Editing European badger (section)

==Description==
[[File:European badger (Meles meles) skeleton at the Royal Veterinary College anatomy museum.JPG|thumb|A European badger skeleton at the [[Royal Veterinary College]]]]
[[File:Meles meles 02 MWNH 458.jpg|thumb|Skull of a European badger]]
[[File:Animaldentition melesmeles.jpg|thumb|Dentition]]
European badgers are powerfully built animals with small heads, thick, short necks, stocky, wedge-shaped bodies and short tails. Their feet are [[plantigrade]]<ref name="Raichev">{{cite journal|author=Raichev, E.|year=2010|title=Adaptability to locomotion in snow conditions of fox, gackal, wild cat, badger in the region of Sredna Gora, Bulgaria|journal=Trakia Journal of Sciences|volume=8|issue=2|pages=499–505}}</ref> or semidigitigrade<ref name="Polly">{{cite journal|author=Polly, P. D.|author2=MacLeod, N. |name-list-style=amp|year=2008|title=Locomotion in fossil Carnivora: an application of eigensurface analysis for morphometric comparison of 3D surfaces |journal=Palaeontologia Electronica|volume=11|issue=2|pages=10–13}}</ref> and short, with five toes on each foot.<ref name="h427"/> The limbs are short and massive, with naked lower surfaces on the feet. The claws are strong, elongated and have an obtuse end, which assists in digging.<ref name="s1234">{{Harvnb|Heptner|Sludskii|2001|pp=1234–1237}}</ref> The claws are not retractable, and the hind claws wear with age. Old badgers sometimes have their hind claws almost completely worn away from constant use.<ref name="n23">{{Harvnb|Neal|1976|p=23}}</ref> Their snouts, which are used for digging and probing, are muscular and flexible. The eyes are small and the ears short and tipped with white. [[Whisker]]s are present on the snout and above the eyes.

Boars typically have broader heads, thicker necks and narrower tails than sows, which are sleeker, have narrower, less domed heads and fluffier tails. The guts of badgers are longer than those of [[red fox]]es, reflecting their omnivorous diet. The [[small intestine]] has a mean length of {{cvt|5.36|m}} and lacks a [[cecum]]. Both sexes have three pairs of [[nipple]]s but these are more developed in females.<ref name="h427">{{Harvnb|Harris|Yalden|2008|p=427}}</ref> European badgers cannot flex their backs as [[marten]]s, [[polecat]]s and [[wolverine]]s can, nor can they stand fully erect like [[honey badger]]s, though they can move quickly at full gallop.<ref name="s1234"/>

Adults measure {{cvt|25|–|30|cm}} in shoulder height,<ref name="p24">{{Harvnb|Pease|1898|p=24}}</ref> {{cvt|60|–|90|cm}} in body length, {{cvt|12|–|24|cm}} in tail length, {{cvt|7.5|–|13|cm}} in hind foot length and {{cvt|3.5|–|7|cm}} in ear height. Males (or boars) slightly exceed females (or sows) in measurements, but can weigh considerably more. Their weights vary seasonally, growing from spring to autumn and reaching a peak just before the winter. During the summer, European badgers commonly weigh {{cvt|7|–|13|kg}} and {{cvt|15|–|17|kg}} in autumn.<ref name="s1241">{{Harvnb|Heptner|Sludskii|2001|pp=1241–1242}}</ref>

The average weight of adults in the [[Białowieża Forest]] was {{cvt|10.2|kg}} in spring but up to {{cvt|19|kg}} in autumn, 46% higher than the spring low mass.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Kowalczyk, R. |author2=Jȩdrzejewska, B. |author3=Zalewski, A. |year=2003 |title=Annual and circadian activity patterns of badgers (''Meles meles'') in Białowieża Primeval Forest (eastern Poland) compared with other Palaearctic populations |journal=Journal of Biogeography |volume=30 |issue=3 |pages=463–472 |doi=10.1046/j.1365-2699.2003.00804.x |bibcode=2003JBiog..30..463K |s2cid=56433126 |url=http://www.academia.edu/download/43448017/Annual_and_circadian_activity_patterns_o20160306-9581-d6nee5.pdf}}{{dead link|date=July 2022|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> In [[Woodchester Mansion|Woodchester Park]], [[England]], adults in spring weighed on average {{cvt|7.9|kg}} and in fall average {{cvt|9.5|kg}}.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Delahay, R. J. |author2=Carter, S. P. |author3=Forrester, G. J. |author4=Mitchell, A. |author5=Cheeseman, C. L. |year=2006 |title=Habitat correlates of group size, bodyweight and reproductive performance in a high-density Eurasian badger (''Meles meles'') population |journal=Journal of Zoology |volume=270 |issue=3 |pages=437–447 |doi=10.1111/j.1469-7998.2006.00165.x}}</ref> In [[Doñana National Park]], average weight of adult badgers is reported as {{cvt|6|to|7.95|kg}}, perhaps in accordance with [[Bergmann's rule]], that its size decreases in relatively warmer climates.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Rodriguez, A. |author2=Martin, R. |author3=Delibes, M. |year=1996 |title=Space use and activity in a Mediterranean population of badgers ''Meles meles'' |journal=Acta Theriologica |volume=41 |issue=1 |pages=59–72 |doi=10.4098/AT.arch.96-5 |doi-access=free|hdl=10261/50772 |hdl-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author1=Revilla, E. |author2=Palomares, F. |author3=Delibes, M. |year=2001 |title=Edge-core effects and the effectiveness of traditional reserves in conservation: Eurasian badgers in Doñana National Park |journal=Conservation Biology |volume=15 |issue=1 |pages=148–158 |doi=10.1111/j.1523-1739.2001.99431.x |bibcode=2001ConBi..15..148R |s2cid=86810777 |url=}}</ref> Sows can attain a top autumn weight of around {{cvt|17.2|kg}}, while exceptionally large boars have been reported in autumn. The heaviest verified was {{cvt|27.2|kg}}, though unverified specimens have been reported to {{cvt|30.8|kg}} and even {{cvt|34|kg}} (if so, the heaviest weight for any terrestrial mustelid). If average weights are used, the European badger ranks as the second largest terrestrial mustelid, behind only the wolverine.<ref name="s1241"/> Although their sense of [[Olfactory perception|smell]] is acute, their [[eyesight]] is [[Monochromacy|monochromatic]] as has been shown by their lack of reaction to red lanterns. Only moving objects attract their attention. Their [[Auditory perception|hearing]] is no better than that of humans.<ref name="s1272">{{Harvnb|Heptner|Sludskii|2001|p=1272}}</ref>

[[File:Meles meles (Eurasian badger) fur skin.jpg|thumb|Badger skin – the contrasting markings of the fur serve to warn off attackers rather than camouflage, as they are conspicuous at night.<ref name="n25">{{Harvnb|Neal|1976|p=25}}</ref>]]
European badger skulls are quite massive, heavy and elongated. Their [[braincase]]s are oval in outline, while the facial part of their skulls is elongated and narrow.<ref name="s1238">{{Harvnb|Heptner|Sludskii|2001|p=1238}}</ref> Adults have prominent [[sagittal crest]]s which can reach 15&nbsp;mm tall in old males,<ref name="h428"/> and are more strongly developed than those of honey badgers.<ref name="s1214">{{Harvnb|Heptner|Sludskii|2001|p=1214}}</ref> Aside from anchoring the jaw muscles, the thickness of the crests protect their skulls from hard blows.<ref name="n29">{{Harvnb|Neal|1976|p=29}}</ref> Similar to martens,<ref name="p21">{{Harvnb|Pease|1898|p=29}}</ref> the dentition of European badgers is well-suited for their omnivorous diets. Their [[incisor]]s are small and [[chisel]]-shaped, their [[canine teeth]] are prominent and their [[carnassial]]s are not overly specialized. Their [[Molar (tooth)|molar]]s are flattened and adapted for grinding.<ref name="h428">{{Harvnb|Harris|Yalden|2008|p=428}}</ref> Their jaws are powerful enough to crush most bones; a provoked badger was once reported as biting down on a man's wrist so severely that his hand had to be amputated.<ref name="p35">{{Harvnb|Pease|1898|p=35}}</ref> The [[dental formula]] is {{DentalFormula|upper=3.1.3.1|lower=3.1.4.2}}.

[[Scent gland]]s are present below the base of the tail and on the [[anus]]. The subcaudal gland secretes a musky-smelling, cream-coloured fatty substance, while the anal glands secrete a stronger-smelling, yellowish-brown fluid.<ref name="h428"/>

===Fur===
[[File:Erythristicbadger.JPG|thumb|left|Mounted [[erythrism|erythristic]] badger]]
In winter, the fur on the back and flanks is long and coarse, consisting of bristly guard hairs with a sparse, soft undercoat. The belly fur consists of short, sparse hairs, with skin being visible in the [[Groin|inguinal region]]. Guard hair length on the middle of the back is {{cvt|75|–|80|mm}} in winter. Prior to the winter, the throat, lower neck, chest and legs are black. The belly is of a lighter, brownish tint, while the inguinal region is brownish-grey. The general colour of the back and sides is light silvery-grey, with straw-coloured highlights on the sides. The tail has long and coarse hairs, and is generally the same colour as the back. Two black bands pass along the head, starting from the upper lip and passing upwards to the whole base of the ears. The bands sometimes extend along the neck and merge with the colour of the upper body. The front parts of the bands are {{cvt|15|mm}}, and widen to {{cvt|45|–|55|mm}} in the ear region. A wide, white band extends from the nose tip through the forehead and crown. White markings occur on the lower part of the head, and extend backwards to a great part of the neck's length. The summer fur is much coarser, shorter and sparser, and is deeper in colour, with the black tones becoming brownish, sometimes with yellowish tinges.<ref name="s1234"/> Partial [[melanism]] in badgers is known, and [[albino]]s and [[Leucism|leucists]] are not uncommon. Albino badgers can be pure white or yellowish with pink eyes, while leucistic ones are the same but with normal eyes instead. [[Erythrism|Erythristic]] badgers are more common than the former, being characterized by having a sandy-red colour on the usually black parts of the body. Yellow badgers are also known.<ref name="n27">{{Harvnb|Neal|1976|p=27}}</ref>