Binturongs smell like popcorn. “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 fact that the compound was in every binturong we studied, and at relatively high concentrations, means it could be a signal that says, ‘A binturong was here,’ and whether it was male or female,” said study first author Lydia Greene, a graduate student at Duke University. 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. Posted on April 14, 2016. It smells like buttered popcorn, but I'm pretty sure it doesn't taste like popcorn. Apparently scent isn’t always the best guide of what to eat - after all, bearcat pee smells like hot buttered popcorn. Their life span in a protected environment is about 10-20 years. More Animals. The estimated average weight for the species ranges from 9 to 20 kg. Prof. Drea and her colleagues searched for 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline in the binturongs’ kibble, the one cooked item in their diet, but they didn’t detect any. The binturong has very few predators. The urine of these unusual Southeast Asian mammals smells uncannily like this favorite movie theater treat. 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. 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, … Characteristic Smell – Binturongs have a characteristic smell – to humans, they smell like hot, buttered popcorn. Instead, they’re most closely related to civets, which are lean, cat-like mammals. If this animal isn’t cool enough already, it also has a unique scent that smells like buttered popcorn, coming from glands near its tail. (I’m ashamed to admit. The binturong is a viverrid. This smells like ... popcorn! Adults grow to 2–3 feet long and weigh 30–50 pounds. The same compound is also responsible for the comforting aromas of toasted bread and cooked rice. 4. And for good reason -- the chemical compound that gives freshly made popcorn its mouthwatering smell is also the major aroma emitted by The animals use the odor to mark territory as well as to attract mates. Longevity. 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. The binturong. They are able to turn their ankles backwards so that their claws can still grip the trees when they are climbing down headfirst. This little guy may look a bit unusual but smells divine! “The question was: how do they do it? Meet the bearcat (also called the binturong), a small, shy, bushy-tailed mammal ... that also happens to smell exactly like buttered popcorn. These glands are located under its tail and secrete a musk that is said to smell like popcorn. It could be that binturong pee smells funny because of something they eat.”. When binturongs pee, they squat, and the urine soaks their feet and tails. Sci-News.com. We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. The binturong is also called bearcat. YOU CAN FIND ME AT W17. Tarongas binturong baby smells popcorn Taronga’s new Binturong cub is starting to explore its exhibit and keen-eyed visitors, with the help of their noses, may spot the cub exploring its lush home at Wild Asia. Image credit: Carolina Tiger Rescue. Why Binturongs' Pee Smells Like Buttery Popcorn. Tweet; Binturongs are a shaggy-haired creature from Southeast Asia. The bearcat. They advertise themselves as conservation & such but I am unsure/on the fence with how much or how they do so.) What the heck is a Binturong? And for good reason -- the chemical compound that gives freshly made popcorn its mouthwatering smell is also the major aroma emitted by binturong pee, finds a new … Apparently, it's a chemical in their urine. The Binturong or Asian Bearcat: The Only Mammal that Smells Like Popcorn. And its appearance isn’t even its strangest quality. Whatever you call this shy, shaggy-haired creature from Southeast Asia, many people who have met one notice the same thing: it smells like a movie theater snack bar.Most describe it as hot buttered popcorn. Tapir: The Ancient Fruitarian With the Tiny Trunk, Bobcats Are Back From the Brink (and Possibly in Your Backyard), Information about the device's operating system, Information about other identifiers assigned to the device, The IP address from which the device accesses a client's website or mobile application, Information about the user's activity on that device, including web pages and mobile apps visited or used, Information about the geographic location of the device when it accesses a website or mobile application. This is the binturong… When frightened, they spray their musk, which smells like buttered popcorn. We couldn’t play with it like this guy in the video. The binturong has a unique scent that smells like buttered popcorn. Scientists have determined that this scent comes from a compound in binturong pee. Download The Map Additional Facts. Binturong have been described as having a distinct smell similar to that of popcorn or corn chips. Photo credit: Wikimedia. Reproductive endocrine patterns and volatile urinary compounds of Arctictis binturong: discovering why bearcats smell like popcorn. Notably, his smell. Apparently, it's a chemical in their urine. They are primarily nocturnal. The Binturong or Asian Bearcat: The Only Mammal that Smells Like Popcorn Why Binturong Smells Like Buttered Popcorn . Conservation status Vulnerable. A binturong is a Southeast Asian Animal with a specific smell that makes a lot of people think of hot, buttered popcorn. Distribution of the Binturong Unfortunately, the origin of the name is unknown because people no longer speak the indigenous language and there is … Binturongs may smell like popcorn, but its not on their usual menu. Females live approximately 15 years and males about 18. 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! I guess it depends on your perspective. I’ve had a binturong walk across my lap at a animal reserve kind of place. Nov 4, 2012 - Colugo #1 :Philippine Flying Lemur Com.name: Philippine Flying Lemur , Kagwang, Colugo Sci.name: Cynocephalus volans Classification: Mammals … To use this video for broadcast or in a commercial player please email newsdesk@newsflare.com or call +44 … We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you’ve provided to them or that they’ve collected from your use of their services. Science of Nature 103: 37; doi: 10.1007/s00114-016-1361-4, © 2011-2020. 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.. Latest. 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. Mmm, popcorn. Quick facts. Their hair coloration can vary from black to brown with white, silver, or rust on the tips, which gives these animals a grizzled appearance. The binturong (Arctictis binturong). Wandering through the forests of south-east Asia and you might suddenly wonder if there’s a movie theatre nearby. April 14, 2016. They mark their territory with their smell. If you were to make this compound, you would have to use temperatures above what most animals can achieve physiologically,” Prof. Drea said. The animal looks like a cross between a cat and a bear. Over the past 30 years, the Binturong population has decreased by 30% due to deforestation and poaching. Boogle is the most gentle soul you could hope to meet and he can’t wait to make new friends. Like other members of the Viverridae family, the binturong has scent glands, which are located just under its tail. They have been known to eat carrion, small invertebrates, eggs, leaves, and plant shoots, too. A binturong hangs upside down at the Singapore Zoo. That’s because part of Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia are home to the Binturong – a cat like a carnivore with pee smells like buttered popcorn. Conservation . Apparently scent isn’t always the best guide of what to eat - after all, bearcat pee smells like hot buttered popcorn. That's actually the animal's pee, which shares the chemical compound that gives popcorn its savory scent. Binturongs are also known as Asian bear cats and Malay civet cats. Binturong - Photo: Rudmer Zwerver/Shutterstock . These glands are located under its tail and secrete a musk that is said to smell like popcorn. The binturong has a unique scent that smells like buttered popcorn. As with many other members of its genus and family, the Binturong has scent glands it uses to mark trees and foliage. If you love going to the movies this is the encounter for you, since our Binturong smells of popcorn! Many people who have met these creatures notice the same thing: they smell like hot buttered popcorn. And for good reason — the chemical compound that gives freshly made popcorn its mouthwatering smell is also the major aroma emitted by binturong pee, according to Prof. Drea and co-authors. 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. Or popcorn smells like binturongs. Unlike most other carnivorans, the male binturong does not have a baculum. What is a viverrid, you ask? Aggressive as it is, the binturong smells like popcorn. Scientists say they’ve solved the mystery of why the Southeast Asian mammals emit an odor resembling a tasty snack. According to the scientists, male binturongs secrete more 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline than females. The body length is 24 to 38 inches (60 to 96 cm). The compound 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline normally forms in popcorn during the popping process, when heat kicks off reactions between sugars and amino acids in the corn kernels. A 40-pound mammal creeps along a tree branch in a steamy forest. But if you walk past a binturong, that’s precisely the scent you’ll notice. Like many other species in the family Viverridae, the binturong has a scent gland which is located under its tail. The binturong’s an inquisitive animal, and appears something similar to a mix from a raccoon along with a stuffed animal. Using a technique called gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, the team identified 29 chemical compounds in the animals’ urine. The binturong is a mammal that lives in South and Southeast Asia. Tarongas binturong baby smells popcorn; Taronga’s new Binturong cub is starting to explore its exhibit and keen-eyed visitors, with the help of their noses, may spot the cub exploring its lush home at Wild Asia. Binturongs live in the canopies of tall, dense, tropical forests. Life span Approx 20 years. Binturong Urine Smells Like Hot Buttered Popcorn. 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! Weird & Wacky, Copyright © 2020 HowStuffWorks, a division of InfoSpace Holdings, LLC, a System1 Company. As with many other members of its genus and family, the Binturong has scent glands it uses to mark trees and foliage. Records from outside this range include a 1928 record from Guangxi, China, a record from Calauit Island, Philippines, and several from Cambodia. “How does this animal make a cooking smell, but without cooking? 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. Yum? It forms a distinct genus, with nine described subspecies which vary little in appearance. Let's find out more. They also drag their tails as they move about in the trees, leaving a scent trail on the branches and leaves behind them. They are classified as carnivores but eat most anything that suits their fancy: mainly fruits, but also vegetables, birds, small mammals, and fish. The real meaning of the binturongs name is not known because the language that its name came from is now extinct. Its nickname is the bearcat because it has the face of a cat and the body of a small bear, but it is related to the civet. “Bacteria make smelly compounds as they break down sweat in our armpits in much the same way.”, “The time-release action of the microbes could help the binturongs’ urine smell-o-grams last long after the animals move on, an essential mode of communication for solitary animals that rarely encounter each other.”, Lydia K. Greene et al. Whatever you call this shy, shaggy-haired creature from Southeast Asia, many people who have met one notice the same thing: it smells like a movie theater snack bar.Most describe it as hot buttered popcorn. |, 57,000-Year-Old Frozen Remains of Wolf Pup Found in Canada, Fossils of Large-Bodied Crocodile Found in Australia, New Meat-Eating Dinosaur Species Found in Brazil, Botanist Discovers New Species of Potato Orchid in Madagascar, Mars Express Spots Festive Silhouettes near Martian South Pole, Pythons Lived in Europe as Early as 48 Million Years Ago, LOFAR Detects Radio Emission from Tau Boötis Planetary System, Study: Kangaroos Can Intentionally Communicate with Humans, 4-Months-Old Ravens Parallel Great Apes in Cognitive Skills, Study Shows, Eastern Honeybees Use Animal Feces to Protect Their Colonies from Giant Hornets, Marine Biologists Discover Possible New Species of Beaked Whale, Wild Giant Pandas Roll in Horse Manure to Increase Cold Tolerance, Scientists Find Single-Celled Microorganisms in Deep, Hot Subseafloor Sediments, Archaeologists Discover Sixty-Six Roman Military Camps in Spain, New Strain of Bifidobacterium May Help Improve Metabolic and Mental Health, SOHO Observatory Spots Newly-Discovered Sungrazer Comet, CERN Physicists Set Bounds on Mass of Hypothetical Leptoquarks, Daily Avocado Consumption Improves Gut Health, New Study Suggests, Hubble Observes Unusual Lenticular Galaxy: NGC 1947, Subaru Telescope Captures Images of Near-Earth Asteroid 1998 KY26, Abell 2261 May Contain Recoiling Supermassive Black Hole, Astronomers Discover Longest Filament of Intergalactic Gas Yet, New Research Supports ‘Modified Gravity’ Theory, Climate Change, Not Mongol Invasion, Destroyed Central Asia’s River Civilizations, Enceladus’ Subsurface Ocean Has Various Energy Sources for Microbial Life, Study Suggests, Increasing Water Intake May Help Prevent, Treat Metabolic Syndrome, Hubble Monitors Weird Dark Vortex on Neptune, Cretaceous Dinosaur Had Impressive Mane and Shoulder Ribbons, Astronomers Directly Image Brown Dwarf around Nearby Sun-Like Star, GN-z11 Confirmed as Farthest Galaxy Ever Observed. https://www.thedodo.com/binturong-animal-smells-popcorn-1808008048.html The binturong. Binturongs pee in a squatting position, soaking their feet and bushy tails in the process. The binturong, also known as bearcat, is a heavily built, robust civet with a fearsome appearance and is one of only two carnivores with a prehensile tail. A binturong is a Southeast Asian Animal with a specific smell that makes a lot of people think of hot, buttered popcorn. This same black fur is known to cast a smell that is similar to popcorn. They are one of the few carnivores which have a prehensile tail. You consent to our cookies if you continue to use our website. Binturongs are classed as carnivores but eat most anything that suits their fancy: mainly fruits, but also vegetables, birds, small mammals, and fish. Diy. It drags its tail as it moves around, leaving a popcorn-like smell to mark its territories. See more ideas about Binturong, Animals, Mammals. Isaac Hayes's "Hot Buttered Soul" is actually about the urine of this bearcat. The one compound that emanated from every sample was 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline — the same compound that gives popcorn its tantalizing scent. It is the largest species in the family Viverridae. MikeLane45 via Getty Images Scientists say they've solved why bearcats, or bintorongs, smell like hot popcorn. The binturong smells like buttery, delicious popcorn because of a chemical in its urine. Then again, the binturong is a mammal of many distinctions. Their urine contains the chemical 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (2 … People who've spent … Habitat of the Binturong. No joke. Nov 28, 2018 - Explore Ronnie Owens's board "Binturong Bearcat Odd Colored", followed by 150 people on Pinterest. What’s even weirder is the creature's smell: It gives off the scent of buttered popcorn! As they travel, binturongs rub a pungent substance produced in their scent glands onto branches and foliage. Binturong smells of popcorn This video is managed by Newsflare. Binturong - Photo: WeStudio/Shutterstock . They've also figured out that the smell is not coming from the scent glands under their tails as previously thought. Special glands on the rumps of binturongs, or bearcats, excrete a chemical that smells like popcorn. They smell like buttered popcorn. The Binturong or Asian Bearcat: The Only Mammal that Smells Like Popcorn. 2 The Binturong Smells Like Buttered Popcorn. Got to let it as he passed by. Binturongs are important ecologically as controllers of rodent populations and dispensers of seeds. All Rights Reserved. The Answer: The animal you are thinking of is called a binturong or "Asian bear cat" as it is sometimes called. And for good reason — the chemical compound that … What a Strange Name! Please note: We cannot get walkers or wheelchairs into this exhibit. This is likely due to an odor they emit from their scent or musk glands. Many people who have met these creatures notice the same thing: they smell like hot buttered popcorn. Binturongs have a very unique smell, which is like popcorn. The musk glands emit an odor reminiscent of popcorn or corn chips, likely due to the volatile compound 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline in the urine, which is also produced in the Maillard reaction at high temperatures. The binturong is a mammal native to the rain forests of Southeast Asia. 2016. Females are around 20 percent larger than males. The binturong or bearcat is known for its smell that has been compared to hot buttered popcorn. A binturong named Bok is pictured above. By Grennan Milliken. These glands are located under its tail and secrete a musk that is said to smell like popcorn. In females, these are on either side of the vulva while in males they are found between the scrotum and penis. They require thick vegetation, both in the trees and on the ground. He's famously fragrant, often described as smelling like hot buttered popcorn. Binturongs are widespread in south and Southeast Asia occurring in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, China (Yunnan province), India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines (Palawan), Thailand, and Viet Nam. At the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, binturongs eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, a fortified, meat-based commercial carnivore diet, and low-starch, high-fiber primate biscuits. 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. 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. Two animals which may prey on them are the dhole or the tiger. 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A movie theatre nearby reproductive endocrine patterns and volatile urinary compounds of Arctictis:... A specific smell that makes a lot of people think of hot, buttered popcorn bearcats, bintorongs! See more ideas about binturong, animals, mammals might suddenly wonder if there ’ precisely! Urine soaks their feet and tails bearcats smell like hot buttered popcorn musk glands important... Due to an odor resembling a tasty snack their urine other species the! Canopies of tall, dense, tropical forests the animals use the odor to mark and... Glands under their tails as they move about in the trees, leaving scent! Binturong has a unique scent that smells like buttered popcorn and bushy tails in the animals use the to. Movie theater treat binturong: discovering why bearcats smell like popcorn the question was how... To a mix from a compound in binturong pee this is the encounter you! Its appearance isn ’ t even its strangest quality their musk, which are located its. 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Wheelchairs into this exhibit the creature 's smell: it gives off the scent you ’ ll.. & Wacky, Copyright © 2020 HowStuffWorks, a division of InfoSpace Holdings LLC. To 96 cm ) for good reason — the chemical compound that emanated from every sample was —... 103: 37 ; doi: 10.1007/s00114-016-1361-4, © 2011-2020 out that the is! Https: //www.thedodo.com/binturong-animal-smells-popcorn-1808008048.html MikeLane45 via Getty Images scientists say they ’ ve had binturong... Getty Images scientists say they 've solved why bearcats smell like hot buttered popcorn comforting. Precisely the scent of buttered popcorn and appears something similar to a mix from a along... Of what to eat carrion, small invertebrates, eggs, leaves, and appears something similar to popcorn prehensile! Eat carrion, small invertebrates, eggs, leaves, and plant shoots too...