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Classification

There is just one species of hog badger, Arctonyx collaris. It belongs to the subfamily Melinae along with the other "true badgers", the Eurasian badger, the American badger, the ferret badgers, and the stink badgers. Several subspecies have been described. [More info]

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Names

The hog badger is also known as the hog-nosed badger, the bear-pig and the sand badger. The Italian for hog badger is tasso naso di porco, and the German is Schweinsdachs. In China, the hog badger is called Zhu-huan or huan-zhu, while in Indonesia it is known as pulusan or babi batang. [More info]

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Appearance and general characteristics

The hog badger is similar in size, build and appearance to the Eurasian badger Meles meles - it even has the same facial stripes. However the claws on the front feet are considerably longer and white in colour, and the tail is longer and white in colour too.

Head-and-body lengths range from 550mm to 700mm, with tail lengths of 120 to 170mm. Adults may weigh anything from 7 to 14kg. [More info]

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Distribution

The hog badger ranges over south-east Asia, occuring in Bangladesh, India, Bhutan, China, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Within these countries, the species usually lives in forested areas, often in hilly or mountainous areas. [More info]

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Social organisation

Hog badgers are said to be playful animals, the young especially so. However, I have found no information regarding social organisation or territoriality. An account of the status of the hog badger in India states that most sightings of the species are of single animals [b130-02], suggesting that the species is solitary.

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Activity patterns

Most accounts of the hog badger state that it is nocturnal, spending the day hidden away in a den [b003-01]. However in Manipur (India) local tribes report that the hog badger is active during the early part of the day and late at night. A specimen kept in Manipur Zoo also showed crepuscular behaviour, being active in the early morning (up to 10.00am) and the evening (from 5.00pm) [b034]. There have also been observations of wild hog badgers abroad during the day [w154].

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Dens

The dens in which the hog badger spends the day sleeping are either deep burrows which it has dug, or natural cavities under rocks and boulders [b003-01]. In Manipur in north-eastern India, local tribes report that the hog badger prefers to dig its dens in river beds [b034].

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Food and feeding behaviour

The hog badgers is omnivorous, and roots in the ground rather like a pig to find its food. The following food items are eaten:

• Earthworms
• Other ground-living invertebrates
• Roots and tubers
• Fruits

[More info]

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Life cycle

Litters of 2-4 young are usually born in the Spring (February - April). Young hog badgers, like young Eurasian badgers, are playful animals. They may reach adult size at around 7-8 months of age.

It is not known how long hog badgers live in the wild, but one specimen in captivity lived to be nearly 14 years old. [More info]

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Predators and defences against them

Hog badgers are preyed upon by tigers and leopards. When under attack, the hog badger will put up quite a fight, defending itself with its strong jaws and long claws. It may also attempt to escape would-be attackers by digging into the ground. [More]

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Picture credits

The hog badger photo used at the head of this page is © Advanced Thailand Geographic Magazine, and used with the kind permission of Thon Thamrongnawasawat, TalayThai.com Manager. 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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