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Classification

Class: Mammalia (Mammals)

Family: Mustelidae (Weasels etc.)

Sub-family: Melinae (True badgers)

Genus & species: Meles meles (The Eurasian badger)

This species was first described by Linnaeus in 1758, in the 10th edition of his Systema Natura. Linnaeus actually classified the badger in the same genus as the bears, naming it Ursus meles [w005-01].

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Subspecies

The following subpecies are generally recognised as being valid [b001]:

• Meles meles meles: Found in most of western Europe.
• Meles meles danicus: The Danish badger.
• Meles meles marianensis: Found in Spain and Portugal.
• Meles meles rhodius: A relatively small badger, which occurs on the island of Rhodes, Greece.
• Meles meles arcalis: Another small subspecies, found only on the island of Crete, Greece.
• Meles meles canescens: Yet another small badger, from Transcaucasia.
• Meles meles leptorynchus: Widely distributed across Russia.
• Meles meles amurensis: Found in Manchuria.
• Meles meles leucurus: Occurs mainly in China and Tibet.
• Meles meles albogularis: Found only in Tibet.
• Meles meles anakuma: The Japanese badger.

A number of other subspecies have also been described [b016]:

• Meles meles altaicus: Occurs along the coast of Lake Telezkoi in the Russian Altai.
• Meles meles heptneri: From the Caspian region of Russia.
• Meles meles severzovi: Found in Russia's Fergana basin.
• Meles meles arenarius: Native to Kazakstan.

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Alternative ideas about classification

Some taxonomists have classified the Japanese badger as a full species, Meles anakuma [w005-01].

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Picture credits

The Eurasian badger photo used at the head of this Article is © Steve Jackson. Credits for the photos used in the right-hand margin of this page for site navigation can be found on the Credits page.

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