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 classed as Least
Concern by the IUCN owing to its extensive range and general environmental
adaptations. It is primarily a carnivorous species and has few natural
predators because of its thick skin and ferocious defensive abilities.
The honey badger has a fairly long body, but is distinctly thick-set and broad
across the back. Its skin is remarkably loose, and allows it to turn and twist
freely within it. The skin around the neck is 6 millimeters (0.24 in) thick, an
adaptation to fighting conspecifics. 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, another possible adaptation to avoiding damage while fighting.
The honey
badger has short and sturdy legs, with five toes on each foot. The feet are
armed with very strong claws, which are short on the hind legs and remarkably
long on the forelimbs. It is a partially plantigrade animal whose soles are
thickly padded and naked up to the wrists. The tail is short and is covered in
long hairs, save for below the base.
Although mostly solitary, honey badgers may hunt together in pairs during the
May breeding season. Little is known of the honey badger's breeding habits. Its
gestation period is thought to last six months, usually resulting in two cubs,
which are born blind. They vocalise through plaintive whines. Its lifespan in
the wild is unknown, though captive individuals have been known to live for
approximately 24 years.
Honey
badgers live alone in self-dug holes. They are skilled diggers, able to dig
tunnels into hard ground in 10 minutes. These burrow usually only have one
passage and a nesting chamber and are usually only 1–3 m long. They do not
place bedding into the nesting chamber. Although they usually dig their own burrows,
they may take over disused aardvark and warthog holes or termite mounds.
Bellow there is a video where we can see how fearless a honey badger coud be.
