Banded palm civets are affected by a variety of parasites, such as nematodes, and are primarily carnivorous, eating small animals such as rodents and bugs.

The genus Hemigalus was named and first described in 1837 by Claude Jourdan who had a skin and skeleton of one zoological specimen at his disposal.

[6][7] In 1939, Reginald Innes Pocock subordinated banded palm civet specimens described between 1837 and 1915 under the genus Hemigalus and recognised that it is a monotypic taxon.

[8] The genus name is derived from the Greek hemi (half) and galus (weasel), due to its appearance.

[8][13] It is roughly the size of domestic cat, growing up to 53 cm (21 in) in length – minus the tail – and weighing from 1–3 kg (2.2–6.6 lb).

[4] The tail is usually three-quarters the length of the body and head combined,[8] and appear to swell in size in response to a threat.

[12] The banded palm civet is native to Myanmar, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, the Mentawai Islands and Borneo from sea level up to an elevation of 1,660 m (5,450 ft).

[15] In Thailand, it was photographed during camera trap surveys in the years 1996–2013 in Khlong Saeng Wildlife Sanctuary, Khao Sok National Park, Kui Buri National Park and Hala-Bala Wildlife Sanctuary, all in evergreen forests at elevations of 162–695 m (531–2,280 ft).

[18] In Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, it was photographed in primary evergreen forest at the elevation of 800–1,089 m (2,625–3,573 ft) in 2011.

[19] In South Solok Regency, it was recorded in forest fragments within an oil palm plantation adjacent to Kerinci Seblat National Park in 2015.

[9] Its activity pattern overlaps with two other species of civet, rodents, as well as the clouded leopard – a potential predator.

[2] Analysis of the gut content of two banded palm civet roadkills in northern Borneo revealed a variety of parasites, including nematodes, eggs of trematodes, mites and pinworms.