The family Viverridae is made up of 35 species, including all of the genets, the Binturong, most of the civets ( ), and the four linsangs.

Viverrids are native to most of the Old World tropics, nearly all of Africa (bar the area immediately south of the Mediterranean), Madagascar, and the Iberian Peninsula. Favoured habitats include woodland, savanna, mountains and, above all, tropical rainforest. In consequence, many are faced with severe loss of habitat; several species are considered vulnerable and the Otter Civet is classified as endangered.