What kind of animal is the Binturong? We will explain its characteristics, ecology, and habitat. It is a member of the civet family that mainly lives in Southeast Asia, and at first glance it looks similar to a cat. It has a unique body odor. This animal is designated as an endangered species and is in urgent need of protection.
What is Binturong? Basic Stats
Binturong is a carnivorous animal classified in the Mammalia, Carnivora, Civetidae, Binturong genus. This species alone constitutes the Binturong genus. Its scientific name is Arctictis binturong, or Bear cat or Binturong in English. It is also known as Bear cat or Binturong.
| Japanese（和名） | ビントロング |
| English（英名） | Bear cat、Binturong |
| scientific name(学名) | Arctictis binturong |
| classification（分類） | Mammalia、 Carnivora、 Viverridae、binturong 哺乳綱、食肉目、ジャコウネコ科、ビントロング属 |
| IUCN Status(保全状況) | VULNERABLE～ |
| Length（体長） | 60-90cm |
| Weight（体重） | 9-15kg |
About classification
The classification has the following subspecies. This is a quote from Wikipedia.
- Arctictis binturong binturong (Raffles, 1821)
- Arctictis binturong albifrons (Cuvier, 1822)
- Arctictis binturong kerkhoveni Sody, 1936
- Arctictis binturong mengalensis Wang & Li, 1987
- Arctictis binturong penicillata Temminck, 1835
- Arctictis binturong whitei Allen, 1910
Habitat
It is known to be distributed quite widely in Southeast Asia, including India, Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand, Nepal, and the Philippines.
What are its characteristics? What kind of creature is it?
Its whole body is covered with long, coarse hair, but its head is covered with short hair and its ears are small and rounded. It has six incisors on the top and bottom, two canines on the top and bottom, eight premolars on the top and bottom, six to eight molars on the bottom, and two to four molars on the top. It is a mysterious animal with a unique scent like almonds or popcorn, and has a body odor. It uses its long tail to balance itself and can move around by grasping tree branches. It is an animal that basically lives in trees. It lives alone or in small groups. It is nocturnal and rests during the day.
What is its ecology?
Binturongs live by eating fruits, insects, birds, small mammals, earthworms, etc. It reproduces viviparously. It can breed all year round. It has a gestation period of three months and gives birth to one to three pups. Its lifespan is 15 to 20 years.
Do they have any natural enemies?
The natural enemies of the binturong are tigers, leopards, clouded leopards and dholes.
Is the binturong an endangered species?
The binturong is used for food and medicine, so its numbers are declining due to overfishing. The population is declining due to habitat destruction and hunting, and it is listed in Appendix III of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and is designated as an endangered species.
Can you keep a binturong as a pet?
The binturong is designated as an endangered species, so it is difficult to keep as a pet. We recommend viewing it at a zoo or other place. Visit the general information page of the zoo and participate in an event. Visit the zoo’s page and check out the overview from the site map.
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