Honey Badger - Mellivora capensis

 

Honey Badger

 

   CONTENTS

Description   

Honey Badger or ratel Pronounced As: ratl, is about 2 ft (61 cm) long excluding the tail, it has a coat that is black on the lower half of the body and pale gray above. The honey badger resembles its distant relative the skunk in coloration and in the possession of an anal scent gland.  The honey badger has short legs and stout claws and is a strong burrower and a good climber.

Reproduction   

Honey badgers travel singly or in pairs. In the honey badgers of West Asia matings occur in autumn and births after about six months in spring; in Africa matings have been reported in various months. Litter size ranges from 1 to 4, but the average is two. They can reportedly live to be from 20 to 24 years of age.

Habits   

 It is nocturnal, feeds on rodents, reptiles, and insects, and has a thick loose coat that protects it against snake bites and insect stings. The honey badger collaborates with the honeyguide, or indicator bird, in obtaining honey, a favorite food. The bird searches for a bee colony, and when one is found, the honey badger rips it open. The bird and the honey badger then share the honey. They are omnivorous and will also eat insects, rodents, birds, eggs, snakes, roots, fruits and tubers.   

General   

It is related to the wolverine and martens, as shown by the resemblance in teeth.  The honey badger resembles in fossorial (adapted to digging) form and perhaps in its fierce disposition the true badgers. 


Range   

Range

The honey badger lives in the forest and brush country of Africa, the Middle East, and India;