Editing European badger (section)

=== Evolution ===
The species likely evolved from the Chinese ''Meles thorali'' of the early [[Pleistocene]]. The modern species originated during the early [[Middle Pleistocene]], with fossil sites occurring in [[Episcopia, Italy|Episcopia]], [[Grombasek]], [[Süssenborn]], [[Hundsheim]], [[Erpfingen]], [[Koněprusy]], [[Mosbach]] 2, and [[Stránská Skála]]. A comparison between fossil and living specimens shows a marked progressive adaptation to omnivory, namely in the increase in the [[Molar (tooth)|molar]]s' surface areas and the modification of the [[carnassial]]s. Occasionally, badger bones are discovered in earlier [[strata]], due to the burrowing habits of the species.<ref name="k103">{{Harvnb|Kurtén|1968|pp=103–105}}</ref><ref name="marinis226">{{Harvnb|Spagnesi|De Marinis|2002|pp=226–227}}</ref>