The Mellivora Capensis, or Honey badger is the only remaining species of the Mellivora genus. The honey badger has the reputation for being Africa's most fearless animal. They are primarily foraging carnivores and have very few natural predators due to their tough skin and reckless mentality. They are solitary hunters and react little with their own species and when left undisturbed will not seek out human contact.
The social and behavioral aspects of honey badger communities are very interesting. The only interaction with a member of their own species happens during mating and after that the father will have no part in raising the offspring. The males are not very territorial, having an average home range of 500 square kilometers, and overlap other males on a frequent basis. There is a heirarchy among the males, as the dominant males in the region often have much greater control over the female community, as well as a greater influence on habitat selection. When the females are in oestrus, the male will follow her scent and protect her during the short period of time they are mating. The dominant male in the region can be the father of upwords of 50% of the local cubs, showing the impact of having dominance.
The predators of the Honey badger are not numerous and the majority of deaths happen in the infant community. Leading causes of death include infanticide (by other males), jackles, leopards, and lions. It has been recorded that honey badgers have chased lions off of their kills.
I find the most interesting fact is their immunity to snake venom. An evolutionary asset, as their interaction with snakes is great, this immunity allows most honey badgers the freedom to attack cobras, pythons, and many other poisonous snakes. Even when injects with the most poisonous of cytotoxins these animals will simply pass out, later to wake up and finish the kill.
The honey badger and the greater honey guides, bird species, are cited to be an example of mutualism. It is reported that these birds often lead honey badgers to bee hives, allowing the badger to ravage the hive. In return the honey badger leaves scraps for the birds.
How do we know that the honey badger should be classified as one of the meanest animals on earth? Well for one they have been know to emasculate larger animals when attacking them. Their effort to castrate the animal shows the utter disregard for other animals and the lengths they go to bring pain to them.
This video shows the honey badger in action.
If you want to know more about the honey badger visit this website.
I didn't have time to click on the links you posted, so my question may be answered on the links, but, does the honey badger have broad shoulders and a sleek body so it can move about freely and still be strong? It also seems to me that, honey badger don't care.
ReplyDeleteI believe that people that live in snake infested areas should keep a honey badger as a pet so it can eat them, because the honey badger don't care if he gets bitten. He'll just sleep it off then continue eating, but the wife might get upset if she walks around the house and sees a half eaten snake on her freshly cleaned kitchen floor.
ReplyDeleteSo, what you're saying is that the birds will just wait to pick up the scraps of the honey badger and say "Thanks for the treat, stupid" and in return they show the honey badger where to get stung like a thousand times, even though the honey badger doesn't care because he's just hungry, but at the same time what does he have to eat for the next two weeks... cobra... the honey badger
ReplyDeleteSO ... honey badger don't care?
ReplyDeleteinteresting. if you where to get close to one would it attack a person?
ReplyDelete@ Rgardineer Honey badgers have been known to attack humans. The majority of recorded attacks were on children or small adults and on beekeepers as there land is subject to these badgers' interests.
ReplyDelete@ mellazo The honey Badgers shoulders are not exessively broad in relation to it's body, however the skin around its body is especially loose to allow it easy escape from potential danger. The scruff of the honey badgers neck is the one major weak spot of the honey badger, as in most animals.
ReplyDeleteA nice topic, partialy since it was based on the recent "Honeybadger dont care" fad. This is why Mr. Hammer let us do the blogs about whatever we want as long as it is cience related, so we can have blogs like this.
ReplyDeleteLol, the honey badger thing will never get old. I wonder if you have met it's friend the Jesus Lizard. Anyways, my serious question is how does a male honey badger establish dominance? Does he have to fight other males or have the most kill? What makes a male honey badger dominant?
ReplyDelete