- Binturong
Taxobox
name = BinturongMSW3 Wozencraft | pages = 549 | id=14000273]
status = LR/lc
status_system = iucn2.3
status_ref = [IUCN2006|assessors=Mustelid Specialist Group|year=1996|id=41690|title=Arctictis binturong|downloaded=2007-03-06 ]
regnum =Animal ia
phylum = Chordata
classis =Mammal ia
ordo =Carnivora
familia =Viverridae
subfamilia =Paradoxurinae
genus = "Arctictis"
genus_authority = Temminck, 1824
species = "A. binturong"
binomial = "Arctictis binturong"
binomial_authority = (Raffles, 1821)The Binturong ("Arctictis binturong"), also known as the Asian Bearcat, the Palawan Bearcat, or simply the Bearcat, is a species of the familyViverridae , which includes thecivet s and genets. It is neither abear nor a cite web "> work = Zoological Society of San Diego | title = Mammals: Binturong | url = http://www.sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/t-binturong.html | accessdate = |2007-10-17] . Its natural habitat is in trees of forest canopy in rainforest ofBangladesh ,Bhutan ,Burma ,China ,India ,Indonesia ,Laos ,Malaysia ,Nepal , thePhilippines ,Thailand , andVietnam .It is nocturnal and sleeps on branches. It eats primarily fruit, but also has been known to eat eggs, shoots, leaves, and small animals, such as rodents or birds.
Deforestation has greatly reduced its numbers. When cornered, the Binturong can be vicious. The Binturong can make chuckling sounds when it seems to be happy and utter a high-pitched wail if annoyed. The Binturong can live over 20 years in captivity; one has been recorded to have lived almost 26 years.Fact|date=August 2008Physical
Its bushy tail is fully prehensile, and acts as a fifth hand. Being burly and omnivorous, the Binturong is sometimes compared to a
bear , but is closer in size to a smalldog . Its average length ranges 60–96 cm (24–38 in), and average weight ranges between 9–14 kg (20–31 lb), although some exceptional individuals have been known to weigh 22 kg (50 lb) or more. The tail is nearly as long as the body with size ranging from 55–90 cm (22–36 in). The ears are small and rounded, and it has small eyes. It has coarse and thick black fur.Reproduction
The estrous period of the Binturong is 81 days, with a
gestation of 91 days. The Binturong is one of approximately 100 species ofmammal believed by many husbandry experts to be capable ofembryonic diapause , or delayed implantation, which allows the female of the species to time parturition to coincide with favorable environmental conditions. Typical birthing is of two offspring, but up to six may occur.Behavior
The Binturong climbs trees and leaps from branch to branch, using its tail and claws to cling while searching for food. It can rotate its hind legs backwards so that its claws still have a grip when climbing down a tree head first. The Binturong also uses its tail to communicate, through the
scent gland located under it. The scent of Binturong musk is often compared to that of warmpopcorn and cornbread. This comparison was made by zoologist Ron McGill on the Today Show, when he presented a bearcat along with several other animals.Fact|date=November 2007 The Binturong brushes its tail against trees and howls to announce its presence to other Binturongs.The
Orang Asli ofMalaysia keep Binturong as pets.Ecological significance
The Binturong is the only known animal capable of digesting the seed coat of the
Strangler Fig , a very important rainforest tree. This makes the Binturong a uniquely critical animal for seed dispersal. [cite web | work = Carnivore Preservation Trust | title = Meet the animals- Binturong | url = http://www.cptigers.org/animals/species.asp?speciesID=1 | accessdate = 2008-07-13]ubspecies
Six subspecies are recognized ("A. b. albifrons", "A. b. binturong", "A. b. kerkhoveni", "A. b. memglaensis", "A. b. penicillatus", and "A. b. whitei"). The
Palawan Binturong ("A. b. whitei") of thePhilippines is vulnerable due tohabitat destruction andpoaching for its medicinal uses, its fur and its demand in the pet trade. [IUCN2006 | assessors = Mustelid Specialist Group | year = 1996 | title = Arctictis binturong" ssp. "whitei | id = 2052 | downloaded =2007-03-06 ]References
External links
* [http://www.ac.wwu.edu/~fasawwu/resources/endangered/palawan-bearcat.htm F.A.S.A.]
* http://www.pcsd.ph/photo_gallery/fauna/bearcat.htm Palawan Council
* [http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/GBearcat/binturongs/binnies.htm "My Binturong Friends" by Galen Berry; informative webpage with good pictures]
* [http://www.wildlifewaystation.org/wws/animals/item.php?id=14 Wildlife Waystation]
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