American badger

It is an animal of the Mustelidae family in the Carnivora order of the Mammalia class. It is widely distributed from southwestern Canada to central Mexico, but is not found in the southeastern United States. Its body length is 45 to 70 cm, and its tail length is 10 to 15 cm. Its back is gray-brown, with a white band running from the tip of the nose through the center of the head, and a black spot on its face. The underside and legs are darker than the back, transitioning to a black-brown color. Not only its morphology but also its habits are very similar to those of the Eurasian badger, digging tunnels, being nocturnal, and being omnivorous. However, it is more common in slightly drier grasslands than in forests. Its breeding habits are also similar to those of badgers, mating in the fall, but the fertilized eggs do not implant until around February, and it gives birth to one or several pups in August or September. Like badgers, its fur is not of high quality, and is only used for brushes. Its recorded lifespan in captivity is 13 years.

[Minoru Asahi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

哺乳(ほにゅう)綱食肉目イタチ科の動物。カナダ南西部からメキシコ中部にかけて広く分布するが、アメリカ合衆国南東部にはいない。体長45～70センチメートル、尾長10～15センチメートル。背面は灰褐色で、鼻先から頭の中央を通って1本の白帯があり、顔には黒斑(こくはん)がある。腹面と四肢は背面より濃く、黒褐色に移行する。その形態だけでなく習性もユーラシアのアナグマによく似ていて、トンネルを掘り、夜行性で、雑食性。ただし、森林よりもやや乾いた草原に多い。繁殖習性もアナグマに似て、交尾は秋であるが、2月ごろまで受精卵は着床せず、8～9月に1子から数子を産む。毛皮としては良質でなく、ブラシに利用される程度であるのもアナグマと同じである。寿命は飼育下で13年の記録がある。

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