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Melinae
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Melinae

mammal subfamily
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Quick Summary

The Melinae are a subfamily of mammals within the weasel family, Mustelidae. This subfamily primarily includes various species of badgers. Badgers are stout, burrowing carnivores known for their powerful jaws and strong claws used for digging.12

Species within the Melinae subfamily include:
* Genus Arctonyx: Hog badgers.1
* Genus Meles: Eurasian badgers, such as the European badger (Meles meles) and the Japanese badger (Meles anakuma).21
* Genus Taxidea: The American badger (Taxidea taxus), the only New World species.21

These animals are found in various parts of the world and are generally nocturnal. Their diets vary, with some being omnivorous and others primarily feeding on rodents or insects.2

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
3 Britannica Sources
  1. badger
  2. mustelid
  3. List of mustelids

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