Why does a binturong smell like popcorn?

Why does a binturong smell like popcorn?

Researchers have ferreted out why the binturong, a threatened Southeast Asian mammal also known as the bearcat, smells like popcorn. The culprit is 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline, or 2-AP, the same molecule that gives cooked popcorn its aroma.

What are Binturongs adaptations?

They are well adapted to surviving in the trees of the forest. They have sharp claws that can grip trees. Their tails help them maneuver in a number of ways. Their short legs likely help them keep balance and stay close to the tree branches.

How does a binturong protect itself?

When resting or sleeping, binturongs wrap their tails around the branch to secure themselves. If they are hunting prey in the trees, they do this using behavior very much like a cat. They are good at swimming and diving, so they also hunt fish. Binturongs mark their territory with scent glands under the tail.

Are Binturongs cats?

Although the binturong is also known as the bearcat, it’s not closely related to bears or cats. The binturong belongs to the Viverridae family, an ancient group of small- to medium-sized mammals found only in the Old World (eastern hemisphere).

Do Binturongs make good pets?

“They make wonderful, intelligent pets,” says Stephens, who has one male and one female Binturong. “Few U.S. zoos have Binturongs. It’s extremely hard to obtain a pair because the females are very rare.” Binturongs, often known as “bear cats”, are a member of the weasel family.

What is the nastiest smell in the world?

Worst Smells on Earth

• Surströmming. This Swedish delicacy literally means “sour herring”.
• Durian. Durian is a fruit native to Southeast Asia, with an odor that has been described as turpentine, rotten onions, and sewage.
• Nattō.
• Skunk.
• Hákarl.

Do Binturongs eat Tuliza?

Sociocultural characteristics Binturongs eat the tuliza flower. One binturong, Mama Binturong, was known to command a prickle of porcupines.

Do Kinkajous smell like popcorn?

He also has the distinction of being only one of two carnivores with prehensile tails, alongside the equally delightfully dubbed kinkajou. Then again, the binturong is a mammal of many distinctions. Notably, his smell. He’s famously fragrant, often described as smelling like hot buttered popcorn.

What is the lifespan of a binturong?

Fertility lasts until 15 years of age. The maximum known lifespan in captivity is thought to be over 25 years of age.

How much do binturongs cost?

As of 1998, in the exotic pet trade in the US, a young, breedable, healthy individual runs $1500-2500. Adults are content to live in breeding pairs, although they seem especially happy when left in a large non-competitive group that has been raised together.

What animal smells like buttered popcorn?

Binturongs
Binturongs have a very distinctive smell—that of buttered popcorn! As pleasing as it might be to a human nose, that scent serves a purpose: to let other binturongs know they are trespassing on someone else’s territory or to discourage would-be predators.

Why does my room smell like pee?

A urine smell in the home could have several causes. The most common reasons include pets, pests, mould, plumbing problems, and electrical malfunctions. A urine smell can be as simple as your neighbour’s cat dropping a puddle in the pantry or a serious problem like overheating circuits.

What kind of body does a binturong have?

Looking like something Dr. Seuss might have dreamed up, a binturong has a face like a cat’s and a body like a bear’s, long, shaggy black hair, stiff white whiskers, and a prehensile tail that’s as long as its body. Binturongs are also called bearcats, but that name is rather misleading since they are not related to bears OR cats.

What kind of noises does a binturong make?

Some of the other sounds that they make are hisses, growls and grunts. Binturongs can be vicious if they are cornered. The binturong has very few predators. Two animals which may prey on them are the dhole or the tiger.

How does a binturong keep its skin dry?

Like sloths, binturongs have long, shaggy coats that keep their skin dry. They groom their coats like cats do, licking and nibbling their fur, and cleaning their face with their front paws. Claws are kept sharp by scratching them on tree trunks. Other than humans, binturongs have no known predators.

How is a binturong related to a cat?

More study is urgently needed to determine how the species can be conserved. A binturong has long white whiskers, like those of a cat. But even though female binturongs purr to attract mates, the species is not related to modern cat species.