banded linsang

mammal

Also known as: Prionodon linsang

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 23, 2026

Quick Summary

The banded linsang is a mammal belonging to the civet family (Viverridae). It is one of three species of linsangs, characterized by their long tails and catlike appearance. The banded linsang is found in Malaysia and the Indonesian archipelago.1

These animals have slender bodies, elongated muzzles, and retractile claws, with dense fur. They typically grow to about 13-17 inches in length, with a tail of nearly equal length. Banded linsangs are nocturnal and arboreal, meaning they are active at night and live in trees. They are strictly carnivorous and usually have two litters per year, with two to three young in each.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

linsang
…African linsang (Poiana richardsoni), the banded linsang (Prionodon linsang), and the spotted linsang (Prionodon pardicolor) vary in colour, but all resemble elongated cats. They grow to a length of 33–43 cm (13–17 inches), excluding a banded tail almost as long, and have slender bodies, relatively narrow heads, elongated muzzles, retractile…
Read More
…African linsang (Poiana richardsoni), the banded linsang (Prionodon linsang), and the spotted linsang (Prionodon pardicolor) vary in colour, but all resemble elongated cats. They grow to a length of 33–43 cm (13–17 inches), excluding a banded tail almost as long, and have slender bodies, relatively narrow heads, elongated muzzles, retractile…
Read More