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Carnivora
Meles meles
Nomenclature
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Family: MustelidaeGenus: Meles
SUMMARY
The european badger is a relatively large mustelid with black-and-white and sometimes brown fur that lives in Eurasia. Its body length is 60-90 cm, its body height is 25-30 cm and its body mass is about 7-13 kg in spring and 15-17 kg in autumn. Albino, erythristic and melanistic individuals have been recorded. It is very common in Europe and some populations tend to increase.
The breeding happens in spring, but this is not strict. The gestation preiod lasts seven weeks and the litter consists of 1-5 cubs. They normally reach sexual maturity in 12-15 months.
The European badger is an omnivore. Its diet includes: warms, insects, carrion, fruit, rabbits, rodents, hedgehogs, wasps, berries, acorns, birds, amphibians, tortoises, snails, fungi and grass.