Hog Badger
Encyclopedia
The hog badger is a terrestrial species of the mustelid
family. 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 55–70 cm (21.7–27.6 in), the tail measures 12–17 cm (4.7–6.7 in) and the body weight is 7–14 kg (15.4–30.9 lb). It is monotypic within the genus Arctonyx.
The hog badger is found in Southeast Asia
n tropical rainforest
s. Its appearance generally resembles the Eurasian badger
, but it is smaller, with larger claws on the front feet. Its tail has long white hairs, and its front feet have white claws.
The hog badger is omnivorous
, its diet consisting of fruits, roots and small animals. It is nocturnal.
The hog badger is uncommon and declining throughout its large range, and has been evaluated as of Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List
of Threatened Species. It was previously listed as Least Concern.
Mustelidae
Mustelidae , commonly referred to as the weasel family, are a family of carnivorous mammals. Mustelids are diverse and the largest family in the order Carnivora, at least partly because in the past it has been a catch-all category for many early or poorly differentiated taxa...
family. 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 55–70 cm (21.7–27.6 in), the tail measures 12–17 cm (4.7–6.7 in) and the body weight is 7–14 kg (15.4–30.9 lb). It is monotypic within the genus Arctonyx.
The hog badger is found in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
n tropical rainforest
Tropical rainforest
A tropical rainforest is an ecosystem type that occurs roughly within the latitudes 28 degrees north or south of the equator . This ecosystem experiences high average temperatures and a significant amount of rainfall...
s. Its appearance generally resembles the Eurasian badger
Eurasian Badger
The European Badger is a species of badger of the genus Meles, native to almost all of Europe. It is classed as Least Concern for extinction by the IUCN, due to its wide distribution and large population....
, but it is smaller, with larger claws on the front feet. Its tail has long white hairs, and its front feet have white claws.
The hog badger is omnivorous
Omnivore
Omnivores are species that eat both plants and animals as their primary food source...
, its diet consisting of fruits, roots and small animals. It is nocturnal.
The hog badger is uncommon and declining throughout its large range, and has been evaluated as of Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List
IUCN Red List
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species , founded in 1963, is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature is the world's main authority on the conservation status of species...
of Threatened Species. It was previously listed as Least Concern.