The hog badger (Arctonyx collaris), also known as greater hog badger, is a terrestrial mustelid native to Central and Southeast Asia.
Its appearance generally resembles the European badger, but it is generally smaller, with larger claws on the front feet. Its tail has long white hairs, and its front feet have white claws.
It has medium-length brown hair, stocky body, white throat, two black stripes on an elongated white face and a pink, pig-like snout. The head-and-body length is 22–28 inches, the tail measures 4.7–6.7 inches and the body weight is 15–31 lbs. With weights regularly reported from 19 to 26 lbs it is one of the world’s largest terrestrial extant mustelids going on average body mass.
As funny as this is, as someone who has met a European badger, all I can say is at least the American one has the decency not to hide the fact that it will tear your kidneys out via your toes if you so much as look at it funny.
Secret World Wildlife Rescue, a wildlife rehabilitation center in South West England, is busy taking care of spring’s first badger cubs. The four rescued cubs were all found orphaned or abandoned, but they’re in good hands now.
European Badger(Meles meles) and European Red Fox(Vulpes vulpes crucigera) skull comparison.
I often see people confusing the two, but when seen side by side the differences are obvious! The badger’s skull is shorter and wider with thick, sturdy bone and a large sagittal crest giving them a very powerful bite. The teeth of the badger also reflect it’s status as an omnivore, with large fangs suitable for tearing flesh and flattened molars for chewing vegetation. Another interesting feature of the badger’s skull is that the jaws are permanently attached to the upper skull and wont come apart.
The fox, on the other hand, has a much slimmer skull with long, slender jaws and carnivorous teeth, although like the badger it does have a varied, omnivorous diet. The fox also has only a tiny sagittal crest and it’s bite power is fairly weak compared to that of a badger.
Badgers are basically a sturdy powerhouse while foxes are light and dainty!
