8 Birds Similar to a Chickadee

 Chickadees are birds that are found in the forests of North America, Europe, and Asia. They are small, both in size and weight, with a body length of about 6 to 7 inches (15 to 18 centimeters). The wingspan is about 8 inches (20 centimeters).

The color of the bird varies from light gray to black. The underparts are white or yellowish with black spots on the belly and flanks. The tail is short with white outer feathers.

Its bill is short and black. The male has a darker head than the female; however, the difference between both genders is not always obvious. Chickadees are found in deciduous forests where there are plenty of trees for nesting sites and food sources such as seeds, buds, insects, and spiders.

These birds build their nests inside tree cavities or nest boxes placed close by humans so they can also enjoy their protection from predators like hawks! Let’s see some examples of birds similar to a chickadee:

1. Black-tailed Gnatcatcher

 The Black-tailed Gnatcatcher is a small songbird native to western North America. It is the only species of gnatcatcher found in the United States. The Black-tailed Gnatcatcher was first described by Audubon in 1834 when he named it Turdus migratorius various, or “varied thrush” (now known as the Veery).

The genus name Polioptila comes from Greek and means “many-feathered”. The species name migratoria is Latin for “migratory”, reflecting this species’ long-distance migration over much of North America during the winter months. The Black-tailed Gnatcatcher is one of seven species of gnatcatcher, a group of small insectivorous songbirds with unusually long tails.

The distinctive feature of all gnatcatchers is their extremely long tails and short legs. Other than this trait, their appearance varies considerably between species; some resemble chickadees while others look more like flycatchers. Black-tailed Gnatcatchers are very territorial during the breeding season and will defend their territory through song and physical aggression towards other birds that enter their territory.

Because of this behavior, it can be difficult to attract mates if there

2. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

 The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher is a small … Read the rest of the story.

15 Birds Similar to a Goldfinch

The goldfinch is a small bird native to North America that’s best known for its vibrant yellow feathers. Three different types of goldfinch can be found in the United States: the American goldfinch, the lesser goldfinch, and Lawrence’s goldfinch. The American goldfinch is the best known of the three species and is even the state bird for New Jersey, Iowa, and Washington. 

Goldfinches are sexually dichromatic birds, which means males and females have differences in coloration. Males are bright yellow, while females are a muted yellow-brown color. Both males and females can grow to be between 4.1 and 5.1 inches in length. 

This bird is a granivore and primarily eats seeds, which it removes from seedheads with its conical beak. While goldfinches typically live between three and six years in the wild, they can live for as long as 11 years. Goldfinch is a charming bird that is easy to spot, but they share many similarities with these 15 birds. 

1. Evening Grosbeaks

Evening grosbeaks are a type of finch that is found in forested and mountainous regions of North America. They eat both seeds and berries and are particularly fond of sunflower seeds. While the number of evening grosbeaks in the wild has decreased significantly in recent years, these birds can live up to 15 years. 

The evening grosbeak is similar to the goldfinch in both coloring and body shape, which makes it easy to confuse the two birds from a distance. However, evening grosbeaks are much larger than goldfinches, growing to be between six and nine inches in length. Unlike the goldfish, it also has distinctive white patches on its wings. 

2. Pine Grosbeaks

Pine grosbeaks can be found in coniferous forests in the United States, Canada, and Siberia, where it primarily feeds off small fruits and berries. While it’s a finch, it’s much larger than most finches, measuring between 7.9 and 10 inches. In the wild, these birds can live for more than 9 years. 

Male pine grosbeaks have a mixture of gray and pinkish-red feathers, while females have gray and yellow feathers, giving them a similar appearance … Read the rest of the story.

23 Birds Similar to Peacocks

The peacock is a beautiful bird, but it’s not the only one that looks like it. The following birds are similar in appearance and habits.

1. Peafowl

These large birds have long tails with feathers at the end of each feather. They also have a crest on their head. These birds live in groups called flocks or herds.

The male peafowl has a noisy call when he wants his mate to come to him. He will also use this call if there is danger nearby. The female peafowl establishes her nest under a bush or tree.

Then she lays eggs about once every two months. She usually does this during the night time while she sleeps. The young peafowl grows up quickly and leaves the flock as soon as they can fly.

2. White Peafowl

This type of rare peafowl makes them very popular with bird collectors. These snow-white birds are stunning when their white tails are on full display. Their coloring is the result of leucism, a genetic mutation that doesn’t allow pigment to stick to the feathers.

Few are found in the wild. They are often the result of selective breeding between a female white peahen and a male India Blue Peacock. It is smaller than other types of peafowl.

This type of peafowl has white feathers on its tail and wings.

3. Spalding Peafowl

The Spalding Peafowl is another type of peafowl that is rarely seen in the wild. It was named after Henry Spalding, who discovered it in 1857. Spalding peafowls are larger than most other types of peafowls.

They have a blue coloration on their chest and belly. They are sometimes kept as pets because they make good companions for children.

4. Blue Peafowl

Blue peafowls are another rare breed. They were first bred by crossing a White Peahen with an Indian Blue Peacock. The offspring had blue feathers instead of white ones.

Blue peafowls are more common than white peafowls. Unlike the white peafowl, blue peafowls have no white feathers on their tails. Their heads and necks are covered in dark brown feathers.… Read the rest of the story.

Can You Outrun a Honey Badger? How Fast Do They Run?

Honey badgers appear so adorable and cute in photos. In reality though, if a honey badger approaches you, it feels threatened and will attack. You have probably entered its domain either on purpose or accidentally.

The honey badger will not tolerate this.

CUTLINE: The adorable honey badger seems so docile as it sleeps.

Honey Badgers: One of the World’s Fastest Animals

You may run; you may hide. However, the mighty honey badger runs at a top speed of 19 miles per hour. If Usain Bolt runs into a honey badger, he’s safe. Bolt can sprint 100 meters in 9.58 seconds, so he might be able to outrun the badger long enough to reach safety.

Nicknamed “Lightning Bolt,” the amazingly fast Jamaican runner can run at a sustained speed of 28 miles per hour for 100 meters, which roughly equals 0.06 miles. Florence Griffith-Joyner could also have safely escaped a honey badger since she could run a 100-meter dash in 10.49 seconds. Her 1988 record speed still hasn’t been broken, but then, Griffith-Joyner could run 21.3 miles per hour (mph).

The typical human can only manage a speed of about five miles per hour, so you or I would go down. The feisty honey badger would catch its prey and tear it apart with its razor-sharp teeth.

Other Fast Animals Who Can Outrun a Honey Badger

Approximately, six animals could outrun this fierce badger that’s actually a member of the weasel family. The cheetah (70 to 75 mph), the world’s fastest animal, lives to see another day, as does the leopard ( 36 mph), tiger (30 mph), cougar (40 mph), Panthera (36 mph), or the black panther (30 mph).

CUTLINE: Honey badger playing on a wood jungle gym.

Cute but Deadly Creatures of the Wild

Despite their cuteness, honey badgers prove deadly. They’re fiercely protective of their living space, family, and food sources. They dislike others.

If any animal or human approaches them uninvited, these animals will attack. That includes the king of the jungle, the lion, and the honey badger can win. If injured, these tough creatures will tear off … Read the rest of the story.

17 Fish Similar to Tilapia

You might be wondering if there are other types of fish that are similar to tilapia. Well, wonder no more! We have put together a list of the top 17 fish that are similar to tilapia.

Check it out!

What is tilapia, and where does it come from?

Tilapia is a cichlid fish that is native to Africa. It is commonly found in freshwater lakes and rivers. Tilapia is a popular choice for aquaculture and is also one of the most widely consumed fish in the world.

What do tilapia look like, and how big do they get?

Tilapia can vary in appearance, but most are pale-colored with dark spots on their body. They can grow to be about two feet long and weigh up to four pounds.

What do tilapia eat?

Tilapia are omnivorous and will eat a variety of plant and animal matter. In the wild, they primarily eat algae, but in captivity, they are often fed pellets or flakes. Now that you know a little bit about tilapia let’s take a look at some fish that are similar to tilapia.

1. Catfish

Catfish are a type of freshwater fish that are native to Africa and Asia. There are over 3,000 different species of catfish, making them one of the most diverse groups of fish in the world.

• How big it gets: Some species of catfish can grow to be over 2 meters (6.5 feet) long!
• What it eats: Catfish are bottom-feeders, which means they eat plants and animals that live on or near the bottom of rivers, lakes, and ponds.
• How it tastes: The taste of catfish depends on the species and where it’s from. Some catfish have a mild flavor, while others can be quite fishy.
• How long it lives: Most catfish live for 5 to 10 years, but some species can live for 20 years or more.
• Habitat: Catfish live in freshwater habitats all over the world.
• Behaviors: Catfish are nocturnal, meaning they are most active at night. During the day, they hide in caves or under rocks.
• How big it gets: Some species of catfish

… Read the rest of the story.

15 Fish Similar to Catfish

Catfish can be found in the waters of every continent but Antarctica. While approximately half of all catfish species live in North or South America, you can also find these fish in freshwater and saltwater environments across the globe. In Europe, catfish primarily exist as an invasive species. 

While catfish are highly diverse and include thousands of different species, all catfish have barbels, a whisker-like filament that grows from their snout. These barbels always grow in pairs, and catfish can have up to four pairs of barbels. The size and behaviors of catfish can vary significantly, with some species, like the wels catfish, that can grow to be nearly 10 feet long. 

Catfish are considered to be bottom-feeders, which means they hunt for food near the bottom of a body of water. It’s possible for catfish to be carnivores, herbivores, and omnivores. Foods like algae, small fish, aquatic insects, and crabs can all be a part of a catfish’s diet. 

Even though catfish species are varied, there are still many fish that have a lot in common with catfish. These 15 fish are similar to catfish in a number of ways. 

1. Siamese Algae Eater

This tropical fish is native the waters of Southeast Asia. It’s typically found in rivers and streams, where it primarily feeds off of plankton, periphyton, and of course, algae. As a matter of fact, both catfish and Siamese algae eaters love to eat algae and can thrive in aquariums. 

As juveniles, Siamese algae eaters are typically between 1.5 to 2.5 inches long, but they can grow to six inches in length. It has tiny, whisker-like barbels that are much smaller than the barbels on catfish, as well as a long, bold, black stripe that extends from its head to its tail. When under threat from predators, the stripe can fade so that the fish is able to blend in with its surroundings. 

2. Flatheads

Flatheads get their name from their flat head, a feature you’ll also find on catfish. Most fish of this species are located in the waters of Australia. While flatfish can grow … Read the rest of the story.

10 Animals that are Surprisingly Similar to a Goat

The goat is a herbivorous mammal belonging to the Bovidae family and the Caprinae subfamily. Domesticated goats can live almost anywhere with people, whereas wild goats mostly live in highly elevated areas like rocky mountains. These hair-coated animals are browsers, which means they’ll feed on roughage (hay, grass, twigs, tree branches, grains) after they test those with their upper lips.

An adult goat can be anywhere from 44 to 308.6lbs, with an average length of 1m, and has an average lifespan of 15 to 18 years. People generally keep goats in meadows, farmland, woodland, and other similar places where goats can have plenty of shrubberies to eat. They are aggressive and tend to establish dominance in a social group.

Most goats have horns that grow up and then curve downwards. There are many animals similar to goats owing to characteristics, identity such as belonging to a particular family or subfamily, and many other reasons. In this article, we’ll introduce you to the top ten animals similar to a goat.

1. Sheep

The most closely related animal to a goat is the sheep. But why so?

Description

Sheep are herbivorous mammals. Typically, they live an average of 10 to 12 years, weigh 100 to 350lb, and have an average length of 1.2 to 1.8m. Most breeds of sheep prefer grazing on grass and other roughage without the woody stalks.

They are naturally adaptive and live primarily on steep areas, bogs, moorland fringes, and rough grasslands. All sheep need water, shelter, and a large grassy pasture to graze on. They have an excellent social instinct and a flock mentality, which means they bond well with other sheep in their flock and often other animals too.

Their only defense mechanism during danger is fleeing.

How It’s Similar to a Goat?

Sheep and goats are from the same subfamily, Caprinae. Both are hooved animals or ungulates. Sheep and goats are also ruminants, which means they have four-chambered stomachs.

Both are domesticated animals and have similar gestation periods.

How It’s Different From a Goat?

Sheep have a wool coating, and their tails are always pointing … Read the rest of the story.

Top 10 Mole-Like Animals: Animals with Distinct Lifestyles That Are Surprisingly Similar to Moles

Moles are considered garden pests, but they can improve soil quality. These velvety and eerie-looking mammals rarely pose any threat to people since they mostly live underground. Moles’ strong paws are suitable for digging soil.

Hence, they are called subterranean mammals. Moles mostly live on earthworms. They paralyze earthworms with their toxic saliva while storing them for meals.

They can grow from 4.2 to 6.25 inches. And that is the length from the snout to the rump. Its tail can add an additional 1 to 1.5 inches to its compact size. It weighs between 70 and 130 grams.

Moles are prevalent in South America and Antarctica. Their habitats include gardens, sand dunes, grasslands, urban zones, mixed woodlands, and diggable soil lands. Moles lead a solitary underground life.

Digging tunnels and preying on earthworms are what they predominantly do. In terms of their lifespan, moles typically live up to 3 years.

1. Typical Vole

A typical or common vole is a European rodent that is also known as the short-tailed field vole. Its scientific name is Microtus arvalis.

Where It Lives?

The typical vole largely inhabits European and Asian lands. You’ll find them in the sloped and shallow areas like crop fields.

Eating Habit

Common voles mostly live on grass, crop roots, stems, and plant leaves. Although they’re herbivorous, they tend to enjoy eating snails and insects too. But vegetation remains their primary source of food.

Animal Type

The typical or common vole is a mammal rodent.

Lifespan

The common wild vole can live up to 4.5 months, while its captive lifespan is surprisingly higher, precisely 4.8 years.

Weight & Height

A common vole may weigh 0.7 to 2.4 oz., depending on its age while it may grow from 3 to 5 inches in its lifespan.

Habitat & Behavior

Voles dig extensive tunnels for their habitat and protection. They remain within their home range while burrowing underground, aboveground, and through the snow. Voles rarely hibernate and stay active all year round.

They’re frequent breeders with 4 to 5 litters per year, and 5 to 6 pups per litter.

How It’s

… Read the rest of the story.

7 Animals Similar to Lemurs

Here’s a fun fact – did you know that science considers Lemurs to be your distant cousin? Well, you may never find the resemblance when you look at one, or you may simply deny your ancestral relationship to a ring-tailed lemur. But the truth is that lemurs come from the same family as gorillas, monkeys, apes, chimps, etc.

In other words, they are one of the members of the primate species of mammals. In this wildlife guide, we will walk you through the life of the big-eyed, nocturnal mammal and present the seven most common animals similar to lemurs to you. Let this wildlife safari begin!

Life of Lemurs

Well, to tell you the truth, we cannot help but start this section by stating that there’s an abundance of monkey-like traits in a lemur. But let’s learn all about this particular kind of primate before we start to compare it with similar animals. They are unique.

Not just because of their appearance, but for their activities too. They belong to a separate branch of the endangered primate family tree – prosimians. One of their distinctive physical appearances includes having a tooth comb, which is a reformed incisor tooth on their lower jaw.

They also have a super-long grooming claw, which is a special claw on their second toe used for personal grooming. Lemurs have fantastic night vision, almost considered to be their superpower. This is because of the Tapetum Lucidum – the additional layer behind the retina of their eyes.

This is known to enhance their night vision significantly. Speaking of superpowers, they also have a strong sense of smell. This helps them forage and communicate.

But, do they like to move it, move it? The answer is yes! Similar to most primates, lemurs are arboreals – meaning they like to only live in trees. They spend their days springing from one branch to another with their mighty legs.

Sifakas, for example, are extremely skilled at jumping long distances over 30 feet, that too in one jump. Impressively flexible and strong, right? This brings us to the list of … Read the rest of the story.

Top 15 Animals Similar to a Hamster

Although most of us have seen them in cages, Hamsters live in warm and dry grasslands or sand dunes in the wild. These rodents can weigh anything from 0.8 to 16 oz. Their lengths can range anywhere from 2 to 6 inches.

Hamsters live for 2-6 years, depending on the size of the breed. They chew to keep their teeth small and also tend to hoard food in their cheeks. This nocturnal mammal tends to hide when they feel scared.

As pets, they crave and thrive on human affection. What other animals are similar to a hamster? Let’s talk about the top fifteen similar mammals.

1. Guinea Pig

The guinea pig is yet another small rodent that people raise as pets. Although they look similar, guinea pigs are much larger than hamsters. This rodent is about 8 to 16 inches long and weighs around 15 to 47 oz.

The breed of guinea pig that humans domesticated don’t live in the wild any longer. However, a close wild cousin bearing the same name lives in the South American mountains. As pets, they need a much larger habitat than hamsters do.

They are not nocturnal like hamsters and tend to stay awake during the day and sleep at night. Guinea pigs also can’t run on hamster wheels, and attempting to make them do so can put them in danger. They do come in similar colors that can range from white and beige to saffron and black.

A guinea pig’s diet includes grass, hay, small quantities of vegetables, and occasional fruits. Fibrous hay and grass help them keep their teeth small. On a good diet, a guinea pig can live for 4 to 8 years.

2. Vole

Like hamsters, Voles fall in the Cricetidae family. They look like a cross between hamsters and field mice. They have pointed faces, small yet round heavy bodies, and short tails.

They have prominent teeth that they use to gnaw on plant roots and stems. Voles are around 5-8 inches long and 0.6 to 3.2 oz. These mammals can live in a variety of habitats, from mountainous … Read the rest of the story.

Are Honey Badgers and Wolverines Related?

Yes, the honey badger and the wolverine are related because they are fierce mammals that belong to the weasel family, Mustelidae, from the order Carnivora. The members of the mustelid family are broad and include species of otter, weasels, minks, ferrets, martens, and other species of badgers. Curiously, you would think that skunks belong to this family, but recent molecular analysis suggests that they belong to their own group.

The honey badger and the wolverine would undoubtedly be at home in a scene from the Wind in the Willows, but they would never meet in real life. But I must admit to an interest in comparing these two animals because of their similarities and differences.

More About Mustelidae

The mustelid family is the largest in Carnivora, comprising 56 species. They are found on five of the seven continents, with Australia and Antarctica being the exception. The largest is the wolverine on land and the sea otter in the water.

The smallest is a creature called the Least Weasel and is tiny, weighing a maximum of 250 grams. All the members of this genetic family possess anal glands that secrete a substance that emits a musk scent used for territory and defense.

Wolverine Basics

I rather thought the Encyclopedia Britannica was joking when I looked up the scientific name of the wolverine – Gulo gulo. This must be the least scientific-sounding name I have encountered to date. But I digress.

The wolverine is also referred to as a Glutton Carcajou or Skunk Bear, although it is related to neither bears nor skunks. It is the largest of the land-dwelling mustelid family. It looks a little like a bear, though it is short and squat, with an average length of 26 to 40 inches, excluding its bushy tail, which is another 5-10 inches.

It has a shoulder height of approximately 14 to 18 inches, and it weighs around 66 pounds at maturity. It has short legs with semi-retractable claws (Hugh Jackman, eat your heart out). It has a black-brown coat and a light brown stripe on either side of the body … Read the rest of the story.

Can Honey Badgers Kill Lions

Wild honey badgers are fearless, nasty, and amazing. They are tenacious and formidable fighters, and ”yes” a honey badger can kill a lion. The Guinness Book of World Records named the honey badger as ”the most fearless animal in all the animal kingdom.”

That’s quite a feat for such a small creature. These little beasts are not only fearless when it comes to attacking lions, they also think nothing of going after bees, jackals, venomous snakes, elephants, cobras, and mongooses. Basically, they’ll attack any animal without a second thought for their own safety.

Learn more about a honey badger vs a lion in a battle, honey badger attack moves, and its natural defensive weapons.

A Body Built to Fight

Although honey badgers only weigh from 11 to 40 pounds and grow from 1.5 to 2.5 feet long, their super thick skin protects them from predators. They also have a strong, offensive odor that repels other animals. Honey badgers rely on their sharp, long claws and powerful teeth to battle enemies.

Their teeth and jaws are so forceful, that they can chew through tortoise shells. They don’t have the best vision, but they have a tremendous sense of smell and exceptional hearing. When chasing prey, honey badgers gallop about 20 mph.

They also use their claws for digging small prey out of burrows. 

How Does a Honey Badger Overpower a Lion?

Size isn’t the only factor when a honey badger faces off with a lion. The lion might weigh 500 pounds compared to a 40-pound honey badger, but the relentless and fearless honey badger is a formidable opponent. Although a honey badger doesn’t always win a battle against a lion, if it can get a strategic grip with its powerful teeth and jaws, it evens the odds.

Here are some other defensive moves a honey badger displays against a lion:

Flexible and Tough Skin

Honey badger skin is thick and tough, as well as flexible. A lion’s fangs are 4 inches long and powerful. But, if they only latch on to the badger’s skin and not its bones, the … Read the rest of the story.

How Smart Are Honey Badgers?

Honey badgers, in addition to being incredibly fierce, aggressive, and grumpy, are surprisingly smart.  They have a large brain for their body size.  They are also one of the very few non-primate species that use tools, widely considered to be a sign of high intelligence by us tool-using humans.

  Watching a honey badger figure out that moving something to stand on it will allow them to get to high food is quite amazing – you can actually see the badger thinking, understanding, and planning. They appear to be able to get out of almost anywhere.  A famous, captive-raised honey badger named Stoffle, whose owner has published several videos about Stoffle’s ability to escape from virtually any enclosure. 

Fascinating to watch, these videos show Stoffle planning, trying, and retrying, all in pursuit of gaining enough height to climb over the wall of the enclosure his owner calls the honey-badger Alcatraz. They have a large brain for their size, which is evidence, but not proof, of intelligence.  More importantly, they have been seen using tools to make bridges, open cages, and increase their height to get over a fence or wall.  

Honey badgers haven’t been tested much for intelligence; they are far too aggressive and self-directed to be interested in proving anything to humans.  They really don’t like anyone very much and have been known to attack a ranger’s vehicle of a ranger trying to show one-off to some tourists. The internet has been fascinated by the career of Stoffle, a honey badger raised at the Moholoholo Rehabilitation Center in South Africa.

The clips show Stoffle, sometimes with his female friend, engaging in successful escape attempt after successful escape attempt. Stoffle uses tires, rakes, logs, rocks, mud, and his female friend, as tools to get out of his “escape-proof” enclosure.  Thus far, nothing has kept him in, and he’s even broken into the home of the man who built the enclosure.

Watching Stoffle plan and calculate and adjust his escape tools, one cannot avoid the conclusion that he is thinking, that he is manipulating these found objects as tools, every … Read the rest of the story.

How Big Do Honey Badgers Get? How Much Do They Weigh?

The honey badger is an animal native to sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and India. Its name can fool you. It is not as sweet as its name sounds; this small, stocky mammal is a fierce, aggressive little creature. The World Almanac considers the Honey Badger the meanest animal in the world.

What Do Honey Badgers Look Like?

The Honey Badger belongs to the weasel family and is related to skunks, otters, other badgers, and ferrets. Though not a big animal, it has a stocky, flattened appearance. It has small eyes, with poor vision, short ears that hear well, and a keen sense of smell.

It has long claws on its front feet that it uses for digging and foraging for food. It has thick, coarse hair that is black and has a broad white to grey stripe that runs down its back from the top of its head to the tip of its tail. The skin hangs relatively loose on its body, allowing the mammal to turn and move freely within it.

The neck is 6 millimeters thick, making it difficult for anything to get through, and with its loose skin makes it easy for him to turn quickly and bite a predator. Similar to its relative, the skunk, the Honey Badger has a smell, not like honey but stinky like the skunk. The scent comes from a gland at the base of its tail; though not as lingering as the skunk’s smell, it gets the message across to leave him alone when he releases the awful smell.

How Big are Honey Badgers?

The Honey Badger is a solitary animal spending most of its life alone foraging for food. Only about the size of a small to medium-sized dog. Though don’t let their size fool you, because the bite of a honey badger is strong and the long front claws intense, making them quite fierce.

Even more interesting is the size of the honey badger’s brain, and it is large compared to other mammals its size. This mammal is considered intelligent because it is one of the few non-primate … Read the rest of the story.

Why Are Honey Badgers So Fearless?

The short answer to this question is that honey badgers are fearless because they have every right to be.  They have skin that lets them attack even when held by the neck.  They are essentially immune to snake venom and scorpions and have even been known to chase off lions. 

With those stats, I’d be fearless too.  

Species, Size, and Shape

Honey badgers are members of the weasel family (multelid mellivoinae capensis).  Also known as ratels, honey badgers are omnivorous mammals with 12 subspecies.  The differences between the subspecies focus on the size and the coloring of the gray stripe on the back.  They are

• M. c. Capensis (Cape ratel)
• M. c. Indica (Indian ratel)
• M. c. Inaurita (Nepalese ratel)
• M. c. Leuconota (White-backed ratel)
• M. c. Cottoni (Black ratel)
• M. c. Concisa (Lake Chad ratel)
• M. c. Signata (Speckled ratel)
• M. c. Abyssinica (Ethiopian ratel)
• M. c. Wilsoni (Persian ratel)
• M. c. Maxwelli (Kenyan ratel)
• M. c. Pumilio (Arabian ratel)
• M. c. Buechneri (Turkmenian ratel)

The weight ranges from about 13 pounds to about 30 pounds within all those subspecies.  Tails range from 4 inches to about 9 inches, with the corresponding body lengths being about 24 inches to about 40 inches.  They range from 9 to 11 inches tall.

Honey badgers live up to 26 years in zoos, but their nocturnal and solitary nature means that we know little about how they live or how long in the wild.  The honey badger has a low flattish body with cobby legs and front claws that are up to three inches long and built for digging.  Strong muscles in the neck and a heavy jar make for an impressive bite force.  

Honey badgers have thick loose skin on their backs and necks.  This means that when being held by an attacker by the neck, they can still turn and bite the attacker.  Further, the thick skin makes them virtually impervious to porcupine quills, bee stings, and even bites from smaller animals like snakes. 

Like its relative, the skunk, the honey badger has a scent gland at the base … Read the rest of the story.

3 Different Types of Raccoons

A raccoon is a grayish-brown mammal with a fox-like face. Its distinctive features include a ringed tail, masked face, and thick underfur that protects it from cold extremes. Its five-figured dexterous front hands (resembling human figures) also distinguish raccoons from the rest of the Procyonidae family.

It is native to North America, Canada, and some parts of Latin America. You would probably attest to how it ransacked and scattered the garbage in your trash if you have ever met one. Or how it cleared snakes, rats, lizards, and other varmints from your compound. 

Yes, raccoons can be messy and useful at the same time. And the way you treat them depends on your perception. Want to learn more about these small animals?

Please keep reading to learn about the different types of raccoons,  their habitats, habits, favorite meal, life expectancy, and other aspects of this masked animal. Basically, there are three main types of raccoons:

1. Procyon Lotor
2. Procyon  Pygmaeus
3. Procyon Cancrivorus

Below  is a  detailed description  of  each of the above species:

1. Procyon Lotor-The Eastern Racoon

The eastern raccoon, aka the Procyon lotor, is the largest among all raccoon species. It is prevalent in most regions of Canada, Russia, Germany and almost all regions of the United States, excluding Nevada, Utah, and Arizona. They are ubiquitous.

You can find eastern raccoons in abandoned buildings, forests, cities, prairies, and marshes, among other areas.  More  specifically, they are known  to rest/sleep in tree  holes, abandoned vehicles, hollow trees, sewers, house burrows, rock crevices, barns, etc. The eastern raccoons are omnivores.

They can feast on fish, frogs, crabs, and other water critters, snakes, rats,garbage waste, plants, fruits, and birds and their eggs on land. These creatures use a combo of their strong sense of smell, sharp eyesight, and lightning-fast hands to locate, spot, and snatch their meals.  They last between two and three years.

The eastern raccoons don’t have permanent homes. Instead, they are nomadic within an established territory.  They will mark potential shelters within a  territory, where they can always rest after long hunting.

These nocturnals mate between January and March. … Read the rest of the story.