In the case of the binturong, researchers think the compound may be produced when the animal's urine reacts with bacteria in the animal's gut, skin, or fur, … Tweet; Binturongs are a shaggy-haired creature from Southeast Asia. Or popcorn smells like binturongs. This same black fur is known to cast a smell that is similar to popcorn. Binturong - Photo: WeStudio/Shutterstock . They are primarily nocturnal. The Binturong or Asian Bearcat: The Only Mammal that Smells Like Popcorn. Like other members of the Viverridae family, the binturong has scent glands, which are located just under its tail. What a Strange Name! All Rights Reserved. The binturong is also called bearcat. And its appearance isn’t even its strangest quality. These glands are located under its tail and secrete a musk that is said to smell like popcorn. The binturong. The binturong or bearcat is known for its smell that has been compared to hot buttered popcorn. The bearcat. Apparently, it's a chemical in their urine. Let's find out more. This smells like ... popcorn! And for good reason -- the chemical compound that gives freshly made popcorn its mouthwatering smell is also the major aroma emitted by They require thick vegetation, both in the trees and on the ground. Conservation status Vulnerable. Their life span in a protected environment is about 10-20 years. The binturong. A team of scientists led by Prof. Christine Drea of Duke University has identified a chemical compound that gives binturongs (Arctictis binturong) their characteristic scent. What is a viverrid, you ask? Nov 4, 2012 - Colugo #1 :Philippine Flying Lemur Com.name: Philippine Flying Lemur , Kagwang, Colugo Sci.name: Cynocephalus volans Classification: Mammals … As with many other members of its genus and family, the Binturong has scent glands it uses to mark trees and foliage. Two animals which may prey on them are the dhole or the tiger. Scientists say they’ve solved the mystery of why the Southeast Asian mammals emit an odor resembling a tasty snack. “A more likely explanation is that 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline is produced when binturong urine comes in contact with bacteria and other microorganisms that live on the animal’s skin or fur or in its gut,” the scientists said. The animal looks like a cross between a cat and a bear. You consent to our cookies if you continue to use our website. Aggressive as it is, the binturong smells like popcorn. Many people who have met these creatures notice the same thing: they smell like hot buttered popcorn. According to the scientists, male binturongs secrete more 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline than females. The Binturong or Asian Bearcat: The Only Mammal that Smells Like Popcorn As with many other members of its genus and family, the Binturong has scent glands it uses to mark trees and foliage. The real meaning of the binturongs name is not known because the language that its name came from is now extinct. These glands are located under its tail and secrete a musk that is said to smell like popcorn. They are able to turn their ankles backwards so that their claws can still grip the trees when they are climbing down headfirst. He's famously fragrant, often described as smelling like hot buttered popcorn. Binturong smells of popcorn This video is managed by Newsflare. Yum? Scientists have determined that this scent comes from a compound in binturong pee. Got to let it as he passed by. Found in the densest rain forests of Southeast Asia, Indonesia, and Malaysia, the binturong is nocturnal, grows to be about six feet long, and is covered in long black fur.. This is the binturong… In a paper appearing online in the journal Science of Nature, they analyzed urine samples collected during routine physical examinations of 33 binturongs at Carolina Tiger Rescue, a nonprofit wildlife sanctuary in Pittsboro, North Carolina. The body length is 24 to 38 inches (60 to 96 cm). Please note: We cannot get walkers or wheelchairs into this exhibit. The one compound that emanated from every sample was 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline — the same compound that gives popcorn its tantalizing scent. The binturong’s an inquisitive animal, and appears something similar to a mix from a raccoon along with a stuffed animal. They have been known to eat carrion, small invertebrates, eggs, leaves, and plant shoots, too. A binturong named Bok is pictured above. 2016. Wandering through the forests of south-east Asia and you might suddenly wonder if there’s a movie theatre nearby. https://www.thedodo.com/binturong-animal-smells-popcorn-1808008048.html The Binturong or Asian Bearcat: The Only Mammal that Smells Like Popcorn. Many people who have met these creatures notice the same thing: they smell like hot buttered popcorn. Isaac Hayes's "Hot Buttered Soul" is actually about the urine of this bearcat. Like many other species in the family Viverridae, the binturong has a scent gland which is located under its tail. Binturongs are also known as Asian bear cats and Malay civet cats. Step 2 : Answer to the question "The bearcat or binturong has a distinctive scent that smells like ...\u00a0" Popcorn: Please let us know as comment, if the answer is not correct! This allows them to create a scent trail whenever they move through the rainforests they call home, marking their territory and signaling their locations to other binturongs. “The question was: how do they do it? The binturong is a fierce, canopy-dwelling carnivore, with a prehensile tail, a sweet tooth for figs, and it smells like buttered popcorn; it is also threatened. September 6, 2018 The Science Thinkers 0 Comments. During the day they generally sleep high in the forest canopy and love to bask in the Sun. Conservation . When binturongs pee, they squat, and the urine soaks their feet and tails. Apparently scent isn’t always the best guide of what to eat - after all, bearcat pee smells like hot buttered popcorn. The binturong’s an inquisitive animal, and appears something similar to a mix from a raccoon along with a stuffed animal.Only one of their most striking features is exactly what it has the aroma of – people frequently express it evokes recollections of hot, buttered popcorn. Image credit: Carolina Tiger Rescue. By Grennan Milliken. Unlike most other carnivorans, the male binturong does not have a baculum. A binturong is a Southeast Asian Animal with a specific smell that makes a lot of people think of hot, buttered popcorn. Its smell that makes a lot of people think of hot, buttered popcorn few carnivores which have characteristic... Chemical in their scent or musk glands are able to turn their ankles so... To 20 kg eat. ” Asian mammals emit an odor they emit their. Cats and Malay civet cats again, the binturong has very few predators that smells like buttered.... Under its tail and secrete a musk that is said to smell like popcorn pee, which smells like popcorn... 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