Arctictis binturong
Fast Facts
- Binturongs smell like buttered popcorn! This is due to a compound in their urine which shares a similar chemical compound to one found when heat causes a reaction between the amino acids and sugars in a kernel of corn during the popping process. Binturongs use their urine to mark their territory, and males have a higher concentration of the chemical compound than females do.
- They are often called bearcats.
- Scientists believe binturongs are one of 100 species of mammals capable of delayed implantation.
Range
Southeast Asia
Habitat
Tall forests and secondary lowland forests
Size
28 to 33-inch body, and 27-inch tail
Nutrition
Fruits, insects, birds, rodents, fish, earthworms, and eggs