Asian badger
The Asian badger, also known as the sand badger is a species of badger native to Mongolia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Korean Peninsula and Russia.
Description
Asian badgers are mostly lighter in colour than European badgers, though some forms may closely approach the former species in colour, if not darker, with smudges of ocherous and brownish highlights. The flanks are lighter than the middle of the back, and the facial stripes are usually brown rather than black. Unlike the facial stripes of European badgers, those of Asian badgers narrow behind their eyes and extend above the ears. The white parts of the head are usually dirtier in colour than those of European badgers. The light stripe passing along the top of the head between the two stripes is relatively short and narrow. They are generally smaller than their European cousins, and have relatively longer upper molars. They indeed appear to be the smallest of the three Meles badgers despite regional size variations, with the largest-bodied populations of the species found in Siberia where some populations are about the same size as the European badger. Body mass will typically range from and length from. The average weight of three adult males from Sobaeksan National Park, South Korea was.Subspecies
Five subspecies are recognized.| Subspecies | Trinomial authority | Description | Range | Synonyms |
| Common sand badger Meles leucurus leucurus | Hodgson, 1847 | |||
| Amur badger Meles leucurus amurensis | Schrenck, 1859 | The darkest coloured and smallest subspecies. The facial stripes extend above the ears, and are black or blackish-brown in colour. The entire area between the stripes and cheeks are dirty-greyish brown, as opposed to white. The colour can be so dark, that the stripes are almost indistinguishable. The back is greyish-brown with silver highlights. The pelage itself is soft, but is lacking in wool. The skull is small, smooth and has weakly developed projections. It lacks first premolars. Body length is. | Ussuri, Priamurye, Greater Khingan and Korean Peninsula | melanogenys schrenkii |
| Kazakh badger Meles leucurus arenarius | Satunin, 1895 | A moderately sized subspecies, being intermediate in size between Meles meles meles and M. m. canascens. Its colour is lighter and paler than its northern cousins, with less prominent facial stripes. Its pelage is coarse and bristly, and has scarce underfur. Boars grow to in body length, while sows grow to. Boars weigh in March–May, and in March–June. | Southeastern Volga, most of Kazakhstan, the Middle Asian plains | |
| Siberian badger Meles leucurus sibiricus | Kastschenko, 1900 | A moderately sized subspecies, being intermediate in size between Meles meles meles and M. m. canascens. The general colour tone of the back is light grey, usually with yellowish or straw coloured highlights. The facial stripes are brownish-black to tawny black. The pelage is long and soft with a dense undercoat. Boars grow to in body length, while sows grow to. Boars weigh. | Siberia, including Transbaikalia and Altai, northern Kazakhstan and probably the eastern Volga | |
| Tian Shan badger Meles leucurus tianschanensis | Hoyningen-Huene, 1910 | A moderately sized subspecies, with a somewhat darker pelt than M. l. arenarius and a less developed yellow sheen. The fur is longer, denser and fluffier. | Northern Tian Shan | talassicus |