Binturong

Binturong ( binturong Arctictis )

The binturong ( binturong Arctictis ), also called Marderbär, a prey species of the family of civets is ( Viverridae ). Because of his appearance, he was asked earlier about the small bears, but in truth he is a very different structural, Civet.

Features

The binturong is clumsy and short legs, his coat is rough and long, especially on the tail. It is usually colored dark gray or black, the head is often grayish. The head is characterized by the long, white whiskers and the long ear tufts. As the only predator besides the winding bears and single higher mammal of the Old World, he has a prehensile tail. Binturongs reach a body length 61-96 inches, added 56-89 cm tail; so that it is the largest species of the subfamily of Palm scooter. Its weight varies from 9 to 14, in exceptional cases up to 20 kilograms.

Distribution and habitat

Binturongs live in Southeast Asia. Their range extends from India on the Southeast Asian mainland and the islands of Sumatra, Java, Borneo and Palawan. Their habitat are dense forests, predominantly tropical rainforests.

Way of life

Binturongs are nocturnal and live mainly as tree dwellers. Their movements are slow and deliberate, they do not jump, but can climb well with the help of their powerful legs, their sharp claws and their prehensile tail. According to reports, they can also swim and dive well. On the floor he appears as a bear with the whole sole, which is a very unusual mode of locomotion for a Civet.

Binturongs live alone or in smaller groups, which consist of a pair, including kids. Within these groups, the females are dominant.

Nutrition

The main food of Binturongs are fruits. The proportion of plant food in the total diet is probably higher than in all other civets. But the way they also eat insects and birds, carrion and go to rob bird nests. Also forming part of the fish food.

Reproduction

The female can bring twice a year junior to the world, after about 90 days of gestation time it takes one to six ( average of two or three) pups. Even after birth, the female tolerates the partner still in the area, which is unusual among civets. Young animals take six to eight weeks for the first time solid food and reproduce approximately 2.5 years for the first time on. The highest known age of a Binturongs in captivity was 25 years.

Binturongs and people

In some regions Binturongs be kept as pets, they are easy to tame and be very docile animals. Their meat is considered a delicacy in some places, some body parts are used in traditional medicine use. Due to the strong stock decline of 30 percent in the past 30 years ( three generations), the IUCN classified the binturong as endangered ( "vulnerable ").