Binturong
A binturong (Arctictis binturong) is a large, rare mammal that lives in trees in the dense forests of southeast Asia. The binturong is also often called a bearcat because it looks like both a bear and a cat.[1]
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| Genus: | Arctictis Temminck, 1824
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| Species: | A. binturong
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| Arctictis binturong (Raffles, 1821)
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Description
Binturongs have thick, black fur, a long, muscular tail, and long, stiff, white whiskers. They use their prehensile tail almost like another hand; young binturongs can even hang by their tail. Binturongs grow to be up to about 5 feet (1.5 m) long. Like other civets, the binturongs use scent marks to communicate with other binturongs. In captivity, binturongs live for about 30 years.
Diet
Binturongs eat fruit and small animals that they find using their sense of smell to find food. They hunt for food at night - they are nocturnal.
Binturong Media
Skull and dentition of the binturong, as illustrated in Paul Gervais' Histoire naturelle des mammifères
Binturong skeleton on display in the Museum of Osteology
Binturong photographed by a camera trap at a feeding platform on a fruiting Ficus
Young binturong kept as a pet by Orang Asli at Taman Negara, Malaysia
Captive binturong at the Cincinnati Zoo
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Related pages
References
- ↑ Mustelid Specialist Group (2008). Arctictis binturong. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2008. Retrieved on 2008-10-15.