Prionodon linsang (Hardwicke, 1821)

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2009, Prionodonotidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 1 Carnivores, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 170-173 : 172-173

1.

Banded Linsang

Prionodon linsang

French: Linsang rayé / German: Banderlinsang / Spanish: Linsang rayado

Taxonomy. Viverra linsang Hardwicke, 1821 ,

Malacca, Malaysia. [restricted by Robinson & Kloss (1920) to “ Malacca ”].

Two subspecies recognized, linsang includes maculosus and gracilis includes hardwichaz, fredericae, and interliniurus.

Subspecies and Distribution.

P. l. linsang Hardwicke, 1821 — S Myanmar, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, and S Thailand.

P. l. gracilis Horsfield, 1822 — Bangka I, Belitung I, Borneo, and Java.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 37.9-45 cm, tail 33-37. 5 cm; weight 590-800 g. Ratio head-body/ tail slightly superior to one. Two pairs of mammae. Adult males may be slightly larger than females, but size overlap between the two genders is considerable. Has a genet-like aspect, with head and neck more elongated; pointed muzzle; nose pad brownish pink. Extremely slender; captive individual reported to escape through bars 4 cm apart. Ears are medium-sized, broad at the base and rounded.Iris is dark brown to black, and pupil is vertical. Pelage is short and very soft. Coat color is relatively uniform across the body, and varies from pale yellowish to white. Individual variation exists in spot markings. Back exhibits two main pairs of lines of very large dark spots that fuse into five more or less clearly delineated transversal stripes. The characteristic pair of nucchal stripes in continuation with the second row of spots is wider than in Spotted Linsang. A line of thin spots starting behind the shoulders forms a broken medio-dorsal stripe thatis vertically crossing the transversal stripes. Smaller spots are irregularly distributed on the flanks, shoulders and thighs. The rest of the hindlimbs and the forepaws are not spotted. Five claws fully retractile; presence of sheaths. Hindfeet digitigrade, forefeet plantigrade; hallucal lobe small and remote; absence of metatarsal pads. Tail is almost as long as head and body; thickly furred, with short hair; exhibits seven to nine broad dark rings. Confused annealing pattern at the whitish tip, with the last bright ring often interspersed with a thin dark ring. Perineal glands are absent. Rostrum is moderately elongated; sagittal crest forms a large, flat stripe that fuses with the frontal bone. Caudal entotympanic bone more ventrally inflated—compared to the ectotympanic bone—than in Spotted Linsang. Dental formula: 13/3, C1/1,P 4/4, M 1/2 = 38. M2 may sometimes exist under vestigial condition. Chromosome number: 2n = 34. In gracilis, average body size and skull length are smaller.

Habitat. Primary-secondary evergreen and mixed deciduous forests, up to 2700 m (e.g. Jang Plateau, Java). May be found in ecotonal habitats and disturbed forests; few records in human-inhabited places. Its distribution could be shaped by moisture gradients and their topographical variations.

Food and Feeding. Primarily carnivorous. Stomach contents in continental Malaysia and Borneo included rodents (long-tailed rats, spiny-furred rats, ground squirrels), lizards, frogs, birds and cockroaches. Captive individuals were fed with minced meat, mice, chicks, fresh fish, eggs, cottage cheese, and occasionally birds and ox liver;fruits were always refused. May hunt both in canopy and on the ground; direct observations always made on the ground. Great dexterity when chasing small birds. Rodents are killed with a bite to the neck; may combine grasping and killing into one movement, and proceed to a series of crunching bites from the seized part of the body to the head while the prey is maintained between the jaws. Forepaws are rarely used for manipulating preys during feeding; however, an individual was seen pulling off flesh pieces while maintaining the prey with its forepaws (head was eaten first).

Activity patterns. Mostly nocturnal, but may be active during daytime. Presumably arboreal, but probably uses the ground to move and forage. Individuals in continental Malaysia were seen moving among tree branches 3-8 m high but were always trapped on the ground. Nests in hollows of dead trees, under roots of large trees, or in tree holes above ground level. A nest entrance was around 13 cm in diameter and 45 cm in depth; the inside was covered with leaves and contained bits of dry sticks. Good climber and jumper; semi-digitigrade, with plantigrade forefeet and digitigrade hindfeet; uses a “head-first” vertical descent of trees. Has a cat-like gait, and often stands on its hindlegs. In captivity, observed sleeping with tail curled around forepaws and head; frequent sharpening of the claws; self grooming and face washing very similar to genets.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Almost unknown. Probably solitary. Newly-born captive kittens emit shrill and vibrating cries when handled; adults may snarl and make sharp, whistling noises when other animals are confronted. A captive male frequently urinated while walking, marking about 1 m around. Neck and shoulders, and subsequently flanks, are rubbed against objects for marking.

Breeding. Litters of two cubs, apparently once a year, between February and August. Dens reported in hollow trees; may raise young on the ground. Young with same coloration as adults except at nose (pink) and undersides (white). At birth, captive cubs weighed 40 g and measured 16 cm from head to tail. Weight was doubled at day 18; eyes were wide open between 18 and 21 days. Young were 275 g and 40 cm at eight weeks; equalled adult size at four months; at this age, they had the same color as their parents but their undersides were still whiter. The mother never carried her young in her mouth. In the wild, females stay with their mother until maturity, but males leave after weaning. A captive specimen lived up to ten years and eight months.

Status and Conservation. CITES Appendix II. Classified as Least Concern on The [UCN Red List. Widespread distribution over the Sundaic region at all elevations but records are scarce, especially at northern edge ( Myanmar, Thailand) and in Java. Major threats are deforestation and,to a lesser extent, hunting/trade for fur. Most of the skins kept in museums were collected from natives. Protected by national laws in Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia (only partially protected in Sarawak) and Indonesia.

Bibliography. Azlan (2003), Banks (1949), Boitani et al. (2006), Davis (1958), Gangloff (1975), Hardwicke (1821), Jones (1982), Lim (1973, 1976), Louwman (1970), Nowak (1999), Pocock (1915d, 1933c, 1935), Sody (1936, 1949), Schreiber et al. (1989), Taylor (1988), Van Rompaey (1993), Wells et al. (2005).

Figures

1. Banded Linsang (Prionodon linsang), 2. Spotted Linsang (Prionodon pardicolor)

Subspecies and Distribution. P. l. linsang Hardwicke, 1821 — S Myanmar , Peninsular Malaysia , Sumatra, and S Thailand . P. l. gracilis Horsfield, 1822 — Bangka I, Belitung I, Borneo, and Java.