>Geekgecko at 16:11, 26 June 2021

2021-06-26T16:11:55Z

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{{Short description|Species of carnivore}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Greater hog badger
| image = Arctonyx-collaris-hog-badger.jpg
| image_caption = Greater hog badger in [[Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary]], Thailand
| status = VU
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name=iucn>{{cite iucn |title=''Arctonyx collaris'' |author=Duckworth, J.W. |author2=Timmins, R.J. |author3=Chutipong, W. |author4=Gray, T.N.E. |author5=Long, B. |author6=Helgen, K. |author7=Rahman, H. |author8=Choudhury, A. |author9=Willcox, D.H.A. | name-list-style=amp |page=e.T70205537A45209459 |date=2016 |access-date=30 October 2018}}</ref>
| genus = Arctonyx
| species = collaris
| authority = [[Frédéric Cuvier|Cuvier]], 1825
}}

The '''greater hog badger''' (''Arctonyx collaris'') is a very large terrestrial [[Mustelidae|mustelid]] native to [[Southeast Asia]]. It is listed as [[Vulnerable species|Vulnerable]] in the [[IUCN Red List of Threatened Species]] because the global population is thought to be declining due to high levels of [[poaching]].<ref name=iucn/>

== 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 3 species, a finding later followed by the [[American Society of Mammalogists]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Helgen|first=Kristofer M.|last2=Lim|first2=Norman T.-L.|last3=Helgen|first3=Lauren E.|date=2008|title=The hog-badger is not an edentate: systematics and evolution of the genus Arctonyx (Mammalia: Mustelidae)|url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00416.x|journal=Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society|language=en|volume=154|issue=2|pages=353–385|doi=10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00416.x|issn=1096-3642|pmc=7107037|pmid=32287392}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore the Database|url=https://www.mammaldiversity.org/explore.html#species-id=1005854|access-date=2021-06-26|website=www.mammaldiversity.org}}</ref>

== Description ==
It has medium-length brown hair, stocky body, white throat, two black stripes on an elongated white face and a pink, pig-like snout. The head-and-body length is {{convert|65|-|104|cm|in|abbr=on}}, the tail measures {{convert|19|-|29|cm|in|abbr=on}} and the body weight is {{convert|7|-|14|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.<ref name=":0" /><ref>Boitani, L. (1984). ''Simon & Schuster's Guide to Mammals''. Touchstone. {{ISBN|978-0-671-42805-1}}</ref>

With weights regularly reported from {{convert|8.4|to|12|kg|lb|abbr=on}} it is one of the world's largest terrestrial extant mustelids going on average body mass, perhaps behind only the [[wolverine]] and rivaling the [[European badger]] (although it is not known to rival the weights of the latter, better-known badger during [[Polyphagia|autumn hypophagia]]).<ref>Zhang, L., Zhou, Y. B., Newman, C., Kaneko, Y., Macdonald, D. W., Jiang, P. P., & Ding, P. (2009). ''Niche overlap and sett-site resource partitioning for two sympatric species of badger''. Ethology Ecology & Evolution, 21(2), 89-100.</ref><ref>Parker, C. (1979). ''Birth, care and development of Chinese hog badgers''. International Zoo Yearbook, 19(1), 182-185.</ref>

Its appearance generally resembles the [[European badger]], but 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 [[Mainland Southeast Asia|Indochina]] in [[tropical evergreen forest]]s and grasslands of the [[Terai]] in the easternmost portion of north-eastern [[India]] and southeastern [[Bangladesh]].<ref name=iucn/> Its distribution in [[Myanmar]] is considered patchy.<ref>Than Zaw, Saw Htun, Saw Htoo Tha Po, Myint Maung, Lynam, A. J., Kyaw Thinn Latt and Duckworth, J. W. (2008). Status and distribution of small carnivores in Myanmar. Small Carnivore Conservation 38: 2–28.</ref>

The following [[subspecies]] were formerly recognized, but are now thought to be conspecific with little distinction between one another:<ref name=MSW3>{{MSW3 Wozencraft |id= 14001135}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore the Database|url=https://www.mammaldiversity.org/explore.html#species-id=1005854|access-date=2021-06-25|website=www.mammaldiversity.org}}</ref>
* Greater hog badger ''A. c. collaris'' (Cuvier, 1825) – lives in the [[Eastern Himalayas]];<ref name=ems1966>Ellerman, J. R. and Morrison-Scott, T. C. S. (1966). [https://archive.org/stream/checklistofindia00elle#page/274/mode/2up ''Checklist of Palaearctic and Indian mammals 1758 to 1946'']. Second edition. British Museum of Natural History, London. Pages 274–275.</ref>
* Indochinese hog badger ''A. c. dictator'' ([[Oldfield Thomas|Thomas]], 1910) – lives in southern Thailand and Indochina;<ref name=ems1966/>
* Burmese hog badger ''A. c. consul'' ([[Reginald Innes Pocock|Pocock]], 1940) – occurs from [[Assam]] to Myanmar.<ref name=ems1966/>

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
Image:Arctonyx-collaris-hog-badger-2.jpg|From [[Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary]]
</gallery>

== Ecology and behavior ==
The hog badger is active by day and not very wary of humans.<ref>Duckworth, J. W., Salter, R. E. and Khounbline, K. (1999). [http://data.iucn.org/dbtw-wpd/edocs/2000-050.pdf ''Wildlife in Lao PDR: 1999 Status Report'']. IUCN, Vientiane, Laos.</ref> Analysis of numerous [[camera trap]] pictures from [[Myanmar]] show no peak activity at either day or night.<ref>Than Zaw, Saw Htun, Saw Htoo Tha Po, Myint Maung, Lynam, A. J., Kyaw Thinn Latt and Duckworth, J. W. (2008). [http://www.smallcarnivoreconservation.org/sccwiki/images/0/0c/SCC38_ThanZaw_et_al.pdf ''Status and distribution of small carnivores in Myanmar''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150428015546/http://www.smallcarnivoreconservation.org/sccwiki/images/0/0c/SCC38_ThanZaw_et_al.pdf |date=2015-04-28 }}. Small Carnivore Conservation 38: 2–28.</ref>

The hog badger is [[Omnivore|omnivorous]]; its diet consists of fruits, roots and small animals.

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

== External links ==
{{Wikispecies|Arctonyx}}
{{Commons category|Arctonyx collaris}}
* [http://lioncrusher.com/animal.asp?animal=200 Hog Badger]{{dead link|date=May 2020|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

{{Carnivora|M.}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q744382}}

[[Category:Badgers]]
[[Category:Carnivorans of Malaysia]]
[[Category:Mammals described in 1825]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Frédéric Cuvier]]
[[Category:Mammals of China]]
[[Category:Mammals of India]]
[[Category:Mammals of Indonesia]]
[[Category:Mammals of Laos]]
[[Category:Mammals of Myanmar]]
[[Category:Mammals of Thailand]]
[[Category:Mammals of Cambodia]]
[[Category:Mammals of Vietnam]]

Greater hog badger - Revision history

>Geekgecko at 16:11, 26 June 2021