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.[2]
| Hog badger[1] | |
|---|---|
| |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Mustelidae |
| Subfamily: | Mustelinae |
| Genus: | ''Arctonyx'' Cuvier, 1825 |
| Species: | ''A. collaris'' |
| Binomial name | |
| Arctonyx collaris Cuvier, 1825
| |
| |
| Hog badger range | |
Characteristics
editIt 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).[3]
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
editHog 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.[2] Their distribution in Myanmar is considered patchy.[4] 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).[5] There is one isolated record in eastern Mongolia.[6]
The following subspecies are recognized:[1]
- Greater hog badger A. c. collaris (Cuvier, 1825) – lives in the Eastern Himalayas;[7]
- Northern hog badger A. c. albogularis (Blyth, 1853) – occurs in southern China northwards to Shensi;[7]
- Chinese hog badger A. c. leucolaemus (Milne-Edwards, 1867) – occurs in northern China from southern Kansu to Chihli;[7]
- Sumatran hog badger A. c. hoevenii (Hubrecht, 1891) – lives in Sumatra;
- Indochinese hog badger A. c. dictator (Thomas, 1910) – lives in southern Thailand and Indochina;[7]
- Burmese hog badger A. c. consul (Pocock, 1940) – occurs from Assam to Myanmar.[7]
Ecology and behavior
editThe hog badger is active by day and not very wary of humans.[8] Analysis of numerous camera trap pictures from Myanmar show no peak activity at either day or night.[9]
The hog badger is omnivorous, its diet consists of fruits, roots and small animals.
References
edit- ^ a b Template:MSW3 Wozencraft
- ^ a b c Template:IUCN
- ^ Boitani, L. (1984). Simon & Schuster's Guide to Mammals. Touchstone. ISBN 978-0-671-42805-1
- ^ Than Zaw, Saw Htun, Saw Htoo Tha Po, Myint Maung, Lynam, A. J., Kyaw Thinn Latt and Duckworth, J. W. (2008). Status and distribution of small carnivores in Myanmar. Small Carnivore Conservation 38: 2–28.
- ^ Holden, J. (2006). Small carnivores in central Sumatra. Small Carnivore Conservation 34/35: 35–38.
- ^ Stubbe, M., Stubbe, A., Ebersbach, H., Samjaa, R. and Doržraa, O. (1998). Die Dachse (Melinae/Mustelidae) der Mongolei. Beiträge zur Jagd- und Wildforschung 23: 257–262.
- ^ a b c d e Ellerman, J. R. and Morrison-Scott, T. C. S. (1966). Checklist of Palaearctic and Indian mammals 1758 to 1946. Second edition. British Museum of Natural History, London. Pages 274–275.
- ^ Duckworth, J. W., Salter, R. E. and Khounbline, K. (1999). Wildlife in Lao PDR: 1999 Status Report. IUCN, Vientiane, Laos.
- ^ Than Zaw, Saw Htun, Saw Htoo Tha Po, Myint Maung, Lynam, A. J., Kyaw Thinn Latt and Duckworth, J. W. (2008). Status and distribution of small carnivores in Myanmar. Small Carnivore Conservation 38: 2–28.