Hog badger

The hog badger (Arctonyx collaris) is a terrestrial mustelid that is widespread in Central and Southeast Asia. It is listed as Near Threatened in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as its occurrence is patchy. The population is thought to be declining due to high levels of exploitation.

Characteristics

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 (22–28 in), the tail measures 12–17 cm (4.7–6.7 in) and the body weight is 7–14 kg (15–31 lb).

Its appearance generally resembles the European badger, but it is generally smaller, with larger claws on the front feet. Its tail has long white hairs, and its front feet have white claws.

Distribution and habitat

Hog badgers are considered fairly common in Thailand and in tropical evergreen forests and grasslands of the Terai in north-eastern India. They occur in Indochina and in southern China. Their distribution in Myanmar is considered patchy. In the Indonesian island of Sumatra, hog badgers occur primarily above 2,000 m (6,600 ft) with one record at 700 m (2,300 ft). There is one isolated record in eastern Mongolia.