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Glite Dictionary
binturong

binturong

9.9
A large, furry animal that lives in trees in Southeast Asia and uses its long tail like a hand
  • noun
  • /ˈbɪn.tʊ.rɒŋ/
translation icon : binturong
  • At the wildlife sanctuary, I learned that a binturong can use its tail to grasp branches as it moves through the trees.

Examples

  • Finding the perfect career path is not easy, but if you get out and get working, one day you might just find yourself in an enclosure with a fox or on the other side of a binturong's leash.

    Blog text (8)

  • We followed Mrs. Boyd through the zoo to get up close and personal with Phu the binturong, Akela the fennec fox, and Francis the sun bear.

    Blog text (8)

  • During our visit to the zoo, we were thrilled to see a binturong lazily climbing a tree with its long, prehensile tail.

  • The binturong's shaggy black fur makes it easily recognizable in its natural habitat in Southeast Asia.

Synonyms

bearcat
vsbinturong
4 9.9

An animal from Southeast Asia with shaggy black fur and a long tail that can hold branches

is the identical animal referred to by another common name
large civet
vsbinturong
  • Indian
7.8

A fairly large animal like a cat that is active at night in Asian forests

is a specific tree-dwelling species with shaggy black fur and prehensile tail

Surface Forms

binturong singular
binturongs plural

Etymology

Binturong comes from a Malay name for the animal and entered English from Southeast Asia. English speakers often call it the bearcat because it looks like a mix of a 'bear' and a 'cat', and that image helps you remember it is a large animal that lives in trees and uses its long tail to hold branches.