Hog Badger

The greater hog badger is a stocky mustelid with dark grey or brown fur, a pale throat and two dark stripes across the face. Its elongated, mobile, pig-like snout and modified front teeth help it disturb soil while searching for food. The claws are pale, and skull form helps separate it from the northern and Sumatran hog badgers. Adults measure 55–70cm and weigh 7–14kg. (Animal Diversity Web)

Across its confirmed range, this solitary nocturnal badger occupies grasslands, hills, mountains and tropical forests. It shelters and forages by digging, using its snout, incisors and lower canines to expose food. Earthworms appear particularly important, but insects, small mammals, fruit, roots and tubers are also eaten. Litters contain two to four cubs. A modern taxonomic review indicates that Chinese hog badgers belong to other Arctonyx species. (Animal Diversity Web; Helgen et al. 2008)