# honey badger (*Mellivora capensis*) Honey badgers are brave little animals known for their tough skin and fearless nature. They love to dig and can eat many things, including honey, which is why they are named honey badgers! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate - **Habitat:** Grasslands - **Also known as:** Ratel ![honey badger](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Honey_badger.jpg&width=800) Photo: en:User:Jaganath, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Honey_badger.jpg) ## Appearance The honey badger has a stocky build with short legs and a distinct appearance. Its body is black, contrasted sharply by a broad white or grayish stripe running from its head down its back to its tail. It also has small eyes and ears. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Carnivora - **Family:** Mustelidae - **Genus:** Mellivora ## Interesting facts - A honey badger can dig a deep burrow in minutes, disappearing fast from sight! - Honey badgers often eat snakes, even venomous ones, more than actual honey! - One of few animals that uses tools, like logs, to reach food! - Their thick, loose skin makes it tough for predators to bite or hold on! ## Special abilities - **Tough Defender:** The honey badger has incredibly thick, loose skin that helps them resist bites and stings from foes. - **Venomous Eater:** Honey badgers can resist many snake venoms, which helps them hunt dangerous reptiles safely. - **Digging Dynamo:** They have long, powerful claws for digging rapidly, helping them find food or escape danger quickly. - **Clever Tool-User:** The honey badger can use rocks or sticks as tools, which helps them reach hidden food. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 55-107 cm - **Weight:** 5-16 kg - **Lifespan:** 8-24 years - **Speed:** 28 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-2 - **Gestation:** 50-70 days ## Diet & Feeding These fierce omnivores eat almost anything they can catch, from insects to snakes and roots! - **Primary Foods:** bees, honey, rodents, snakes, insects, birds - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Consumes larvae and honey from their nests. - **Hunts:** [Indian cobra](https://www.snappit.app/explore/indian-cobra) (*Naja naja*) — Predates on venomous snakes, resisting their toxins. - **Symbiotic with:** Greater honeyguide (*Indicator indicator*) — Bird leads badger to beehives, sharing the sweet reward. - **Eaten by:** Lion (*Panthera leo*) — Occasionally preyed upon by powerful big cats. - **Eaten by:** [Spotted hyena](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-hyena) (*Crocuta crocuta*) — Hyenas sometimes kill honey badgers over food. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Scavenger](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/scavenger): Scavengers consume dead organic matter, helping to decompose carcasses and other waste in the ecosystem. - [Burrowing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/burrowing): Burrowing animals dig tunnels and chambers in the ground, using these subterranean structures for shelter, hunting, or breeding. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Tool Use](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/tool-use): This trait describes organisms that manipulate external objects to achieve a specific goal. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate Honey badgers are wild animals and should be admired from a safe distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify honey badger? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is honey badger? 55-107 cm ### How much does honey badger weigh? 5-16 kg ### How long does honey badger live? 8-24 years ### How fast can honey badger move? 28 km/h ### What does honey badger eat? These fierce omnivores eat almost anything they can catch, from insects to snakes and roots! ### Where is honey badger usually found? Grasslands ### How does honey badger hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Naples Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/naples-zoo) — Florida, US · Zoo ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Honey Badger: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/honey-badger)