Badgers are short-legged omnivores in the family Mustelidae, which also includes otters, wolverines, and ferrets. They are classified as a polyphyletic group, characterized by their stout bodies and digging adaptations.
There are fifteen species of badgers divided into four subfamilies: Melinae (including the European badger), Helictidinae (ferret-badgers), Mellivorinae (honey badger or ratel), and Taxideinae (American badger). The American badger is the most primitive of these, with evolutionary split dates estimated at around 17.8 million years ago for it, 15.5 million years ago for the ratel, and 14.8 million years ago for the Melinae.
