Taxonomy
It was formerly thought to be the only species in the genus ''Hog badger, Arctonyx'', displaying heavy variation throughout its wide range, leading it to be classified as having many subspecies. However, a 2008 study found that ''Arctonyx'' should be split into three species. The following subspecies were formerly recognized, but are now thought to be conspecific with little distinction between one another: * Greater hog badger ''A. c. collaris'' (Cuvier, 1825) – lives in the Eastern Himalayas;Ellerman, J. R. and Morrison-Scott, T. C. S. (1966)Description
The greater hog badger has medium-length brown hair, a stocky body, white throat, two black stripes on an elongated white snout, with a pink, pig-like nose. The snout-to-rump length is , the tail measures and the body weight is . With weights regularly reported between , it is one of the world's largest terrestrial extant mustelids (by average body mass). It is perhaps only second or third to the wolverine, rivaling the European badger; However, hog badgers are not known to rival the weights of the European badger during Polyphagia, autumn hyperphagia. A hog badger's appearance generally resembles the European badger, but having a pronounced pig-like snout, and with larger claws on the front feet. Its tail has long white hairs, and its front feet have white claws.Distribution and habitat
The greater hog badger is considered fairly common in Thailand and most of mainland Southeast Asia, living in tropical evergreen forests and grasslands. They are also to be found in the Terai of the Indian Subcontinent; from the Yamuna River east, through the states of Haryana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Assam and West Bengal. The range also encompasses areas of lower Himalayan foothills in parts of Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal, in addition to the Brahmaputra River basin. Its distribution in Myanmar is considered patchy.Behaviour and ecology
The hog badger is active by day and not very wary of humans. Analysis of numerous camera trap pictures from Myanmar show no peak activity at either day or night.Than Zaw, Saw Htun, Saw Htoo Tha Po, Myint Maung, Lynam, A. J., Kyaw Thinn Latt and Duckworth, J. W. (2008)References
External links
* {{Taxonbar, from=Q744382 Badgers Carnivorans of Malaysia Mammals described in 1825 Taxa named by Frédéric Cuvier Mammals of China Mammals of India Mammals of Indonesia Mammals of Laos Mammals of Myanmar Mammals of Thailand Mammals of Cambodia Mammals of Vietnam