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English names

The common name for this badger derives from the animal's pig-like snout, and possibly also from the way it roots for food with this snout in the manner of a pig. Hog nosed badger is another name used for this species.

The species is also known as the bear-pig [w099] or the sand badger [b005] - perhaps because it digs its burrows in sandy soils?

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Latin name

Arktos is the Greek for bear, and onux is the Greek for claw, hence Arctonyx or "bear claw". Collaris derives from two Latin words for the neck (collum) and pertaining to (aris), and probably refers to the white patch on the hog badger's throat. [b005]

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Names in other languages

• Chinese: Zhu-huan, huan-zhu [w005-03].
• Czech: jezevec bìlohrdlý or jezevec belohrdlý [w022, w086].
• Dutch: De varkensdas [w083-02].
• Esperanto: kolumo-melo [w026].
• Finnish: kaulusmäyrä [w112].
• French: le blaireau des sables [w098].
• German: Schweinsdachs [w015, w027].
• Hindi: Bala sur [c014].
• Italian: il tasso naso di porco [w093].
• Spanish: tejón-cerdo [w082], tejón del desierto [w107].

In those parts of Indonesia where this species occurs, this species is referred to as the pulusan or babi batang [w260-09]. In Manipur, the local tribes have a variety of names for this badger. The Meiteis refer to the hog badger as Nung-Ock ("rock pig"), the Thadou and the Paite call it Ngal-Vang, and the name used by the Mao Naga is Gingu [b034].

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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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