a. and sb. Zool. [ad. mod.L. viverrīn-us, f. viverra VIVERRA: See -INE1.]
A. adj. Resembling or related to the civet, or the civet family; spec. belonging to the sub-family Viverrinæ. a. In specific names, as viverrine cat, dasyurus, opossum, etc.
1800. Shaw, Gen. Zool., I. II. 491. Viverrine Opossum. Didelphis Viverrina.
1810. Encycl. Brit. (ed. 4), XII. 497. Dasyurus Viverrinus, Viverrine Dasyurus. Black, spotted with white; tail without spots.
c. 1880. Cassells Nat. Hist., II. 53. The Viverrine Cat, Felis viverrina.
1885. Athenæum, 28 March, 412/1. A viverrine phalanger (Phalangista viverrina) from Australia.
b. In general use.
1874. Wood, Nat. Hist., 47. A small, but rather important, group of the Viverrine animals.
1883. Encycl. Brit., XV. 436/2. Cynogale benettii is a curious Otter-like modification of the Viverrine type.
B. sb. An individual of the sub-family Viverrinæ.
c. 1880. Cassells Nat. Hist., II. 86. The skull has all the essential characters of that of a Viverrine.