Arctonyx collaris, Cuvier, 1825

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2009, Mustelidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 1 Carnivores, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 564-656 : 622

3.

Hog Badger

Arctonyx collaris

French: Balisaur / German: Schweinsdachs / Spanish: Tejon porcino

Taxonomy. Arctonyx collaris Cuvier, 1825 ,

Indonesia.

Arctonyx was regarded as monotypic until late 2008, when this volume was in proof. Based on a review of the most available specimens in world museums, three distinctive species are now recognized within this genus. A. albogularis (Blyth, 1853) is a shaggy-coated, medium-sized badger widely distributed in temperate Asia, from Tibet and the Himalayan region to eastern and southern China. A. collaris (Cuvier, 1825) , is an extremely large, shorter-haired badger, distributed throughout South-east Asia, from eastern India to Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. The disjunctly distributed species A. hoevenii (Hubrecht, 1891) is the smallest and darkest member of the genus and is endemic to the Barisan mountain chain of Sumatra.

Distribution. C, E & S China and E Mongolia to Sub-Himalayan zone in Bhutan and NE India; also, Bangladesh, Indochina, and Sumatra.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 55-70 cm,tail 12-17 cm; weight 7-14 kg. The Hog Badger is stocky and sparsely furred, with a flat head, a long nose that extends to form a small “trunk”, conspicuous ears, small eyes, and long claws. The elongated snout is hairless and resembles the nose of a pig: hence the name Hog Badger. The pelage is yellowish or grayish with black and white hairs mixed throughout. There are alternating black and white stripes on the top of the head; the white stripes meet behind the ears and merge with the pale throat. The tail is short and sparsely covered with white hairs. The claws are well-developed on the forefeet and are pale in color. The skull is narrow and high with a long rostrum. Dental formula: 13/3, C1/1,P4/3,M1/2=36.

Habitat. Forests, grasslands and plantations adjacent to forests, at elevations up to 3500 m.

Food and Feeding. The diet includes earthworms, insects, small mammals, snails, reptiles, tubers, and roots. In China, Hog Badgers were found to eat more mammals and gastropods than other sympatric small carnivore species. They use their hoglike nose to root through the forest floor.

Activity patterns. Nocturnal. Activity peaks occur between 03:00 h and 05:00 h and between 19:00 h and 21:00 h. Hog Badgers spend the day resting in underground burrows or in rock crevices; they can dig their own burrows. They undergo a period of inactivity during winter months and in central China, they may hibernate from November to February or March.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Solitary and terrestrial.

Breeding. Mating occurs from May to September, depending on the locality. Births typically occur the following February or March. The long delay between mating and parturition suggests that this species undergoes delayed implantation ofthe fertilized eggs into the uterus. Litter size is three to five. The young are weaned after four months and become independent soon after.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Near Threatened in The IUCN Red List. The Hog Badger is thought to be common throughoutits range. However, hunting by dogsis a threat to this species and it is also susceptible to snaring. Hog Badgers are hunted and farmed for food in China. They are also eaten in India, and hunted in Vietnam and some areas of Laos.

Bibliography. Francis (2008), Helgen, Lim & Helgen (2008), Lekagul & McNeely (1991), Parker (1979), Pocock (1941a), Wang & Fuller (2003a), Wozencraft (2005, 2008).

Figures

1. American Badger (Taxidea taxus), 2. Honey Badger (Mellivora capensis), 3. Hog Badger (Arctonyx collars), 4. Japanese Badger (Meles anakuma), 5. Asian Badger (Meles leucurus), 6. European Badger (Meles meles)

Distribution. C, E & S China and E Mongolia to Sub-Himalayan zone in Bhutan and NE India ; also, Bangladesh , Indochina, and Sumatra.