[وائل]

Honey Badger

"Ratel" redirects here. For other uses, see Ratel (disambiguation).
Honey Badger

Fossil range: middle Pliocene - RecentConservation status

Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]

Scientific classificationKingdom:AnimaliaPhylum:ChordataClass:MammaliaOrder:CarnivoraFamily:MustelidaeSubfamily:MellivorinaeGenus:Mellivora
Storr, 1780Species:M. capensisGeographic distribution
The Honey Badger (Mellivora capensis), also known as the Ratel, is a monotypic species of mustelid native to Africa, the Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent. Despite its name, the honey badger does not closely resemble other badger species, instead bearing more anatomical similarities to polecats. It is classed as Least Concern by the 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]

• 1 Etymology
• 2 Taxonomy
  • 2.1 Subspecies
• 3 Physical description
• 4 Behavior
  • 4.1 Habits
  • 4.2 Diet
• 5 Range
• 6 Relationships with humans
• 7 References
  • 7.1 Notes
  • 7.2 Bibliography
• 8 External links

[edit] Etymology

Ratel is an Afrikaans word, possibly derived from the 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/, or as "father", /ˈrɑːtəl/.[2]
[edit] Taxonomy


Skeleton from the Muséum national d'histoire 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, instead being much closer to the marten family. Differences between Mellivora and Melinae include a different dentition. Though not related to the 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 in Asia. Its closest relation was the extinct genus Eomellivora, which is known from the upper Miocene, and evolved into several different species throughout the whole Pliocene in both the Old and New World.[3]
[edit] Subspecies

As of 2005[update],[4] 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]
SubspeciesTrinomial authorityDescriptionRangeSynonymsCape ratel
Mellivora capensis capensis
Schreber, 1776South and southwestern Africamellivorus (G. [Baron] Cuvier, 1798)
ratel (Sparrman, 1777)
typicus (A. Smith, 1833)
vernayi (Roberts, 1932)

Ethiopian ratel
Mellivora capensis abyssinicaHollister, 1910EthiopiaTurkmenian ratel
Mellivora capensis buechneriBaryshnikov, 2000Similar to the subspecies indica and inaurita, but is distinguished by its larger size and narrower postorbital constriction[6]TurkmeniaLake Chad ratel
Mellivora capensis concisa
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]Sahel and Sudan zones, as far as Somalilandbrockmani (Wroughton and Cheesman, 1920)
buchanani (Thomas, 1925)

Black ratel
Mellivora capensis cottoni
Lydekker, 1906The fur is typically entirely black, with thin and harsh hairs[7]Ghana, northeastern Congosagulata (Hollister, 1910)Nepalese ratel
Mellivora capensis inauritaHodgson, 1836Distinguished from indica by its longer, much woollier coat and having overgrown hair on its heels[8]Nepal and contiguous areas east of itIndian ratel
Mellivora capensis indica
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]Western Middle Asia northward to the Ustyurt Plateau and eastward to Amu Darya. Outside the former Soviet Union, its range includes Afghanistan, Iran (except the southwestern part), western Pakistan and western Indiamellivorus (Bennett, 1830)
ratel (Horsfield, 1851)
ratelus (Fraser, 1862)
White-backed ratel
Mellivora capensis leuconota
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]West Africa, southern Morocco, former French CongoKenyan ratel
Mellivora capensis maxwelliThomas, 1923KenyaArabian ratel
Mellivora capensis pumilioPocock, 1946Hadhramaut, southern ArabiaSpeckled ratel
Mellivora capensis signata
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]Sierra LeonePersian ratel
Mellivora capensis wilsoniCheesman, 1920Southwestern Iran and Iraq