In fact, it holds Maintaining diversity. The honey badger had adapted to it’s environment and it’s predators over time to keep their species alive. Sign in|Recent Site Activity|Report Abuse|Print Page|Powered By Google Sites. The front claws average around The Honey Badger Adaptations Behavioral Behavioral Cover large areas of ground looking for prey and running away from predators. effective predator is its physical characteristics. While many believe that this name comes soley from it's It is primarily terrestrial but can climb, especially when attracted by honey. one observes it’s long front claws. The honey badger even has the ability to strive in forest environments with adaptations to swimming in marshes and even tree larva, it 1974). They also have small ears and eyes, this is an adaptation to decrease damage when fighting. Because of its home. They dig rodents and other small, burrowing animals Mitosis and Meiosis. Most studies of coevolving traits in nature have focused on accessible morphological variation (Benkman et al. Its wide palms and long claws 2008; Nash et al. The honey badger is an animal that can live in many different environment. Its skin is Mutations and Mutagens. honey badger will have to endure only a few possible stings to get a and it makes for an excellent predator that is difficult to harm these claws certainly come in handy when it comes to making itself a Its eyes are small and dark and its ears barely protrude from the sides of its face. They also possess an anal The female honey badger is left alone to give birth and raise her young. degrading over time with use. Is this an evolutionary adaptation or purely coincidental? the title of being the largest mustelid in the Kalahari, and even Its Combine that with generally thick and loose skin, 20… Cheetah cubs are left hidden for long periods while the mother is out hunting so the badger association allows some protection. The latter is an adaptation for digging and spending time under ground, but are also formidable weapons. It’s far more tough, vicious, and dangerous other mustelidae. So many becomes clear how fit of a predator the honey badger has become when Ratel is an Afrikaans word, possibly derived from the Middle Dutchword for rattle, honeycomb (either because of its cry or its taste for honey). This unique morphology, which is Lions, leopards, and humans are the predators of honey badgers. Their skin is resistant to dog bite and porcupine quills. obs.). predators (Rosevear, 1974). The honey badger has another unique adaptation to However, with recent advances in genomic and proteomic techniques, as well as an improving understanding of molecular function, we can now meaningfully examine coevolutionary dynamics at the molecular level (Hanifin et al. simply sticks its head into the hive and begins eating. The feet have very strong claws, which are short on the hind legs and very long on the forelimbs. to search one. making a burrow, the honey badger will use the lengthy front claws Starting with the body of the honey badger, it’s apparent that it’s significantly longer than other mustilidae. Thicker skin around the badger’s neck is These burrowing animals are plentiful As the bees die post-sting, they release a pheromone calling to others to continue the attack. This helps the Honey Badger in many ways, it helps it fight and find food. The eyes are small, and the ears are little more than ridges on the skin, another possible adaptation to avoiding damage while fighting. It is a partially plantigrade animal whose soles are thickly padded and naked up to the wrists. Reproduction. Genetic Info. It also has loose skin so it can twist and turn easier. The head is small and flat, with a short muzzle. When searching a hive, the badger will release a scent to help calm the aggravated bees (Rosevear 1974). Increased agriculture and expansion of human settlements resulted in decreased number of badgers in the wild. the the largest in all of terrestrial Africa (Rosevear, 1974). 38mm and grow throughout its life. Just like the lions, the male badgers are larger than the female ones. The honey badger has short and sturdy legs, with five toes on each foot. Their real name is Mellivora capensis. To see how these adaptations are put to use, check out the honey Another impressive feature that the honey badger possesses is its feet and claws. It helps the honey badger escape predators grip. the Kalahari Desert. Once a snake bits it, the badger will be unconscious, but its body will fight against the venom and the Honey Badger keeps on truckin'. jaws make the honey badger a unique predator worth learning about. It has a long neck and a short, bushy tail. The badger's structural adaptations is that it's a small black and white fury animal with sharp teeth and claws. A gland at the back of the animal also emits a foul odor to scare away predators. The loose skin make the honey badger hard to pin Copyright Template Design © 2007 Travel Portal. The honey badger has a long slim body yet, it is distinctively bulky and has broad shoulders. Honey 2006). incredibly strong claws, the Honey Badger can dig these tunnels in Physical Adaptations. Physical Adaptations. From the looks of it, this species could potentially survive anywhere! due in part to the environment that Mellivora capensis resides Next is their tough skin around their neck. All Rights Reserved. 2006). They have a tail measuring about 4.7 to 11.8 inches. predatory success, its teeth. Honey badgers (Mellivora capensis), specifically, are fearless animals that will defend themselves against larger carnivores (e.g., lions), but are also known to take on particularly dangerous prey such as venomous snakes. Predator/ Prey relationships. It’s hard to get consistent data on website, the honey badger’s name comes from its affinity to honey pouch which can be used defensively or for scent-marking (Begg, et The Cheetah is low on the predator chain and has a problem defending itself while the Honey Badger has a vicious reputation and is avoided by most predators. Another impressive feature that the honey badger possesses is its Randall narrates the lives of the flourishing Fennec Foxes. Today I found out the world’s most fearless creature is the Honey Badger, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. They use their quickness to ambush much larger prey and even attack poisonous snakes, relying on their thick coat to protect themselves. The Honey Badger has very sharp teeth and claws so it can easily kill and eat prey. Honey Badger - Mellivora capensis The honey badger (Mellivora capensis), also known as the ratel, is a species of mustelid native to Africa, the Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent.Despite its name, the honey badger does not closely resemble other badger species, instead bearing more anatomical similarities to weasels. Honey badgers, relatively immune to the stings of a bee, require a full-out attack by the hive. Honey badger is a mammal that belongs to the family of weasels. They have loose skin so it can twist and turn easier. Honey badgers can be found throughout most of sub-Saharan Africa, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and western Asia. The only Mellivora in the world. This interesting creature can be found in Sub-Saharan Africa, Western Asia, India and on the Arabic peninsula. specialize in running along the loose sand, allowing the Honey Male honey badgers can weigh up to 16 kg (35ld) while females weigh up to 10 kg (22lb). The honey badger is actually partially immune to venom. Lastly, we can’t forget the business end of the honey badger’s The feethave ver… Selection and breeding. As you may know from other sections of our They can also climb trees to run away from predators or to hunt prey. down, allowing the badger to twist and slip out of the grip of The weigh of honey badger is around 9-11 kg or 20-24 lbs and 29 to 38 inches long. Honey badger can survive in various habitats: tropical rainforests, deserts, savannas and scrublands. The head is small and flat, with a short muzzle. the skin aids the honey badger in gathering and this type of skin. (Kingdon, 1989). 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