Binturong
Binturong Facts
| Size | 23.6-37.7 inch (60-96 cm) (body length) |
| Speed | Up to 15 mph (24 km/h) (short distances) |
| Weight | 19.8-30.8 lb (9-14 kg) |
| Lifespan | 10-25 years |
| Food | Fruit, insects, birds |
| Predators | Tigers, snakes |
| Habitat | South-East-Asia, rainforest |
| Order | Carnivore |
| Family | Viverrids |
| Scientific name | Arctictis binturong |
| Characteristics | Looks like a mix of bear and cat |
Way of Living
Binturongs are nocturnal animals and live in the forests of their habitat. They are relatively slow but rather agile – they use their tail as a gripper arm to climb and move around.
Pedestrians
Like a bear, the binturong touches the ground with its entire foot. This is very unusual for feline predators. It can also swim and dive. It lives alone or in small groups with its offspring.
This smells like ... popcorn!
Binturongs have a very unique smell, which is like popcorn. They mark their territory with their smell.
What a Strange Name!
The binturong is also called bearcat. Unfortunately, the origin of the name is unknown because people no longer speak the indigenous language and there is no word of mouth.
Reproduction
The female can have babies twice a year. Normally, it gives birth to 1-6 little binturongs after about 90 days. The mother still tolerates its mate after the pregnancy, which is rather unusual among cats. The young binturongs have their first solid food after about 6-8 weeks. They can have babies themselves at an age of about 2.5 years.
This fact sheet was submitted by animalfunfacts.net fan Astrid Thanks for your amazing article! Do you want to write a fan fact sheet?
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