That creature was this (In Japan)?

Question

The other night, my wife and I were walking around our neighborhood when we say somehting that looked like a cat with a long, thin tail, but then noticed it had a longer snout. It was similar to a ferret, but much larger and the face was dark except for a definite white stripe from the top ot its head, down the middle of its face (ending as the nose). It's like an oppossum but darker and the tail had fur and was not prehensile. Too big to be a ferret or weasel. The tail seems too long to belong to a badger or wolverine. And it was definitely not a skunk. I do feel this animal is somewhat related to these animals though. It was very nimble (climbed up a chain-link fence and walked on the thin top for a good 100 feet with perfect balance). Any idea what this cat/ferret/badger thing could be? (sorry, could not get a picture)

Answer 1

Yes, I have seen those in Japan You are not seeing things. I'm thinking it was a Hakubishin/Masked Palm Civet (paguma larvata). They are around in urban parks etc., it's just that they are nocturnal and elusive so you don't notice them so much. They are an introduced species so that's probably why they seem like mystery creatures even to most Japanese. It's definitely not the same thing as a tanuki.

Answer 2

It's most certainly a Civet from the features you described
Don't know the specific species though

Answer 3

Godzilla's cousin. A rat?

Answer 4

Where you drinking Aomori shochu? It does that to me too.

Answer 5

i never seen anything like that sorry it could have been something that was interbred causing it to be deformed

Answer 6

possibly a mongoose or a lemur (think that's how it's spelled)

Answer 7

mongoose
they are awesome things
i think it's what ur talking about

Answer 8

a skunk maybe?

Answer 9

it could be a Wiesel

Answer 10

mongoose