Interesting Facts Honey Badgers are also known as: Ratel
Main Characteristics
Honey Badgers have a body length between 60 and 77 cms (23.5 - 30 inches), a tail length between 20 and 30 cms (8 - 12 inches) and they weigh between 7 and 13 kgs (15 - 29 lbs). They have a stocky build and they are silver grey on the top of their head, back and tail and black elsewhere. Habitat
Honey Badgers can be found in the dry grasslands and moist deciduous forests of Africa and western and southern Asia.
Diet Honey Badgers are fierce predators and they feed on snakes, porcupines, hares, scorpions, termites, earth worms, tortoises, amphibians, lizards, fruits, berries, honey and carrion.
Breeding Little is known about reproduction in Honey Badgers. They have a litter of 1 - 4 young which the female relocates to a new den every 2 - 5 days. The youngsters venture from the den at 3 months old and they are almost their full adult size at 8 months old. They tend to stay with their mother for over a year before they disperse. Predators
Honey Badgers have no natural predators. They have a reputation of being fearless and few animals will enter into a fight with a fully grown Honey Badger.
Subspecies Subspecies of the Honey Badger include: Mellivora capensis abyssinica Mellivora capensis brockmani Mellivora capensis buchanani Mellivora capensis capensis Mellivora capensis concisa Mellivora capensis cottoni Mellivora capensis inaurita Mellivora capensis indica Mellivora capensis leuconota Mellivora capensis maxwelli Mellivora capensis pumilio Mellivora capensis sagulata Mellivora capensis signata Mellivora capensis vernayi Mellivora capensis wilsoni
| Latin Name | Mellivora capensis |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern |
| Location | Africa, W & S Asia |
| Colour | Silver Grey & Black |
| Length | 60 - 77 cms (23.5 - 30 inches) |
| Tail | 20 - 30 cms (8 - 12 inches) |
| Weight | 7 - 13 Kgs (15 - 29 lbs) |
| Life Expectancy |
26 to 30 Yrs (in Captivity) |