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(Image credit: MyImages_Micha/ Getty Images)
FAST FACTS
Call: Binturong (Arctictis binturong
Where it lives: Tropical forests of South and Southeast Asia
What it consumes: Little mammals, rodents, birds, fish, earthworms, pests and fruits
With their thick black fur, stocky bodies and long hairs, binturongs appear like a hybrid in between a bear and a feline, making them the label “bearcat.” These mammals aren’t simply noteworthy for their uncommon look– they likewise smell like buttered popcorn.
Belonging to the thick tropical jungles of South and Southeast Asia, binturongs can grow to in between 2 and 3 feet (60 to 90 centimeters) long and weigh 24 to 79 pounds (11 to 36 kgs). They are members of the civet household– mainly nighttime mammals belonging to tropical Asia and Africa. Binturongs invest the majority of their time high in the treetops, where they move gradually through the branches during the night.
Among the binturongs’ most uncommon characteristics is their odor. These animals smell like hot buttered popcorn since they launch a chemical substance called 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline– the exact same substance produced throughout the cooking of popcorn or newly baked bread. The aroma is produced through glands situated underneath their tails, and they utilize it to mark branches and leaves as they move.
This popcorn fragrance plays a crucial function in interaction, assisting binturongs mark their area and indicate their existence to others, specifically in the thick, poorly lit canopies where they live. According to a 2016 research studythe fragrance is more focused in males. This might be due to the fact that having more of the chemical assists males promote their existence and hormone status to women, which might be necessary in mate choice.
Binturong tails function as a 5th limb that they utilize to grip branches. (Image credit: Vichaya Kiatying-Angsulee/ Alamy Stock Photo)
Regardless of their stocky look, binturongs are nimble climbers. They have long, muscular tails that imitate a 5th limb, assisting them grip branches and support their weight. Binturongs are among just 2 meat-eating mammals with a totally prehensile tail which is most likely an evolutionary adjustment due to the fact that they live amongst the treetops.
Binturongs are mostly singular, choosing to sleep huddled on branches throughout the day. In the evening, they emerge to forage. Their eyes are adjusted for low light so they have bad vision in daytime. Their strong sense of odor compensates for this. Binturongs are likewise singing animals, frequently snorting, laughing or purring when they’re content, and revealing inconvenience or worry through screams, hisses or wails
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Lydia Smith is a health and science reporter who works for U.K. and U.S. publications. She is studying for an MSc in psychology at the University of Glasgow and has an MA in English literature from King’s College London.
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