Meles meles
English: European badger; Eurasian badger.
Clades:
Region: Europe, Western Asia.
Culture
In Irish mythology, badgers are portrayed as shape-shifters and kinsmen to Tadg, the king of Tara and foster father of Cormac mac Airt.
In German folklore, the badger is portrayed as a cautious, peace-loving Philistine, who loves more than anything his home, family and comfort, though he can become aggressive if surprised. He is a cousin of Reynard the Fox, whom he uselessly tries to convince to return to the path of righteousness.
In Kenneth Graham's The Wind in the Willows, Mr. Badger is depicted as a gruff, solitary figure who simply hates society, yet is a good friend to Mole and Ratty, often firm and serious, generally patient and well-meaning, like a wise hermit, a good leader and gentleman, embodying common sense, also brave, a skilled fighter.
They were used for now illegal blood sport of badger-baiting.
Zoology
Powerfully built black, white, brown and grey animal with a small head, a stocky body, small black eyes and short tail.
Body: powerful; small heads; thick, short necks; stocky, wedge-shaped bodies; short tails; feet are plantigrade or semidigitigrade and short, with five toes on each foot; limbs short and massive, with naked lower surfaces on the feet; claws strong, elongated and have an obtuse end, which assists in digging, not retractable, and the hind claws wear with age; snouts are muscular and flexible for digging and probing; eyes are small; ears short and tipped with white; whiskers are present on the snout and above the eyes.
Size: 25 to 30 cm shoulder height, 60 to 90 cm long, 12 to 24 cm tail length; 7 to 19 kg weight.
Time: nocturnal, sleeps during the day.
Social: social, burrowing; territorial; lives in extensive, underground burrows with multiple chambers and entrances, with passages of up to 80 m long; sometimes shared with rabbits, red foxes and raccoon dogs.
Behaviour: very fussy, very clean, carrying in fresh bedding and removing soiled material, defecating in latrines strategically situated outside their setts; ferocious when provoked.
Diet: classified as a carnivore, but omnivorous; earthworms, large insects, small mammals, carrion, cereals and tubers.
Procreation: litters of up to five cubs are produced in spring; weaned a few months later but usually remain within the family group.