"Binturong" is its common name in Borneo, and is related to the WesternMalayo-Polynesian root "ma-tuRun".[4] InRiau, it is called "benturong" and "tenturun".[5] The scientific nameArctictis means 'bear-weasel', from the Greekarkt- "bear" +iktis "weasel".[6]
The binturong is long and heavy, with short, stout legs. It has a thick coat of coarse black hair. The bushy andprehensile tail is thick at the root, gradually tapering, and curls inwards at the tip. Themuzzle is short and pointed, somewhat turned up at the nose, and is covered with bristly hairs, brown at the points, which lengthen as they diverge, and form a peculiar radiated circle round the face. The eyes are large, black and prominent. The ears are short, rounded, edged with white, and terminated by tufts of black hair. There are six short rounded incisors in each jaw, two canines, which are long and sharp, and six molars on each side. The hair on the legs is short and of a yellowish tinge. The feet are five-toed, with large strong claws. The soles are bare, and areplantigrade―applied to the ground throughout the whole of their length―and the hind ones are longer than the fore ones.[7]
Head
In general build, the binturong is essentially likeParadoxurus andPaguma, but more massive in the length of the tail, legs and feet, in the structure of thescent glands, and in the larger size of therhinarium, which is more convex with a median groove being much narrower above thephiltrum. The contour hairs of the coat are much longer and coarser, and the long hairs covering the whole of the back of the ears project beyond the tip as a definite tuft. The anteriorbursa flap of the ears is more widely and less deeply emarginate. The tail is more muscular, especially at the base and, in colour, generally like the body, but commonly paler at the base beneath. The body hairs are frequently partly whitish or buff, giving a speckled appearance to the pelage, sometimes so pale that the whole body is mostly straw-coloured or grey. The young are often paler than the adults, but the head is always closely speckled with grey or buff. The long mystacialvibrissae are conspicuously white, and there is a white rim on the summit of the otherwise black ear. The glandular area is whitish.[9]
Skull and dentition of the binturong, as illustrated inPaul Gervais'Histoire naturelle des mammifères
The tail is nearly as long as the head and body. The body ranges from 71 to 84 cm (28 to 33 in) and the tail is from 66 to 69 cm (26 to 27 in) long.[19] Some captive binturongs measured from 75 to 90 cm (30 to 35 in) in head and body, with a tail of 71 cm (2 ft 4 in).[20] The mean weight of captive adult females is 21.9 kg (48 lb), with a range from 11 to 32 kg (24 to 71 lb).Captive animals often weigh more than their wild counterparts.[21] 12 captive female binturongs were found to weigh a mean of 24.4 kg (54 lb) while 22 males weighed a mean of 19.3 kg (43 lb).[22] In one study, the estimated mean weight of wild females was 10.5 kg (23 lb).[21] However, seven wild male binturongs in Thailand were found to weigh a mean of 13.3 kg (29 lb), while one female was of similar weight at 13.5 kg (30 lb).[23] One estimate of the mean body mass of wild binturongs was 15 kg (33 lb).[24]
Both sexes havescent glands—females on either side of thevulva, and males between thescrotum andpenis.[25][26] The musk glands emit an odor reminiscent ofpopcorn or corn chips, described as "ltpɨt" by the MalaysianJahai people, likely due to the volatile compound2-acetyl-1-pyrroline in the urine, which is also produced in theMaillard reaction at high temperatures.[27][28] Unlike most other carnivorans, the male binturong does not have abaculum.[29]
In Myanmar, binturongs were photographed on the ground inTanintharyi Nature Reserve, at an elevation of 60 m (200 ft) in theHukaung Valley, at elevations from 220–280 m (720–920 ft) in theRakhine Yoma Elephant Reserve, and at 580 m (1,900 ft) and at three other sites up to 1,190 m (3,900 ft) elevation.[33] In Thailand'sKhao Yai National Park, several individuals were observed feeding in afig tree and on avine.[34] In Laos, they have been observed in extensive evergreen forest.[35]In Malaysia, binturongs were recorded in secondary forest surrounding a palm estate that was logged in the 1970s.[36] In Palawan, it inhabits primary and secondary lowland forest, including grassland–forest mosaic from sea level to 400 m (1,300 ft).[37]
The binturong is active during the day and at night.[34][35] Three sightings inPakke Tiger Reserve were by day.[38]Camera traps set up in Myanmar captured thirteen animals, one around dusk, seven at night and five in broad daylight. All the photographs were of single animals, and all were taken on the ground. Because binturongs are not very nimble, they may have to descend to the ground relatively frequently when moving between trees.[33]
Fiveradio-collared binturongs in thePhu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary exhibited an arrhythmic activity dominated bycrepuscular and nocturnal tendencies with peaks in the early morning and late evening. Reduced activity periods occurred from midday to late afternoon. They moved between 25 m (82 ft) and 2,698 m (8,852 ft) daily in the dry season and increased their daily movement to 4,143 m (13,593 ft) in the wet season. Range size of males varied between 0.9 and 6.1 km2 (0.35 and 2.36 sq mi). Two males showed slightly larger ranges in the wet season. Their ranges overlapped between 30 and 70%.[24] The average home range of a radio-collared female in theKhao Yai National Park was estimated at 4 km2 (1.5 sq mi), and the one of a male at 4.5 to 20.5 km2 (1.7 to 7.9 sq mi).[39]
The binturong is essentiallyarboreal.Pocock observed the behaviour of several captive individuals in theLondon Zoological Gardens. When resting, they lay curled up with their heads tucked under their tails. They seldom leaped, but climbed skillfully, albeit slowly, progressing with equal ease and confidence along the upper side of branches or, upside down, beneath them. The prehensile tail was always ready as an aid. They descended the vertical bars of the cage head first, gripping them between their paws and using the prehensile tail as a check. They growled fiercely when irritated, and when on the prowl they periodically uttered a series of low grunts or a hissing sound, made by expelling air through partially opened lips.[9]
The binturong uses its tail tocommunicate.[25] It moves about gently, clinging to a branch, often coming to a stop, and often using the tail to keep balance. It shows a pronouncedcomfort behaviour associated with grooming the fur, shaking and licking its hair, and scratching. Shaking is the most characteristic element of comfort behaviour.[40]
Binturong photographed by a camera trap at a feeding platform on a fruitingFicus
The binturong isomnivorous, feeding on small mammals,birds, fish,earthworms,insects and fruits.[19] It also preys onrodents.[30] Fish and earthworms are likely unimportant items in its diet, as it is neitheraquatic norfossorial, coming across such prey only when opportunities present themselves. Since it does not have the attributes of apredatory mammal, most of the binturong's diet is probably of vegetable matter.[9]Figs are a major component of its diet.[34][38][41] Captive binturongs are particularly fond ofplantains, but also eatfowls' heads andeggs.[7]
The binturong is an important agent forseed dispersal, especially for those of thestrangler fig, because of its ability to scarify the seed's tough outer covering.[42]
The average age ofsexual maturation is 30.4 months for females and 27.7 months for males. Theestrous cycle of the binturong lasts 18 to 187 days, with an average of 82.5 days.Gestation lasts 84 to 99 days. Litter size in captivity varies from one to six young, with an average of two young per birth. Neonates weigh between 280 and 340 g (9.9 and 12.0 oz).Fertility lasts until 15 years of age.[21]
Major threats to the binturong are habitat loss anddegradation of forests throughlogging and conversion of forests to non-forest land-uses throughout the binturong's range. Habitat loss has been severe in the lowlands of theSundaic part of its range, and there is no evidence that the binturong uses the plantations that are largely replacing natural forest. In China, rampantdeforestation and opportunistic logging practices have fragmented suitable habitat or eliminated sites altogether. In the Philippines, it is captured for thewildlife trade, and in the south of its range it is also taken for human consumption. In Laos, it is one of the most frequently displayed caged live carnivores and skins are traded frequently in at leastVientiane. In parts of Laos, it is considered a delicacy and also traded as a food item to Vietnam.[2]
The binturong is also sometimes kept captive for production ofkopi luwak.[43][44]
The binturong is included inCITES Appendix III and in Schedule I of the IndianWild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, so that it has the highest level of protection. In China, it is listed as critically endangered. It is completely protected in Bangladesh, and partially in Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia.[45] It is not protected in Brunei.[2]
World Binturong Day is a yearly event held in several zoos and is dedicated to binturong awareness and conservation. It takes place every second Saturday of May.[46]
Binturongs are common in zoos, and captive individuals represent a source ofgenetic diversity essential for long-term conservation. Their geographic origin is either usually unknown, or they are offspring of several generations of captive-bred animals.[18] The maximum known lifespan in captivity is thought to be over 25 years of age.[47]
TheOrang Asli of Malaysia have a tradition of keeping binturongs as pets.[48][49]
^Temminck, C. J. (1824)."XVII GenreArctictis".Monographies de mammalogie. Paris: Dufour & d'Ocagne. p. xxi.Archived from the original on 2019-10-12. Retrieved2019-10-12.
^abcdPocock, R. I. (1939)."GenusArctictis Temminck".The fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma. Vol. Mammalia. – Volume 1. London: Taylor and Francis. pp. 431–439.
^Ellerman, J. R.; Morrison-Scott, T. C. S. (1966)."Genus Arctictis. Temminck, 1824".Checklist of Palaearctic and Indian mammals 1758 to 1946 (Second ed.). London: British Museum of Natural History. p. 290.
^Cuvier, F. (1822)."Benturong". In Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, E.; Cuvier, F. (eds.).Histoire naturelle des mammifères: avec des figures originales, coloriées, dessinées d'aprèsdes animaux vivans. Vol. 5. Paris: A. Belin.
^Temminck, C. J. (1835)."Arcticte Binturong –Arctictis binturong".Monographies de Mammalogie. Vol. II. Paris, Leiden: Dufour, Van der Hoek. pp. 308–311.Archived from the original on 2023-04-01. Retrieved2023-01-17.
^abBlanford, W. T. (1888–91)."57.Arctictis binturong".The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma. Vol. Mammalia. London: Taylor and Francis. pp. 117–119.
^Moresco, A. & Larsen, R. S. (2003). "Medetomidine–ketamine–butorphanol anesthetic combinations in binturongs (Arctictis binturong)".Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine.34 (4):346–351.doi:10.1638/03-016.PMID15077709.S2CID21990341.
^Grassman, L. I.; Janecka, J. E.; Austin, S. C.; Tewes, M. E. & Silvy, N. J. (2006). "'Chemical immobilization of free-ranging dhole (Cuon alpinus), binturong (Arctictis binturong), and yellow-throated marten (Martes flavigula) in Thailand".European Journal of Wildlife Research.52 (4):297–300.Bibcode:2006EJWR...52..297G.doi:10.1007/s10344-006-0040-8.S2CID46658064.
^Greene, L. K.; Wallen, T. W.; Moresco, A.; Goodwin, T. E. & Drea, C. M. (2016). "Reproductive endocrine patterns and volatile urinary compounds ofArctictis binturong: discovering why bearcats smell like popcorn".The Science of Nature.103 (5–6): 37.Bibcode:2016SciNa.103...37G.doi:10.1007/s00114-016-1361-4.PMID27056047.S2CID16439829.
^Rabor, D. S. (1986).Guide to the Philippine flora and fauna. Manila: Natural Resources Management Centre, Ministry of Natural Resources and University of the Philippines.
^abDatta, A. (1999). "Small carnivores in two protected areas of Arunachal Pradesh."Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 96: 399–404.
^Austin, S. C. (2002).Ecology of sympatric carnivores in the Khao Yai National Park, Thailand (PhD thesis). Texas University.
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