The binturong (Arctictis binturong<\/em>), sometimes known as the ‘bearcat’, is neither bear nor cat, despite its misleading name.<\/p>\n It belongs to the Viverridae family \u2013 the same family as civets and genets \u2013 and is the only species in its genus. These largely solitary animals are most active at night and are notable for their distinctive physical traits and unique scent.<\/p>\n Binturongs have a comical appearance that\u2019s difficult to categorise. They have large, muscular bodies covered in coarse, shaggy black or dark grey fur, often with grizzled silver-tipped hairs.<\/p>\n Their rounded faces are framed by long white whiskers and expressive eyes, giving them a somewhat owlish or wise look. Their ears are short and rounded with prominent tufts.<\/p>\n Adult binturongs typically measure between 60 to 96cm in body length, with an impressive tail of similar length \u2013 sometimes just as long as their body. They usually weigh between 9 and 20kg, with females generally larger than males, which is rare among mammals.<\/p>\n Their most striking feature is their prehensile tail \u2013 the only one of its kind among Old World carnivores. This tail acts like a fifth limb, allowing binturongs to expertly navigate the canopy, grip branches and even hang upside down when feeding.<\/p>\nWhat is a binturong?<\/h2>\n
What do binturongs look like?<\/h2>\n