more widespread species in southeast Asia (this species is not found in India). This confusion exists due to lack of background information and specimens. There is also an opinion speculating that "Malabar Civet" being an introduced population of V. megaspila in Western Ghats brought through pet trade, which eventually reduced drasticallyor got exterminated.