Prionodon linsang
banded linsang

Western Malaysia, Sumatra, Bornea, Java, Thailand, and Indonesia.

Banded linsangs live in tropical rainforests. They spend a large portion of their time in the trees.

The body of the banded linsang is 40 cm long, and the tail is about 34 cm. Banded linsangs are very pale yellow with five large transverse dark bands on their backs. They have broad stripes on their necks with small elongate spots and stripes on their flanks. The tail has seven or eight dark bands and ends in a dark tip. Banded linsangs have retractile claws which are very sharp, and have specialized razor-sharp teeth for shearing their food. The soles of their feet have hair between the pads and their toes. (Cincinatti Zoo, 1997)

Banded linsangs are secretive and elusive creatures. They are solitary. The female offspring stays with the mother until maturity, but the male offspring leave soon after weaning. Linsangs are semiarboreal and well-adapted for such a lifestyle. Their bodies are long and slender with short legs, suited for running through the trees and jumping between branches. Their long tails aid in balancing. When hunting, their slender bodies move snake-like along the path of the prey, very well camouflaged by their coats. (LA Natural History Museum, 1997)

Banded linsangs are omnivorous. A main part of their diet consists of small vertebrates such as squirrels, rats, birds and lizards. (LA Natural History Museum, 1997)

none noted

Potentially important as an attraction to ecotourism. The Banded Linsang is found in many parks and reserves throughout Thailand, and they could be a draw for wildlife observers.

CITES Appendix II.

The banded linsang is the rarest of the civets. This animal is sometimes referred to as the Tiger-civet.