Spotted linsang

Fleckenlinsang ( Prionodon pardicolor )

The Fleckenlinsang ( Prionodon pardicolor ) is a living in Southeast Asia carnivore species from the family of Linsangs ( Prionodontidae ).

Features

Fleckenlinsangs are elongated, long-necked animals. The basic color of her short, soft fur is light gray to reddish brown, the belly is light gray or pale yellow. Along the ridge run five rows stripe -like arranged, dark spots, the neck there are two dark longitudinal stripes. The flanks and the outer side of the upper arms and thighs are dotted. The hairy tail has seven to nine dark circles, he is a little shorter than the body. The snout is pointed, the ears are rounded. The dentition is adapted to the cutting of meat and cat-like, the rear molars are degenerated. The feet have five toes, which carry retractable claws. Fleckenlinsangs reach a body length 31-45 centimeters, the tail measures 30 to 40 centimeters. The weight is 550-1220 grams, where the males are twice as heavy as the females.

Distribution and habitat

The distribution of Fleckenlinsangs extends from Nepal and northeastern India across southern China to Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia as well as in the north of Thailand. Their habitat is primarily rain forests, but they also occur in bamboo forests, gallery forests and partly in the adjacent grasslands. They are found up to 2700 meters above sea level.

Way of life

Fleckenlinsangs are mainly nocturnal. It is great to climb and often stay on the trees. You sleep there, but always come back to the ground in search of food. Presumably they live solitary. The spot is marked with urine and feces, they also rub their shoulders, neck and flanks on objects to leave their scent trails.

They are carnivorous. Their diet consists of rodents, frogs, snakes and small birds, reportedly they also eat carrion. Fleckenlinsangs kill smaller prey with a bite to the neck, higher by jumping on them, they press next to him to the ground and bite to death.

Once or twice a year brings the females from February to August usually two cubs themselves. These are brought up in a tree hollow.

Endangering

Due to their shy, nocturnal life, there are few sightings of Fleckenlinsangs and information on the degree of exposure are correspondingly difficult. Main danger is the destruction of their habitat through deforestation is, earlier they were also hunted for their fur, but today they are protected in large parts of its range. Until recently, it held the kind of rare, with camera traps but get numerous observations that show that the type area as quite common. The IUCN lists the Fleckenlinsang as " not at risk " ( least concern ).