Bornean Ferret Badger

About the Bornean Ferret Badger

The Bornean ferret badger (Melogale everetti), also known as Everett's ferret badger or the Kinabalu ferret badger, is a small, nocturnal and omnivorous mammal that is endemic to the island of Borneo. It is a member of the Mustelidae and one of six species of the genus Melogale. It is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List due to its small distribution range, which includes Kinabalu National Park and Crocker Range National Park.

Bornean ferret badgers weigh up to 3 kg (6.6 lb) and reach a maximum recorded body length of 44 cm (17 in). They forage on the ground for invertebrates, amphibians, insects, fruit and carrion. The overall population trend of the Bornean ferret badger is "assumed to be in at least shallow decrease".

Melogale everetti was the scientific name first used by the British zoologist Oldfield Thomas in 1895 to describe the Bornean ferret badger. The scientific name commemorates Alfred Hart Everett. The Bornean ferret badger has historically been considered by some to be a subspecies of the Javan ferret-badger (Melogale orientalis) and by others as a subspecies of the Burmese ferret-badger (Melogale personata). However, it is now considered to be a distinct... Wikipedia →