Honey bee

Honey Badger

The Honey Badger (Mellivora capensis), also known as the ratel, is a species of mustelid native to Africa, Southwest Asia, and the Indian Subcontinent. Despite its name, the honey badger does not closely resemble other badger species; instead, it bears more anatomical similarities to weasels. It is primarily a carnivorous species and has few natural predators due to its thick skin and ferocious defensive abilities.

Description

Honey badgers have long bodies and small eyes. Their skin is remarkably loose, which allows them to turn and twist freely within it. The skin around the neck is 6 millimeters thick, an adaptation to fighting predators. The head is small and flat, with a short muzzle. The eyes are small, and the ears are little more than ridges on the skin.

Behavior

Honey badgers are renowned for their strength, ferocity and toughness. They have been known to savagely and fearlessly attack almost any kind of animal when escape is impossible, reportedly even repelling much larger predators such as lions. They are virtually tireless in combat and can wear out much larger animals in physical confrontations.

Diet

Honey badgers are omnivorous, and their diet consists of insects, frogs, turtles, tortoises, rodents, snakes, birds, lizards, and fruit. They are notorious for their strength, ferocity, and toughness. They are known to rip open termite mounds; they will also dig up human graves for food.

Habitat

Honey badgers can be found in most of sub-Saharan Africa, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and western Asia. They can adapt to a variety of conditions, from warm rain forests to cool mountains. Their presence in the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent is due to their tolerance of dry areas.

Conservation Status

The honey badger is listed as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) due to its wide distribution and presumed large population.

See Also

• Badger
• Mustelidae
• Carnivora