honey badger, ratel (Mellivora capensis) Sketch of ratel.
Date 1988
Source V. G. Heptner, et al. (1988) Mammals of the Soviet Union, vol. 2, part 1b
Author A. N. Komarov (Alexey Nikanorovich Komarov)
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MSU_V2P1b_-_Mellivora_capensis_sketch.png
The honey badger or ratel (Mellivora capensis) is the only species in the mustelid subfamily Mellivorinae and its only genus Mellivora. It is native to Africa, Southwest Asia, and the Indian subcontinent. It is primarily a carnivorous species and has few natural predators because of its thick skin and ferocious defensive abilities.