Main Characteristics

Honey Badgers have a body length between 60 and 77 cms (23.5 - 30 inches), a tail length between 20 and 30 cms (8 - 12 inches) and they weigh between 7 and 13 kgs (15 - 29 lbs).

They have a stocky build and they are silver grey on the top of their head, back and tail and black elsewhere.

Habitat

Honey Badgers can be found in the dry grasslands and moist deciduous forests of Africa and western and southern Asia.

Diet

Honey Badgers are fierce predators and they feed on snakes, porcupines, hares, scorpions, termites, earth worms, tortoises, amphibians, lizards, fruits, berries, honey and carrion.

Breeding

Little is known about reproduction in Honey Badgers. They have a litter of 1 - 4 young which the female relocates to a new den every 2 - 5 days. The youngsters venture from the den at 3 months old and they are almost their full adult size at 8 months old. They tend to stay with their mother for over a year before they disperse.

Predators

Honey Badgers have no natural predators. They have a reputation of being fearless and few animals will enter into a fight with a fully grown Honey Badger.

Subspecies

Subspecies of the Honey Badger include:

Mellivora capensis abyssinica
Mellivora capensis brockmani
Mellivora capensis buchanani
Mellivora capensis capensis
Mellivora capensis concisa
Mellivora capensis cottoni
Mellivora capensis inaurita
Mellivora capensis indica
Mellivora capensis leuconota
Mellivora capensis maxwelli
Mellivora capensis pumilio
Mellivora capensis sagulata
Mellivora capensis signata
Mellivora capensis vernayi
Mellivora capensis wilsoni

Interesting Facts

Honey Badgers are also known as:
Ratel

Similar Animals

 Hog Badger
Asian Badger
Japanese Badger
Eurasian Badger
American Badger