Fun Banded Linsang Facts For Kids

Do you find the Malayan civet interesting? If yes, then you should check out the banded linsang (Prionodon linsang), which looks like a mix between a cat and a possum. The banded linsang is a beautiful slender tree-dwelling mammal present in Southeast Asia's Sundaic region. This animal is covered in pale yellow and cream fur contrasted with dark bands on its back and tail. The banded linsang is a part of the Asiatic linsangs along with the spotted linsang. A lot is yet to be known about the banded linsangs as it is a secretive animal. During the breeding season, the nest is made in burrows or hollow trees, and this animal is quite fast when it comes to moving from one place to another. This mysterious animal is classified as of Least Concern in the International Union for Conservation of Nature or IUCN Red List, and its population is thought to be stable. However, it has been noticed that the banded linsangs are becoming a common part of the illegal pet trade; hence more protection is brought to the species.

Want to know more about linsangs? Keep reading to get interesting banded linsang facts. Also, check out these articles on the ferret and black-footed ferrets to know more about these enigmatic animals.

What type of animal is a banded linsang?

The banded linsang is a tree-dwelling mammal species found in Southeast Asia.

What class of animal does a banded linsang belong to?

The banded linsang (Prionodon linsang) belongs to the class Mammalia, to the family Prionodontidae, and the genus Prionodon.

How many banded linsangs are there in the world?

It is hard to know the exact population of this species as the banded linsang likes to stay away from humans.

Where does a banded linsang live?

The banded linsang (Prionodon linsang) is especially found in Southeast Asia's Sundaic region. This includes areas like Western Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo, Java, Thailand, and Indonesia. In Thailand, you can find banded linsangs in parks like the Kui Bari National Park, the Mae Wong National Park, the Khao Yai National Park, and many more.

What is a banded linsang's habitat?

You can find the banded linsang habitat mainly in tropical rainforests. It can be found in primary and secondary forests as well as in disturbed areas.

Who do banded linsangs live with?

Adult banded linsangs are solitary in nature and are quite secretive. It prefers to move around in the forest at night, hunting for rodents and other small animals.

How long does a banded linsang live?

The average banded linsang lifespan is around 10 years.

How do they reproduce?

Not a lot is known about the reproduction of the banded linsang. These secretive mammals like to hide their newborns in burrows or hollow trees. The average litter contains 2-3 pups. Like many other mammal species, the banded linsang female also goes through estrus cycles, which might last for 11 days. As the spotted linsang breeds semi-annually, a similar pattern is also assumed for the banded linsang.

What is their conservation status?

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the banded linsang is currently classified under the conservation status as Least Concern. However, as one of the rarest linsang species, these are often poached and included in illegal pet trades as the demand for Asiatic linsangs as exotic pets keeps rising.

What do banded linsangs look like?

When it comes to this animal, the banded linsang skeleton has been an interest to biologists for its slender cat-like body along with its long furry tail. The body of the banded linsang (Prionodon linsang) is covered in pale yellow or brown fur, which is topped with broad stripes or splotches. These several dark bands present on its back give it the name of being banded. This animal also has a long tail with several dark bands, and the tail ends at a dark tip. Even though the limbs are quite short, it has a comparatively long neck. These animals are also known for their big protruding eyes that help to see during their nocturnal activities. The eyes are also often defined as bug eyes.

How cute are they?

The banded linsang is extremely cute, and its doll-like eyes heighten the adorable quality of this linsang.

How do they communicate?

As a secretive animal, it is hard to know about the communication patterns of the banded linsang. However, as a close relative of the civet family, it is assumed that the banded linsang habit includes communicating via scent. These animals may also take part in tactile communication during the breeding season.

How big is a banded linsang?

The average banded linsang size is around 13.8–16.2 in (35-41.1 cm). This animal is especially known for its long tail with dark bands that may measure up to 11.8-16.5 in (30-42 cm), making it almost similar to the length of its body. The banded linsang height is quite short. Compared to it, the African palm civet measures around 15-25.1 (38-64 cm) in making it a tad bigger.

How fast can a banded linsang run?

We are yet to know about the running speed of the linsang. However, these animals are fairly quick when it comes to moving around the forests.

How much does a banded linsang weigh?

The average weight of banded linsang range between 21.1-28.2 oz (0.6-0.8 kg).

What are the male and female names of the species?

There are no separate names for the males and females of this species.

What would you call a baby-banded linsang?

A baby-banded linsang (Prionodon linsang) can be called a kitten or a cub.

What do they eat?

The banded linsang mammal is known for being a great hunter, and with its razor-sharp teeth and sharp retractable claws, it attacks mice, frogs, lizards, birds, rats, and squirrels. The sharp teeth also help the animal to get through the flesh and bones quite easily. Even though this is a predominantly carnivorous mammal, the banded linsang can still occasionally feed on fruits. When it isn't able to get food, linsangs will also feed on carcasses.

Are they dangerous?

Even though these animals like to stay away from humans, they can surely use their razor-sharp teeth and sharp retractable claws upon sensing danger. Hence, it is always better to stay away from the banded linsang.

Would they make a good pet?

Not really! As a wild animal, it's always better to live these species alone, and keeping a banded linsang pet is also illegal.

Did you know...

You may have heard this animal being called a banded linsang civet, but it isn't a civet cat, though the animals are quite similar. The banded linsang is often confused with the banded palm civet as both animals share a similar area. However, the banded linsang is smaller compared to the civet.

Banded linsang vs. spotted linsang

The banded linsang and the spotted linsang appear similar as both animals make up the genus of Asiatic linsangs. An easy way to spot the difference is through the broad stripes or several dark bands seen on the back of a banded linsang. On the other hand, the spotted linsang has more scattered spots on its body. The dark tip of the tail is more pronounced in the banded linsang compared to the spotted linsang.

How to pronounce linsang?

The word linsang is pronounced as lin-sang, where the stress is laid on the syllable lin.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these river otter and barbary lion pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable banded linsang coloring pages.