Badger

Badgers are medium-sized omnivores belonging to the superfamily Musteloidea. An omnivore is an animal that eats both plants and animals. While many people think of badgers as one single group, they are actually polyphyletic. This means they are grouped together because of similar physical traits rather than a single common ancestor. They share squat bodies and specialized adaptations for fossorial activity. Fossorial animals are creatures that are physically built for living and digging in the earth.

Their physical structure is perfectly designed for a life spent underground. Badgers have short, wide bodies and short legs that aid in digging. Their heads are elongated and resemble those of a weasel. Most species feature grey bodies with a light stripe running from head to tail. They often have black faces with distinctive white markings. Their legs are typically dark, while their underbellies are light-colored.

A badger's skull contains unique features that support its powerful lifestyle. The mandibular condyles, which are the parts of the lower jaw that connect to the skull, fit into long cavities. This connection provides great resistance to jaw dislocation. It also increases their bite grip strength significantly. This anatomy limits jaw movement to hinging open and shut or sliding side to side. However, it does not stop the twisting movements possible in most other mammals.

There are fifteen species of mustelid badgers divided into four distinct subfamilies. The Melinae subfamily includes the European badger and several hog badger species. The Helictidinae subfamily consists of five species known as ferret-badgers. The Mellivorinae subfamily contains the honey badger, also called the ratel. Finally, the Taxideinae subfamily includes the American badger. Interestingly, the Asiatic stink badgers of the genus Mydaus are not mustelids. Recent genetic evidence shows they actually belong to the skunk family, Mephitidae.

Scientists use evolutionary timelines to understand how these groups developed. The American badger is considered the most basal, meaning it is the most ancient lineage. The ratel and the Melinae species followed in evolutionary order. It is estimated that these groups split apart millions of years ago. The American badger split about 17.8 million years ago. The ratel split about 15.5 million years ago. The Melinae split approximately 14.8 million years ago.

Badgers live in diverse environments across the globe. They are found in much of North America and across Europe. Some species live as far east as Japan, Korea, and China. The honey badger inhabits sub-Saharan Africa and the Arabian Desert. Sizes and weights vary greatly between these species. The European badger is one of the largest varieties. In contrast, the ferret-badger is the smallest of all species.

Behavioral patterns also differ depending on the specific species and location. Most badgers are nocturnal, meaning they are active during the night. They live in underground burrows called setts, which can be very extensive. Some species are solitary, while others form colonies called clans or cetes. A cete can include anywhere from two to 15 individuals. While most are ground-dwellers, some species like the honey badger can climb. In South Korea, scientists recently filmed an Asian badger climbing a tree 2.5 meters high.

Human interaction with badgers has a long and complex history. Historically, badgers were hunted for sport, which led to the creation of the Dachshund dog breed. In the past, people even engaged in badger-baiting. Today, many countries have strict laws to protect them. In England, the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 makes it illegal to harm a badger or its sett. Badgers are also used commercially for their pelts. Their hair is highly valued for making shaving brushes because it retains water well.