القبض على السعلوة

[أبوهشام]

كثرت الشائعات والأخبار المتناقلة مؤخراً بين سكان دير الزور بعد انتشار مقطع فيديو يُظهر عدداً من الصيادين الذين تمكنوا من رؤية ما يُعتقد بأنه "سعلوة الفرات" وقتله منذ عدة أيام في إحدى الحوايج (الجزر النهرية)، والسعلوة هي حيوان برمائي يُروى عن وجوده في المنطقة منذ القدم دون دليل موثوق يثبت ذلك، ينشط ليلاً في منطقة الحوايج وعلى ضفاف نهر الفرات.

وسرعان ما انتشرت الأقاويل والمخاوف مع انتشار مقطع الفيديو، الأمر الذي منع الكثير سكان دير الزور من الذهاب للسباحة في نهر الفرات أو الجلوس على ضفافه ليلاً كما اعتادوا؛ وذكر شهود عيان لسيريانيوز ممن اعتادوا التواجد حتى ساعة متأخرة من الليل وبشكل مستمر في الحوايج: "نسمع أحياناً أصواتاً مخيفة ومرتفعة تشبه بكاء المرأة، لكننا لم نستطع تحديد مصدرها في أي مرة"؛ وأضافوا: "في إحدى الليالي ظهر حيوان غريب لم نتبين ماهيته من بين أشجار القصب الكثيفة وبدأ بإطلاق نفس الصرخات، فهربنا على الفور ولم نعد إلى ذلك المكان"!! كما أشار أًصحاب المزارع المحاذية للنهر عن تناقص أعداد الأغنام والأبقار لديهم بشكل مستمر ومبهم.
وتروي الأساطير والكتب المختصة بتاريخ المنطقة عن الـ "سعلوة" الشهيرة بأنها تعيش في بلاد الرافدين وبلاد الشام في البيئة النهرية تحديداً، وتصفها بأنها حيوان برمائي من فصيلة المخلبيات لا تمشي على أربعة أرجل لضخامتها، وهي ذات شكل مرعب وقبيح، جسمها مليء بالشعر وتشبه القرد، قوية جداً وتقتات بافتراس الماشية أو ما يتوافر في المسطحات المائية، وقد تعتدي على البشر عند الجوع؛ بينما ذهب عدد من رجال الدين في تأكيد وجود هذه المخلوقات على أنها "جن" تتقمص أشكال حيوانات غريبة أو قد تكون على شكل امرأة حسناء تغوي الرجال وتفتك بهم.
يذكر أنه في العام المنصرم انتشرت عناصر من الشرطة في عدة مناطق على ضفاف نهر الفرات لتحديد مكان تواجد "السعلوة" وقتلها بعد نفوق عدد كبير من الماشية بشكل مفاجئ، إلا أن جميع المحاولات لم تنجح حتى في رؤيتها.
http://www.syria-news.com/pic/syria/der_alzor/saara1.jpg

[dr.assaher]

مشكور يا ابو هشام ..... معاد ننزل على الفرا.......

[ابو احمد]

مشكور أبو هشام على الخبر وذكرتنا بأيام زمان

عندما كان الشياب والعجايز يسولفونا عن السعلوه ( يخورفونا )

[بشار الدرويش]

تعرف أني أول مرة أعرف أنو السعلوة حيوان حقيقي وليس مجرد (( خرافة )) عجايز

مشكوووووووووووور أبو هشام

[منى]

فعلا انا كنت اظن انها مخلوق خرافي
مهمته تخويفنا به من قبل الامهات والحبابات

[عبدالكريم]

انا كان عندي انطباع ان الس*****
مثل الجن او ما شبه بس طلعت حيوان

[ابوعبدالله]

دان دان يا حديدان و الدبشي إلو آذان

[طير شلوى]

الله ييبشرك بالخير يعني المرة الجاية انشالله يتم القاء القبض على سعلوة خضير او ابو سبع اذان او حديدان ونشوف ابطال رواياتنا الاسطورية شخصي

[عبد الرحمن العمري]

والسعلوة هي حيوان برمائي يُروى عن وجوده في المنطقة منذ القدم


ابو هشام

ذكرتني بمسلسل حدائق الشيطان

شو ها السعلوة يازلمة ؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟

[وائل]

قرأت في كتاب بعنوان أيام العرب
ويتحدث عن أيام الجاهلية
هناك كثير من القصص عن السعلوة من أيام الجاهلية

[أبوهشام]

ليه في سعلوة في الجاهلية ..سبحان الله يعني هذا تراث منقول...

[مناوي]

بسم الله والله شكلها مرعب

على الاقل شفتو السعلوة الي عندكم احنا من كنا صغار واهالينا يخوفونا بحمارة القايله<<<<<<تخاريف طبعا... ومن يومها نفسي اشوفها ذي حمارة القايله مدري ليش حاطه فبالي انها حمراء وعيونه حمراء.

ع العموم الله يستر على الجميع ويكفيكم شرها.

[أبوهشام]

أختي مناوي هذي حمارة القايلة تعني (حمارة الظهر يعني ) لان القايلة عندنا هي الظهر .. ولا ايش..

بعدين سعلوة اسم يخوف اكثر من كلمة حمارة ..

[ابو فهد]

اخي ابو هشام المحترم السلام عليكم ورحمةالله وبركاته
للمعلوميه فقط في تاريخ 2006في مد ينت رفحاء في السعودية بالقيض على الحدود السعودية العراقية جن حيوانين يمشن الظهر وكان راعي سوداني سارح في الغنم هناك جالس في الخيمه وانتبه الى اشخاص قادمين من بعيد يمشون وقام ونطحهم يحمل ماء لهم لكي يشربون وحين اقترب منهم وان الوجيه مهي الوجيه وهرب والحقنه واتضارب معاهن وهم بهل حاله جاء راعي الغنم معزب السوداني وشافهم متضاربين واطلق النار على واحد وقتله والثاني هرب وتداولتهاا لصحف والمجلات بالخليج وبعد التحقيق ثبت انها حيوانات مهجنه جابتها القوات الامريكيه وكان يوكلوها لحم بشر قبل الحرب وهدوها في البصره والفلوجه والحويجه بالعراق وتقتل البشر والحيوانات لاتعيش وهذا اعتراف امريكي بذالك وشكرالكم

[ابواسامة]

يا جماعة ترى اليخاف من السعلوية تطلعلو بالليل

[بهــــاء الزعيم]

اضافة للروايات عام 2000 في راعي غنم حكى ان كلاب الغنم ذبحن حيوان غريب لم يره او يسمع عنه والحيوان الي تكلم عنو ابو فهد انا شفت مقطع الفيديو والقصة المرويه الان المواصفات التي ذكرها الراعي عن الحيوان تنطبق على الحيوان الذي قتل في رفحاء الان يشمل مواصفات البشر و بعض الحيوانات من اظافر واقدام الوجه و الفم

طبعا في برية موحسن

[بدوي]

يا اخوان مقطع الفيديو هذا مصور في البصره في جنوب العراق وتمت نسبته الى مناطق كثيره
ولكن الاصل في البصره ظهر هذا الحيوان الهجين وهو ليس له علاقه بالسعلوه
السعلوه اسطورة عربيه قديمه منذ الجاهليه واصل قدومها من اليمن وقد حملت القبائل العربيه اليمنيه المهاجره هذا الموروث معها الى بلاد الرافدين
والسعلوه الاسطوره حيوان مشابه للانسان وهو على اغلب التحقيقات نوع من انواع القرود
وقد وردت في الشعر الجاهلي القديم في اليمن
رأيت عجبا مذ امس*****عجائز مثل السعالي خمس
وغيرها من الابيات

[أبوهشام]

شكرا لك اخي ابو فهد على المعلومات سبحان الله ايش هاي الحيوانات ومهجنة من شنه... الله يعافينا..

[صقر خابوري]

:a (368):هههههههههه
هذا غريري
ياكل العرابيد

[وائل]

هذا الحيوان بحثت عنه بالسابق كثيرا

وقد اطلعت بعض الشباب على مقطع له فقال لي احدهم انه نفس مواصفات الحيوان الذي هجم على صاحبهم عندما كان صغيرا في بيت جده عند جرف قرب النهر معزول فقد فتح الباب ودخل وبصراخه هرب بعد ان تجمع عليه الموجودين
مما وجدته عنه وهو ترجمة لبعض ما قيل في المقطع :

اسمه قرار العسل وداخل قائمه غينس ان من اقوي الحيوانات الي ما تخاف من شي وتاكل اي شي وهو الحيوان الوحيد الي يستحمل كل انواع السموم مثل ما شفتوا قدر يستحمل سم الكوبرا خلال ساعتين وقام وما في ولا شي وهو غير عن حيوان الي يحمي نفسه باستخدام الرائحه هذا حيوان ثاني
.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAanrPzHNCs
.
.
وبحسب البعض

هذا الحيوان اسمه الغرير
تحدثوا عنه في برنامج على قناة ناشيونال
وقالوا انه دخل موسوعة غينيس
وانه طول النهار يركض وياكل اي شي بطريقه ويهجم على أي مخلوق

وقد قال بعضهم
اسمه " ضرمبول "
وبعضهم قال أنه النيص نباش القبور
مشهور عند البدو
رائحته كريهه
صعبه انك تذبحه بأي شيئ حتى السلاح لا يذبحه بسهوله
اذا كنت تريد قتله ،، تضربه مع انفه ، هذه نقطه ضعفه ، اذا ضربته بقوه بأنفسه يمووت
ورائحته كريهه
وعنده ايدين لو تشوف طبعتهم على الرمل
كأنه اصابع الطفل

[وائل]

Honey Badger

"Ratel" redirects here. For other uses, see Ratel (disambiguation) (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Ratel_(disambiguation)).
Honey Badger

Fossil range: middle Pliocene (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Pliocene) - Recenthttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/af/Honey_badger.jpg/220px-Honey_badger.jpg (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/File:Honey_badger.jpg)Conservation status (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Conservation_status)http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Status_iucn3.1_LC.svg/220px-Status_iucn3.1_LC.svg.png

Least Concern (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Least_Concern) (IUCN 3.1 (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/IUCN_Red_List))[1] (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#cite_note-iucn-0)
Scientific classification (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Biological_classification)Kingdom:Animalia (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Animal)Phylum:Chordata (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Chordate)Class:Mammalia (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Mammal)Order:Carnivora (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Carnivora)Family:Mustelidae (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Mustelidae)Subfamily:MellivorinaeGenus:Mellivora
Storr (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Gottlieb_Conrad_Christian_Storr), 1780Species:M. capensishttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6f/Mellivora_capensis_distribution.svg/220px-Mellivora_capensis_distribution.svg.png (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/File:Mellivora_capensis_distribution.svg)Geographi c distribution
The Honey Badger (Mellivora capensis), also known as the Ratel, is a monotypic species (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Monotypic_taxon) of mustelid (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Mustelid) native to Africa (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Africa), the Middle East (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Middle_East) and the Indian Subcontinent (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Indian_Subcontinent). Despite its name, the honey badger does not closely resemble other badger (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Badger) species, instead bearing more anatomical similarities to polecats (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Polecat). It is classed as Least Concern (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Least_Concern) by the IUCN (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/IUCN) due to its extensive range and general environmental adaptations. It is a primarily carnivorous species, and has few natural predators due to its thick skin and ferocious defensive abilities.
Contents


[hide (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#)]

1 Etymology (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#Etymology)
2 Taxonomy (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#Taxonomy)

2.1 Subspecies (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#Subspecies)

3 Physical description (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#Physical_description)
4 Behavior (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#Behavior)

4.1 Habits (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#Habits)
4.2 Diet (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#Diet)

5 Range (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#Range)
6 Relationships with humans (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#Relationships_with_humans)
7 References (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#References)

7.1 Notes (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#Notes)
7.2 Bibliography (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#Bibliography)

8 External links (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#External_links)
[edit (http://mouhassan.com/w/index.php?title=Honey_Badger&action=edit&section=1)] Etymology

Ratel is an Afrikaans (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Afrikaans) word, possibly derived from the Middle Dutch (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Middle_Dutch) word for rattle, honeycomb (either because of its cry or its taste for honey). In English it is accented on the first syllable, with the "a" is pronounced either as in "rate", /ˈreɪtəl/ (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Wikipedia:IPA_for_English), or as "father", /ˈrɑːtəl/.[2] (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#cite_note-1)
[edit (http://mouhassan.com/w/index.php?title=Honey_Badger&action=edit&section=2)] Taxonomy

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/d9/Caperatelskeleton.jpg/220px-Caperatelskeleton.jpg (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/File:Caperatelskeleton.jpg) http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/File:Caperatelskeleton.jpg)
Skeleton from the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Mus%C3%A9um_national_d%27histoire_naturelle)


The honey badger is the only member of the genus Mellivora. Although it was initially assigned to the badger group in the 1860s, it is now generally accepted that they bear very few similarities to the subfamily Melinae (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Melinae), instead being much closer to the marten (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Marten) family. Differences between Mellivora and Melinae include a different dentition. Though not related to the wolverine (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Wolverine), which is a large-sized deviant of the marten family, the honey badger can be considered an analogous form of polecat. The species first appeared during the middle Pliocene (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Pliocene) in Asia. Its closest relation was the extinct genus Eomellivora, which is known from the upper Miocene (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Miocene), and evolved into several different species throughout the whole Pliocene in both the Old (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Old_World) and New World (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/New_World).[3] (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#cite_note-s1209-2)
[edit (http://mouhassan.com/w/index.php?title=Honey_Badger&action=edit&section=3)] Subspecies

As of 2005[update] (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Honey_Badger&action=edit),[4] (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#cite_note-3) 12 subspecies are recognised. Points taken into consideration in assigning different subspecies include size and the extent of whiteness or greyness on the back.[5] (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#cite_note-r123-4)
Subspecieshttp://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/sort_none.gif (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#)Trinomial authorityhttp://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/sort_none.gif (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#)Descriptionhttp://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/sort_none.gif (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#)Rangehttp://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/sort_none.gif (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#)Synonymshttp://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/sort_none.gif (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#)Cape ratel
Mellivora capensis capensis http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/0f/Cape_ratel.jpg/150px-Cape_ratel.jpg (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/File:Cape_ratel.jpg)
Schreber, 1776South (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/South_Africa) and southwestern Africamellivorus (G. Cuvier, 1798)
ratel (Sparrman, 1777)
typicus (A. Smith, 1833)
vernayi (Roberts, 1932)

[B]Ethiopian ratel
Mellivora capensis abyssinicaHollister, 1910Ethiopia (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Ethiopia)Turkmenian ratel
Mellivora capensis buechneriBaryshnikov, 2000Similar to the subspecies indica and inaurita, but is distinguished by its larger size and narrower postorbital constriction[6] (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#cite_note-Catalogo_ratel-5)Turkmenia (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Turkmenia)Lake Chad ratel
Mellivora capensis concisa http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4e/Mcbuchanani.jpg/50px-Mcbuchanani.jpg (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/File:Mcbuchanani.jpg)
Thomas and Wroughton, 1907The coat on the back consists largely of very long, pure white bristle-hairs amongst long, fine, black underfur. Its distinguishing feature is the fact that unlike other subspecies, it lacks the usual white bristle-hairs in the lumbar area[7] (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#cite_note-r126-6)Sahel (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Sahel) and Sudan (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Sudan) zones, as far as Somaliland (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Somaliland)brockmani (Wroughton and Cheesman, 1920)
buchanani (Thomas, 1925)

Black ratel
Mellivora capensis cottoni [/URL]
Lydekker, 1906The fur is typically entirely black, with thin and harsh hairs[URL="http://mouhassan.com/forum/#cite_note-r126-6"][7] (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/File:Mccottoni.jpg)Ghana (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Ghana), northeastern Congo (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Congo)sagulata (Hollister, 1910)Nepalese ratel
Mellivora capensis inauritaHodgson, 1836Distinguished from indica by its longer, much woollier coat and having overgrown hair on its heels[8] (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#cite_note-p462-7)Nepal (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Nepal) and contiguous areas east of itIndian ratel
Mellivora capensis indica http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8f/Indian_ratel.jpg/150px-Indian_ratel.jpg (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/File:Indian_ratel.jpg)
Kerr, 1792Distinguished from capensis by its smaller size, paler fur and having a less distinct lateral white band separating the upper white and lower black areas of the body[9] (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#cite_note-p458-8)Western Middle Asia (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Middle_Asia) northward to the Ustyurt Plateau (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Ustyurt_Plateau) and eastward to Amu Darya (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Amu_Darya). Outside the former Soviet Union (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Former_Soviet_Union), its range includes Afghanistan (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Afghanistan), Iran (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Iran) (except the southwestern part), western Pakistan (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Pakistan) and western India (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/India)mellivorus (Bennett, 1830)
ratel (Horsfield, 1851)
ratelus (Fraser, 1862)
White-backed ratel
Mellivora capensis leuconota http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/84/Mcleuconota.jpg/50px-Mcleuconota.jpg (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/File:Mcleuconota.jpg)
Sclater, 1867The entire upper side from the face to half-way along the tail is pure creamy white with little admixture of black hairs[7] (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#cite_note-r126-6)West Africa (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/West_Africa), southern Morocco (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Morocco), former French Congo (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/French_Congo)Kenyan ratel
Mellivora capensis maxwelliThomas, 1923Kenya (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Kenya)Arabian ratel
Mellivora capensis pumilioPocock, 1946Hadhramaut (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Hadhramaut), southern Arabia (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Arabia)Speckled ratel
Mellivora capensis signata http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/25/Mcsignata.jpg/50px-Mcsignata.jpg (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/File:Mcsignata.jpg)
Pocock, 1909Although its pelage is the normal dense white over the crown, this pale colour starts to thin out over the neck and sholders, continuing to the rump where it fades into black. It possesses an extra lower molar on the left side of the jaw[7] (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#cite_note-r126-6)Sierra Leone (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Sierra_Leone)Persian ratel
Mellivora capensis wilsoniCheesman, 1920Southwestern Iran and Iraq (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Iraq)

[وائل]

Physical description
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/ad/Ratelglands.jpg/220px-Ratelglands.jpg (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/File:Ratelglands.jpg) http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/File:Ratelglands.jpg)
Facial profile and anal glands


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4f/Ratelpaws.jpg/220px-Ratelpaws.jpg (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/File:Ratelpaws.jpg) http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/File:Ratelpaws.jpg)
Paws


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.[10] (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#cite_note-r113-9) The skin around the neck is 6 mm thick, an adaptation to fighting conspecifics.[11] (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#cite_note-k87-10) 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,[10] (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#cite_note-r113-9) another possible adaptation to avoiding damage while fighting.[11] (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#cite_note-k87-10) 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 (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Plantigrade) animal whose soles (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Sole_(foot)) are thickly padded and naked up to the wrists (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Wrist). The tail (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Tail) is short and is covered in long hairs, save for below the base. Adults measure 23–28 cm in shoulder height[10] (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#cite_note-r113-9) and 68–75 cm in body length, with females being smaller than males. Males weigh 12–16 kg, while females weigh 9.1 kg. Skull length is 13.9-14.5 cm in males and 13 cm for females.[12] (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#cite_note-s1216-11) There are two pairs of mammae (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Mammae).[13] (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#cite_note-p456-12) The honey badger possesses an anal pouch which, unusually among mustelids, is reversible, a trait shared with hyenas (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Hyena). The smell of the pouch is reportedly "suffocating", and may assist in calming bees (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Bee) when raiding beehives.[14] (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#cite_note-k89-13)
The skull (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Skull) bears little similarity to that of the European badger (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/European_badger), and greatly resembles a larger version of a marbled polecat (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Marbled_polecat) skull.[15] (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#cite_note-s1214-14) The skull is very solidly built, with that of adults having no trace of an independent bone structure. The braincase (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Braincase) is broader than that of dogs (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Dog). The dental formula is:
Dentition (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Dentition)3.1.3.13.1.3.1
The teeth often display signs of irregular development, with some teeth being exceptionally small, set at unusual angles or are absent altogether. Honey badgers of the subspecies signata have a second lowar molar on the left side of their jaw, but not the right. Although it feeds predominantly on soft foods, the honey badger's cheek teeth are often extensively worn. The canine teeth (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Canine_teeth) are exceptionally short for carnivores.[16] (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#cite_note-r114-15) The tongue (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Tongue) has sharp, backward-pointing papillae (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Papillae_of_the_tongue) which assist it in processing tough foods.[17] (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#cite_note-r117-16)
The winter fur is long (being 40–50 mm long on the lower back), and consists of sparse, coarse, bristle-like hairs lacking underfur. Hairs are even sparser on the flanks, belly and groin. The summer fur is shorter (being only 15 mm long on the back) and even sparser, with the belly being half bare. The sides of the heads and lower body are pure black in colour. A large white band covers their upper bodies, beginning from the top of their heads down to the base of their tails.[18] (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#cite_note-s1213-17) Honey badgers of the cottoni subspecies are unique in being completely black in colour.[7] (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#cite_note-r126-6)
[edit (http://mouhassan.com/w/index.php?title=Honey_Badger&action=edit&section=5)] Behavior

[edit (http://mouhassan.com/w/index.php?title=Honey_Badger&action=edit&section=6)] Habits

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/15/Smit.Vellivora_cottoni.jpg/220px-Smit.Vellivora_cottoni.jpg (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/File:Smit.Vellivora_cottoni.jpg) http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/File:Smit.Vellivora_cottoni.jpg)
Black ratel (M. c. cottoni)


Although mostly solitary, honey badgers may hunt together in pairs during the May breeding season (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Breeding_season).[17] (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#cite_note-r117-16) Little is known of the honey badger's breeding habits. It is thought that its gestation period (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Gestation_period) lasts six months, usually resulting in two cubs, which are born blind. They vocalise through plaintive whines. Their lifespan (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Lifespan) in the wild is unknown, though captive individuals have been known to live for approximately 24 years.[5] (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#cite_note-r123-4)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5d/Badger2.jpg/220px-Badger2.jpg (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/File:Badger2.jpg) http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/File:Badger2.jpg)
Honey badger feeding on a snake


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/e1/Ratelteeth.jpg/220px-Ratelteeth.jpg (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/File:Ratelteeth.jpg) http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/File:Ratelteeth.jpg)
Dentition


Honey badgers live in holes dug by themselves. They are skilled diggers, being able to dig tunnels into hard ground in 10 minutes. These burrows usually only have one passage and a nesting chamber, and are usually not large, being only 1–3 metres in length. They do not place bedding into the nesting chamber.[19] (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#cite_note-s1225-18) Although they usually dig their own burrows, they may take over disused aardvark (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Aardvark) and warthog (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Warthog) holes or termite (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Termite) mounds.[17] (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#cite_note-r117-16)
Honey badgers are intelligent animals, and are one of few species capable of using tools. In the 1997 documentary series Land of the Tiger (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Land_of_the_Tiger), a honey badger in India was filmed making use of a tool ; the animal rolled a log and stood on it to reach a kingfisher (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Kingfisher) fledgling stuck up in the roots coming from the ceiling in an underground cave.[20] (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#cite_note-19)
Honey badgers are notoriously fearless and tough animals, having been known to savagely attack their enemies when escape is impossible. They are tireless in combat, and can wear out much larger animals in physical confrontations.[16] (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#cite_note-r114-15) The aversion of most predators toward hunting honey badgers has led to the theory that the countershaded coats of cheetah (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Cheetah) kittens evolved in imitation of the honey badger's colouration in order to ward off predators.[21] (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#cite_note-20)
The voice of the honey badger is a hoarse "khrya-ya-ya-ya" sound. When mating, males emit loud grunting sounds.[3] (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#cite_note-s1209-2) Cubs vocalise through plaintive whines.[5] (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#cite_note-r123-4) When attacked by dogs, honey badgers scream like bear cubs.[22] (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#cite_note-p465-21)
[edit (http://mouhassan.com/w/index.php?title=Honey_Badger&action=edit&section=7)] Diet

Honey badgers have the least specialised diet among mustelids.[11] (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#cite_note-k87-10) In undeveloped areas, honey badgers may hunt at any time of the day, though they become nocturnal in places with high human populations. When hunting, honey badgers trot with their fore-toes turned in, moving at the same speed as a young man. Despite their name, honey badgers are primarily carnivorous animals, and will take any sort of animal food at hand, including carrion (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Carrion), small rodents (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Rodent), birds (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Bird), eggs (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Egg), insects (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Insect), lizards (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Lizard), tortoises (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Tortoise) and frogs (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Frog). They will eat vegetable foods such as berries (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Berries), roots (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Root) and bulbs (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Bulb).[17] (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#cite_note-r117-16)
They may hunt frogs and rodents such as gerbils (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Gerbil) and ground squirrels (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Ground_squirrel) by digging them out of their burrows. Honey badgers are able to feed on tortoises without difficulty, due to their powerful jaws. They can kill snakes, even highly venomous or large ones; one record describes how a honey badger killed and ate a python (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Python) 10–11 feet in length.[17] (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#cite_note-r117-16) There is at least one record of a honey badger killing a dwarf crocodile (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Dwarf_crocodile).[23] (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#cite_note-22) They've been known to dig up human corpses in India.[24] (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#cite_note-p464-23) They devour all parts of their prey, including skin, hair, feathers, flesh and bones, holding their food down with their forepaws.[25] (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#cite_note-r120-24) When seeking vegetable food, they lift stones or tear bark from trees.[17] (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#cite_note-r117-16)
[edit (http://mouhassan.com/w/index.php?title=Honey_Badger&action=edit&section=8)] Range

The species ranges through most of Sub-Saharan Africa (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Sub-Saharan_Africa) from the Western Cape (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Western_Cape), South Africa (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/South_Africa), to southern Morocco (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Morocco) and southwestern Algeria (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Algeria) and outside Africa (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Africa) through Arabia (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Arabia), Iran (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Iran) and western Asia (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Asia) to Turkmenistan (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Turkmenistan) and the Indian Peninsula (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Indian_Peninsula). It is known to range from sea level to as much as 2,600 m asl in the Moroccan High Atlas (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/High_Atlas) and 4,000 m asl in Ethiopia (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Ethiopia)'s Bale Mountains (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Bale_Mountains) of Ethiopia.[1] (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#cite_note-iucn-0)
[edit (http://mouhassan.com/w/index.php?title=Honey_Badger&action=edit&section=9)] Relationships with humans

Honey badgers often become serious poultry predators. Because of their strength and persistance, they are difficult to deter. They are known to rip thick planks from hen-houses or burrow underneath stone foundations. Surplus killing (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Surplus_killing) is common during these events, with one incident resulting in the death of 17 Muscovy ducks (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Muscovy_duck) and 36 pullets (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Pullet).[17] (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#cite_note-r117-16)
Because of the toughness and looseness of their skin, honey badgers are very difficult to kill with dogs. Their skin is hard to penetrate, and its looseness allows them to twist and turn on their attackers when held. The only safe grip on a honey badger is on the back of the neck. The skin is also tough enough to resist several machete (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Machete) blows. The only sure way of killing them quickly is through a blow to the skull with a club or a shot to the head with a powerful rifle, as their skin is almost immune to arrows (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Arrow) and spears (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Spear).[26] (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#cite_note-r116-25)
The "Killer badger (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Killer_badger)" is a creature found in a number of modern urban myths (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Urban_legend) from Basra (Al Basrah) province (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Basra_Governorate), Iraq (http://mouhassan.com/wiki/Iraq), where it was said to have attacked both people and livestock. It has since been identified as the honey badger, inflated by rumour.[27] (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#cite_note-newssources-26)[28] (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#cite_note-27)[29] (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#cite_note-28)[30] (http://mouhassan.com/forum/#cite_note-29)