# Binturong (*Arctictis binturong*) Binturongs are unique animals that look like a mix between a cat and a bear! They have long tails and love to climb trees in the forests of Southeast Asia. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Bearcat ![Binturong](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Binturong_in_Overloon.jpg&width=800) Photo: Tassilo Rau, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Binturong_in_Overloon.jpg) ## Appearance The Binturong has shaggy, coarse black fur, often with white or grayish tips, and long, prominent white whiskers. Its small ears have distinctive white tufts, and it possesses a long, bushy, prehensile tail. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Carnivora - **Family:** Viverridae - **Genus:** Arctictis ## Interesting facts - Binturong mothers carry their babies in their mouths to move them safely. - Binturongs are expert climbers and can even descend trees head-first! - Long whiskers help them feel their way through the dark jungle at night. - Sometimes called 'bearcats,' these mammals are actually related to civets and mongooses! ## Special abilities - **Tail Grip Master:** Binturong can hang upside down by its prehensile tail because it's strong enough to support its entire body weight. - **Popcorn Perfume:** Binturong has special scent glands that help them mark their territory with a buttery popcorn-like smell. - **Arboreal Acrobatics:** Binturong can climb trees head-first down because of flexible ankle joints that rotate backwards. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 60-96 cm - **Weight:** 9-20 kg - **Lifespan:** 15-20 years - **Speed:** 25 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-6 - **Gestation:** 74-90 days ## Diet & Feeding These furry friends munch on fruits, especially figs, but also enjoy small creatures. - **Primary Foods:** Figs, Other fruits, Rodents, Birds, Eggs, Insects - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Cluster fig (*Ficus racemosa*) — Crucial food, eating sweet fruits helps disperse seeds. - **Hunts:** Asian house rat (*Rattus tanezumi*) — Opportunistically catches small rodents. - **Eaten by:** [Reticulated python](https://www.snappit.app/explore/reticulated-python) (*Python reticulatus*) — Large snakes are a potential predator for binturongs. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Binturongs are wild animals, so it's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Binturong? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Binturong? 60-96 cm ### How much does Binturong weigh? 9-20 kg ### How long does Binturong live? 15-20 years ### How fast can Binturong move? 25 km/h ### What does Binturong eat? These furry friends munch on fruits, especially figs, but also enjoy small creatures. ### Where is Binturong usually found? Forests ### How does Binturong hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Lupa Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lupa-zoo) — Massachusetts, US · Zoo - [Brandywine Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brandywine-zoo) — Delaware, US · Zoo - [Tierpark Hellabrunn](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tierpark-hellabrunn) — Bavaria, DE · Zoo - [Zoo Atlanta](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoo-atlanta) — Georgia, US · Zoo - [Zoo d'Amnéville](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoo-damn-ville) — Grand Est, FR · Zoo - [Zoo Dresden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoo-dresden) — Sachsen, DE · Zoo [View all places to see Binturong](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/binturong) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Binturong: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/binturong)