Badger: Difference between revisions
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{{Taxobox |
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| name = Badgers |
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| image = AmericanBadger.JPG |
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| image_width = 280px |
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| image_caption = [[American Badger]] |
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| regnum = [[Animal]]ia |
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| phylum = [[Chordata]] |
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| classis = [[Mammal]]ia |
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| ordo = [[Carnivora]] |
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| familia = [[Mustelidae]] |
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| subfamilia = '''[[Melinae]]'''<br>'''[[Mellivorinae]]'''<br>'''[[Taxidiinae]]''' |
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| subdivision_ranks = [[Genus|Genera]] |
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| subdivision = |
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''[[Arctonyx]]''<br> |
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''[[Melogale]]''<br> |
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''[[Meles (genus)|Meles]]''<br> |
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''[[Mellivora]]''<br> |
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''[[Taxidea]]''}} |
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'''Badger''' is the [[common name]] for any animal of three subfamilies, which belong to the family [[Mustelidae]]: the same [[mammal]] [[family (biology)|family]] as the [[ferret]]s, the [[weasel]]s, the [[otter]]s, and several other types of [[Carnivora|carnivore]]. There are eight [[species]] of badger, in three subfamilies: Melinae (badgers of Europe and Asia – see links in [[#Classification|species list]] below), Mellivorinae (the [[Ratel]] or honey badger), and Taxideinae (the [[American Badger|American badger]]). The Asiatic [[Javan Stink Badger|stink badgers]] of the genus ''Mydaus'' were formerly included in the Melinae, but recent genetic evidence indicates that these are actually Old World relatives of the [[skunk]]s (family Mephitidae). |
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Typical badgers (''Meles'', ''Arctonyx'', ''Taxidea'' and ''Mellivora'' species) are short-legged and heavy-set. The [[mandible|lower jaw]] is articulated to the upper by means of a transverse [[Mandibular condyle|condyle]] firmly locked into a long cavity of the [[skull|cranium]], so that dislocation of the jaw is all but impossible. This enables the badger to maintain its hold with the utmost tenacity, but limits the jaw movement to [[hinge joint|hinging]] open and shut or sliding from side to side. |
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==Etymology== |
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The [[derivation (linguistics)|derivation]] of the word ''badger'' is uncertain. It possibly comes from the French word ''blaireau'': "corn-hoarder", or from the French word ''bêcheur'' (digger), introduced during [[William the Conqueror]]'s reign.<ref>BBC Natural World, 2008, Badgers: Secrets of the Sett</ref> The [[Oxford English Dictionary]], however, states that the most likely derivation is from ''badge'' + ''-ard'', in reference to the white mark borne like a badge on its forehead.<ref name="OED">{{cite book |author=Weiner, E. S. C.; Simpson, J. R. |title=The Oxford English Dictionary |publisher=Clarendon Press |location=Oxford |year=1989 |pages= |isbn=0-19-861186-2 |accessdate=2008-08-30}} Online at http://dictionary.oed.com (subscription required).</ref> |
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An older term for "badger" is ''brock'' ([[Old English]] ''brocc''), a [[Celtic languages|Celtic]] [[loanword]] ([[Goidelic languages|Gaelic]] ''broc'', [[Welsh language|Welsh]] ''broch'', from [[Proto-Celtic]] ''*brokko'') meaning ''grey''.<ref name="OED" /> The [[Proto-Germanic]] term was ''*þahsu-'' ([[German language|German]] ''Dachs''), probably from the [[Proto-Indo-European language|PIE]] [[root (linguistics)|root]] ''*tek'-'' "to construct," so that the badger would have been named after its digging of [[sett]]s (tunnels). |
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A male badger is a '''boar''', a female a '''sow''' and a young badger is a '''cub'''. The collective name for a group of badgers is a [[clan]], [[colony]], or ''cete''. |
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==Classification== |
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*'''Family Mustelidae''' |
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** (Subfamily [[Otter|Lutrinae]]: otters) |
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** '''Subfamily Melinae''' |
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*** [[Hog Badger]], ''Arctonyx collaris'' |
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*** [[Melogale|Burmese Ferret Badger]], ''Melogale personata'' |
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*** [[Melogale|Oriental Ferret Badger]], ''Melogale orientalis'' |
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*** [[Chinese Ferret Badger]], ''Melogale moschata'' |
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*** [[Everett's Ferret Badger]], ''Melogale everetti'' |
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*** [[Eurasian Badger]], ''Meles meles'' |
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** '''Subfamily Mellivorinae''' |
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*** [[Ratel]] or Honey Badger, ''Mellivora capensis'' |
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** '''Subfamily Taxideinae''': |
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*** †''[[Chamitataxus avitus]]'' |
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*** †''Pliotaxidea nevadensis'' |
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*** †''Pliotaxidea garberi'' |
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*** [[American Badger]], ''Taxidea taxus'' |
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** (Subfamily [[Mustelinae]]: weasels, martens, polecats and allies) |
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*'''Family Mephitidae''' |
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** Indonesian or [[Javan Stink Badger]] (Teledu), ''Mydaus javanensis'' |
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** [[Palawan Stink Badger]], ''Mydaus marchei'' |
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==Behavior== |
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The behavior of badgers differs by family, but all shelter underground, living in burrows called [[sett]]s. Some are solitary, moving from home to home, while others are known to form clans. [[Group size measures|Clan size]] is variable from 2 to 15. Badgers are fierce animals and will protect themselves and their young at all costs. Badgers are capable of fighting off much larger animals such as [[wolves]], [[coyote]]s and [[bear]]s. Badgers can run or gallop at up to 25-30 km per hour for short periods of time. |
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==Diet== |
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[[Image:Badger.jpg|left|thumb|American badger.]] |
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[[American Badger]]s are [[fossorial]] [[carnivore]]s. Unlike many carnivores that stalk their prey in open country, badgers catch most of their food by digging. They can tunnel after ground dwelling rodents with amazing speed. They have been known to cache food. |
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The [[honey badger]] consumes [[honey]], [[porcupines]] and even venomous [[snakes]] (such as the [[Bitis arietans|puff adder]]). They will climb trees to gain access to honey from bees' nests. |
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The diet of the [[Eurasian badger]] consists largely of [[earthworm]]s, [[insect]]s, and [[grub]]s. They also eat small mammals, [[amphibian]]s, [[reptile]]s and [[bird]]s as well as [[cereal]]s, [[root]]s and [[fruit]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.badgerecology.org/BEdiet.htm |title=Badger Ecology: diet |work= Woodchester Park Badger Research|publisher=[http://www.csl.gov.uk/ Central Science Laboratory] |accessdate=2008-08-30}}</ref> |
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<ref>[http://www.badgerecology.org/BEdiet.htm Diet of the Eurasian badger]</ref> |
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[[Image:badger delete1.jpg|right|thumb|Eurasian badger.]] |
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==Badgers and humans== |
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{{details|Eurasian badger|badgers and bovine tuberculosis}} |
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Hunting badgers is common in many countries. Meddling in badger population is prevented as badgers are listed in the [[Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats|Berne Convention]] (Appendix III), but they are not otherwise the subject of any international treaty or legislation. |
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The [[blood sport]] of [[badger-baiting]] was outlawed in the [[United Kingdom]] by the [[Cruelty to Animals Act 1835]] as well as the [[Protection of Badgers Act 1992]] which makes it a serious offence to kill, injure or take a badger, or to damage or interfere with a sett unless a licence is obtained from a statutory authority. An exemption that allowed [[fox hunt]]ers to loosely block setts to prevent chased foxes escaping into them was brought to an end with the passage of the [[Hunting Act 2004]]. |
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Many badgers in [[Europe]] were gassed during the 1960s and 1970s to control [[rabies]]. Until the 1980s, gassing was also practised in the [[United Kingdom|UK]] to control the spread of [[Tuberculosis#Animals|bovine TB]]. |
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[[Scandinavia]]n custom is to put eggshells or styrofoam in one's boots when walking through badger territory, as badgers are believed to bite down until they can hear a crunch. The [[dachshund]] dog breed has a history with badgers; "''[[dachs]]''" is the [[German language|German]] word for badger, and dachshunds were originally bred to be badger hounds.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/dachshund.htm |title=Dachshund, Dachshunds, Wiener Dog, little hot dog, hotdog dog |format= |work= Dog Breed Info Center|accessdate=2008-08-30}}</ref> Badger hair is used to make quality [[Shave brush|shaving brushes]] and paint brushes and was used as a trim on Native American garments.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Taxidea_taxus.html |title=ADW: Taxidea taxus: Information |format= |work= Animal Diversity Web|accessdate=2008-08-30}}</ref> It has even been used in some instances as [[doll hair]].{{Fact|date=August 2008}} |
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The badger is the state animal of [[Wisconsin]]. Likenesses of badgers appear through the [[Wisconsin State Capitol]], and a badger appears on the head of the statue of Wisconsin atop the building. The official mascot of the [[University of Wisconsin-Madison]] is Buckingham U. Badger, AKA [[Bucky Badger]]. |
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=== Badgers in the Human Diet === |
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Although uncommon to be eaten today in the [[United States of America|United States]], badgers were one of the main meat sources in the native American diet, specially among hunting tribes, which used to hunt them for [[fur]]<ref>http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Taxidea_taxus.html</ref> and its consumption is widespread around the world. The use of badger meat, however, appears to be returning in the form of an exotic meat and a delicacy, sold in some Hispanic markets in California. |
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In [[Russia]], however, the consumption of badger meat is widespread, and in the [[Novosibirsk]] region, it is easy to find shish kebabs made from badger meat being sold on the streets, due to the fact that [[shish kebab]] made with badger meat is tasty, [[exotic]], and most importantly, cheap.<ref>http://www.trichinella.org/epidemiology/epid_russia.htm</ref> This tendency towards the consumption of badger meat is also seem in many other [[East Europe|Eastern European]] countries, such as [[Croatia]], where badger meat is used in the traditional dish of [[Goulash]]<ref>http://hrcak.srce.hr/index.php?show=clanak&id_clanak_jezik=35552&lang=hr</ref>. |
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Also, badger meat was until recently eaten in parts of [[Spain]] , and as everywhere its fur was used for shaving brushes.<ref>http://www.iberianature.com/mammals/other-carnivores/badgers-in-spain/</ref> |
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Interestingly the badger is a main source of food in [[China]] and badger meat is freely available in the marketplaces<ref>http://www.englishshavingshop.com/shopcontent.asp?type=protected</ref>. |
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[[Badger milk]] is also a food product obtained from badgers being used nowadays mainly by athletes and phisiculturists as a calcium supplement and is found with a certain effort in [[Germany|German]] markets<ref>http://fuego.de/badgermilk/milch.html</ref>. |
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==Badger products== |
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Today badgers are commercially raised for their hair, which is harvested to make [[Shave brush|shaving brushes]]. Because badgers are a protected species in North America and most of Europe, virtually all commercial badger hair comes from mainland China, which supplies knots of hair in three grades to brush makers in both China and Europe. In rural Northern China, badgers multiply to the point of becoming a crop nuisance, and village cooperatives are licensed by the national government to hunt badgers and process their hair. <ref>http://www.menessentials.com/oxid.php/sid/x/shp/oxbaseshop/cl/info/tpl/shave_brush.tpl</ref> |
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==In fiction and popular culture== |
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Badgers are popular in [[English language|English]] fiction. Many badger characters are featured in author [[Brian Jacques]]' [[Redwall]] series, most often falling under the title of [[Badger Lord]] or [[Badger Mother]]. Other stories featuring badgers include Beatrix Potter's [[The Tale of Mr. Tod]] ("Tommy Brock"), C. S. Lewis's [[Prince Caspian]] ("Trufflehunter"), [[The Wind in the Willows]] by Kenneth Grahame, [[The Once and Future King]] and [[The Book of Merlyn]] by T. H. White, [[Fantastic Mr. Fox]] by Roald Dahl, and [[Badger (Farthing Wood)|The Animals of Farthing Wood]]. |
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In the [[Harry Potter]] series, one of the four "houses" of [[Hogwarts]], [[Hufflepuff]], is symbolised by a badger. The character Frances in [[Russell Hoban]]'s series of children's books is a badger. Badgers also appear prominently in two volumes of [[Erin Hunter]]'s [[Warriors (novel series)|Warriors: The New Prophecy]] series, and a badger god is featured as a major character and spirit guide for the lead character in [[The Immortals (series)|The Immortals]] series by [[Tamora Pierce]]. |
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The most prominent poem on the badger is from the Romantic period's [[John Clare]]. "''Badger''" describes a badger hunt, complete with badger-baiting, and treats the badger as a noble creature which dies at the end. |
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Badgers are the primary subject of a popular flash animation simply called "badgers". <ref>http://www.weebls-stuff.com/toons/badgers/</ref> |
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== Urban legends == |
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*British forces were said to have released [[killer badger|man-eating badgers]] in the vicinity of Basra, Iraq, following the 2003 coalition invasion.<ref>{{cite news |
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| last = |
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| first = |
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| title = British blamed for Basra badgers |
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| pages = |
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| publisher = BBC News |
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| date = [[2007-07-12]] |
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| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6295138.stm |
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| accessdate = 2007-07-12 }}</ref> This allegation has been denied by the British, and local scientists agree that the animals, [[Ratel]]s, also known as Honey Badgers, are native to the area.<ref name="badgers of mass destruction">{{cite news |
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| last = Carney |
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| first = Mike |
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| title = Brits 'deny' releasing 'giant man-eating' badgers that target Iraqis |
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| pages = |
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| publisher = USA Today |
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| date = [[2007-07-12]] |
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| url = http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2007/07/brits-deny-rele.html |
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| accessdate = 2007-07-12 }}</ref> |
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==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
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==External links== |
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{{wikispecies|melinae}} |
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*[http://www.badgerbadgerbadger.com/ BadgerBadger] |
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*[http://www.badgerland.co.uk/ Badgerland - The Definitive On-Line Guide to Badgers in the UK] |
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*[http://www.iberianature.com/material/badger.htm IberiaNature: Spanish badgers] |
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*[http://www.badgers.org.uk/badgerpages/index.html Steve Jackson's Badger Pages] |
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*[http://www.badger.org.uk/ The Badger Trust] (formerly the National Federation of Badger Groups) |
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*[http://www.badgers.org/ The Virtual Badger Sett] |
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*[http://www.wildlifeonline.me.uk/european_badger.html WildlifeOnline - Natural History of Badgers] |
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{{Mustelidae nav}} |
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[[Category:Badgers| ]] |
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[[Category:Fauna of Ireland]] |
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[[Category:Mammals of the United States]] |
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[[an:Texudo]] |
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[[ast:Melandru]] |
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[[cs:Jezevec]] |
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[[da:Grævlinger]] |
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[[de:Dachse]] |
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[[el:Ασβός]] |
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[[es:Tejón]] |
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[[fa:گورکن]] |
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[[fr:Melinae]] |
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[[ko:오소리아과]] |
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[[hr:Jazavci]] |
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[[ka:მაჩვი]] |
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[[nl:Dassen]] |
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[[ja:アナグマ亜科]] |
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[[pt:Texugo]] |
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[[ru:Барсучьи]] |
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[[sco:Brock]] |
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[[simple:Badger]] |
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[[sv:Grävlingar]] |
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[[chr:ᎤᎫᎾ]] |
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[[ur:بجو]] |
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[[zh:獾亚科]] |
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Revision as of 14:12, 23 September 2008
hi zac