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.
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