The Mammal That Smells Like Popcorn
By: EjazUlHaqBhat
Image: Unsplash
The binturong, also known as the bearcat, is known to smell like popcorn
Image: Pexels
Often mistaken for a strange bear-cat hybrid, the binturong is a secretive mammal native to Southeast Asia
Image: Pexels
Its unique scent, reminiscent of buttered popcorn, is due to the presence of 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (2-AP) in its urine
Image: Pexels
This same chemical compound is responsible for the characteristic aroma of cooked popcorn
Image: Pexels
The 2-AP is produced when the binturong's urine reacts with bacteria in its gut, skin, or fur
Image: Pexels
The scent is used by binturongs to mark their territory and communicate with others, with males producing a stronger scent
Image: X/@NASU_SAFARIPARK
Binturongs urinate and squat, so their urine soaks their feet and tails, creating a scent trail as they move through the rainforests
Image: X/@NASU_SAFARIPARK
They also have a scent gland near their tail that contributes to the scent
Image: X/@NASU_SAFARIPARK
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