Binturong
species of mammal in the family Viverridae, native to South and Southeast Asia
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]
| Binturong | |
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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
changeBinturongs 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
changeBinturongs 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.
Related pages
changeReferences
change- ↑ Mustelid Specialist Group (2008). "Arctictis binturong". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2008. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 2008-10-15.
