Sunda Stink Badger - Profile | Traits | Facts | Behavior

(Last Updated On: April 15, 2021)

The Sunda stink badger, scientific name Mydaus javanensis, additionally known as the Javan stink badger, teledu, Malay stink badger, Malay badger, Indonesian stink badger, and Sunda skunk is a mammal native to Indonesia and Malaysia. Despite the frequent name, stink badgers will not be intently associated with true badgers, and are, as an alternative, Old World kin of the skunks.

Geographic Range

Mydaus javanensis has a restricted, remoted distribution on the Indonesian islands of Sumatra, Java, Borneo, and North Natuna Islands

Sunda Stink Badger Description

Sunda stink badgers have an identical body form to badgers, however are considerably smaller, being 37 to 52 cm (15 to 20 in) in total size, and weighing from 1.3 to 3.6 kg (2.9 to 7.9 lb).

Their fur is coarse, and black or very darkish brown over a lot of the body, with a white stripe working from the top of the top to the tail.

The tail is brief, measuring about 3.6 cm (1.4 in), and is roofed in pure white fur. The width of the stripe varies significantly between people, however is normally slim, and could also be discontinuous.

As the name signifies, stink badgers have an anal scent gland that secretes a foul-smelling substance, which the animal can spray as much as 15 cm (5.9 in). Females have six teats.

Sunda Stink Badger Physical Traits

Mydaus javanensis are categorized as true badgers. They have been as soon as classified with the skunks due to their black and white coloration and robust scent glands, however the accesory cusp on the inside projection of the higher fourth premolar and the massive front digging feet locations M. javanensis with Meles and Taxidea.

Coloration of M. javanensis varies from darkish black to blackish brown. All have a white patch on the top of the top. A white mid-dorsal stripe extends from the patch on the top and is both interrupted or extends posteriorly down the backbone to the tail. The fur is sparse on the stomach.

The hair on the neck stands practically erect. Their eyes are small and the pinna (or ear flap) are vestigial.

The body of M. javanensis is small, squat, heavy, and practically plantigrade. They have a long, pointed, mobile snout, brief, muscular legs, long, robust recurved claws on the front feet, and a brief tail.

The musculature kinds an internet that extends to the bottom of the foreclaws. The toes are sure collectively so far as the bottom of the claws. Their nostril to tailbase ranges from 370 to 510mm and their tail size ranges from 50 to 75mm. All M. javanensis have a well-developed anal scent gland.

The cheek teeth have low, rounded cusps with round-shaped crowns.

Sunda Stink Badger Distribution and habitat

Named for the Sunda Islands, Sunda stink badgers are present in Java, Sumatra, Borneo, and the northern Natuna Islands. Sunda stink badgers might be discovered throughout all kinds of habitats, together with forest edges or areas of secondary forest.

Historically, they have been considered restricted to high elevations of over 2,000 m (6,600 ft), and solely not often on lowland plains. This is now recognized to not be true, and more current surveys have proven Sunda stink-badgers are sometimes present in elevations effectively beneath 2000m.

Sunda stink badgers have been reported as little as 250 m (820 ft) above sea level on Java, at comparatively low elevations in Sarawak., and have even been recorded at elevations as little as 10m within the Lower Kinabatangan floodplains, Sabah, Borneo at seemingly high densities.

Mydaus javanensis are montane and are seldom discovered on the plains. They are discovered typically above 7,000 ft. in elevation, however could happen beneath 4,000 ft. and even as little as 850 ft. in West Java.

Most M. javanensis inhabit shallow burrows underground. However, in Borneo, they inhabit caves at high elevations.

Sunda Stink Badger Behavior

Sunda stink badgers are omnivorous and extremely nocturnal. The animal portion of their diet consists of invertebrates, eggs, and carrion. At night, the root by means of gentle soil utilizing their snout and claws, trying to find worms and ground-dwelling bugs.

During the day, they sleep in brief burrows, lower than 60 cm (24 in) in size, which they could both dig themselves or take over from different animals, resembling porcupines. They have been reported to present beginning to litters of two or three younger.

In normal, M. javanensis are nocturnal and feed at night. During the daytime, the gap up in shallow burrows underground. They use their robust claws to dig easy tunnels that end in a bigger chamber the place bedding is positioned.

Tunnels prolong no more than 2 ft. (60 cm) in depth and 6 ft. in size. The bedding chamber has a diameter of a number of feet. For concealment, twigs and dry leaves are positioned on the exterior entrance.

The burrows are sometimes dug close to and guarded by the bases and roots of bushes. They will even occupy porcupine burrows–even generally sharing the burrows with the porcupines.

The dens have a disagreeable scent, however generally this can be confused with paku sigung (the stink badger fern), a similarly smelling native plant. Most M. javanensis reside in pairs.

Food Habits

Mydaus javanensis makes use of its robust forelimbs, long claws, and ‘pig-like’ snout to root by means of soils and feed. At night, these animals forage for bugs and worms. They feed primarily on invertebrates and plant materials.

Foods that are eaten embrace: worms, particularly earthworms, bugs, insect grubs, bird eggs, carrion, and plant materials.

Predation

When endangered, M. javanensis makes use of its well-developed scent gland. It will elevate its tail after which emit a pungent, foul, milky green secretion. The secretion might be ejected with some accuracy.

The secretion is nauseating and damaging when it is available in contact with the predator. Humans have fainted from the stench. Dogs have been asphyxiated by the fluid and even blinded when struck within the eye. Mydaus javanensis is kind of fierce and growls and bites when dealt with.

It is a sluggish mover and may solely run away at a trot (concerning the velocity of a human’s stroll) for about 100 meters.

Sunda Stink Badger – Profile | Traits | Facts | Behavior | Diet