From afar, wolverines and honey badgers appear to be cute animals. However, they are some of the most aggressive mammals.
They both belong to the weasel family, which also includes otters and other relatives. Even though their geographic ranges are different, who would prevail in a fight if they were to meet up?
Despite their fierce reputation, honey badgers are weaker and smaller than wolverines. Additionally, their bite force is reduced above 1,300 PSI. Wolverines have a maximum bite force of 1,720 PSI. In addition, wolverines are swifter and bigger than honey badgers. The odds would be on their side in a battle.
The following table lists the strengths and distinctions of Wolverine Vs Honey Badger:
| Characteristic | Wolverine | Honey Badger |
|---|---|---|
| Classification (genus) | Gulo | Mellivora |
| Body length | 26 to 34 inches | 23 to 30 inches |
| Weight | 20 to 66 pounds | 13 to 30 pounds |
| Bite force | 1,720 PSI | 1,300 PSI |
| Speed | 30 mph | 19 mph |
| Strike force | Up to 1,200 lb.-ft./s | Up to 570 lb.-ft./s |
| Behavior | Solitary; aggressive | Solitary; aggressive |
| Diet | Primarily carnivore | Primarily carnivore |
| Geographic range | North America, Northern Eurasia | Africa, Asia, Middle East |
| Habitat | Forests, mountains, tundra, taiga | Savannas, grasslands, rainforests, forests, deserts, mountains |
| Conservation status | Least concern | Least concern |
The information of wolverine vs honey badger in the table was generated by research papers, news sources, wildlife magazines, scientific journals, and other official sources that were mentioned in the article.
Information on wolverine vs honey badger in general is used in this table and throughout the article to describe their size, strength, and performance. The specifics can differ depending on the subspecies.
11 Differences Between Wolverine Vs Honey Badgers
Wolverine Facts
Wolverines, like their comic book counterpart, are amazing. Many of them are from Canada, just like their namesake. The largest land-dwelling mustelid, wolverines, can survive in the worst conditions.
Honey Badger Facts
Ratels, sometimes known as honey badgers, have become well-known, particularly as a result of movies showing them fending against lions and recovering from poisonous snake bites. Here are some quick facts about honey badgers.
1. Classification
Although they are in distinct genera, wolverine vs honey badger are members of the same family, Mustelidae.
Wolverines, or Gulo gulo, belong to the Gulo genus, and each mammal is the sole member of its genus. The genus Mellivora includes honey badgers (Mellivora capensis).
There are numerous subspecies of both wolverine vs honey badger. There are twelve subspecies of honey badgers and six subspecies of wolverines.
2. Body Length
When two animals fight in the wild, size matters and wolverines are the larger of the two. With a length of 26 to 34 inches, they are bigger than honey badgers.
Although there isn’t much of a length difference, honey badgers are significantly shorter, reaching up to 30 inches in length.
Indeed, honey badgers can grow to a shoulder height of nine to eleven inches. Wolverine vs honey badger, Wolverines have a maximum height of 17 inches.
3. Weight
The fact that wolverines are heavier is not surprising because body mass and size are frequently related.
The average wolverine weighs between 22 and 40 pounds, however larger males can weigh up to 66 pounds.
The usual honey badger weighs between 13 to 30 pounds, making them 10 to 30 pounds lighter. No records of heavier honey badgers have yet been found.
4. Bite Force
Wolverines are also superior in terms of bite force.
These two creatures are members of the same family, and their skulls and dental formulae are identical. Their jaw forces, however, are completely dissimilar.
Honey badgers can exert a bite force of up to 1,300 PSI, according to research. Considering that tigers and lions both have weaker bites, that is quite amazing.
Wolverines, on the other hand, can bite with more than 1,700 PSI, therefore they are no match for them. Only marginally less forceful than the biting force of hippopotamuses, who have the strongest bite of any mammal, this is one of the strongest bites in the animal kingdom.
sea also: 10 Unique Animals That Look Like Beavers(with Photos)
5. Speed
The wolverines also won the round in terms of speed. It is possible for them to run up to 30 miles per hour.
Honey badgers, on the other hand, are only able to go up to 19 miles per hour and are roughly twice as slow.
They can only sustain that level of performance for brief intervals, though, since their speed drops to about 16 miles per hour during longer runs.
Wolverine vs honey badger can both climb trees and swim very well.
6. Strike Force
Wolverine vs honey badger are unable to throw punches like wrestlers, but they can strike an opponent with force equal to their body mass times their speed at the time of impact.
It goes without saying that this power will differ from person to person and circumstance to circumstance. However, we took into account each species’ top weight and speed for comparison.
These calculations indicate that wolverines can strike with a force of up to 1,200 lb.-ft./s. Although they can manage an impact force of up to 570 lb.-ft./s, honey badgers are around two times weaker.
7. Behavior
Despite belonging to the same family as weasels, wolverine vs honey badger are solitary creatures. The only time men and females get together is for mating, and the only groups are made up of females and their dependent offspring.
Wolverine hunters are brave and aggressive, just like the majority of weasels. Unless they feel threatened, they aren’t very hostile while they aren’t searching for food.
Moreover, honey badgers are notoriously violent and have been known to assault lions and other huge apex predators. When it comes to fighting wolverines, this characteristic might provide honey badgers an advantage.
8. Diet
A common misconception about honey badgers is that they are bear-like animals that consume honey and possibly vegetation.
In actuality, they are mostly carnivores, and their name comes from their preference for bee larvae that are found in hives. They also consume the honey while doing so.
Aside from honey and bee larvae, honey badgers are nimble hunters that mostly consume terrestrial vertebrates for food. Among the primary dietary sources are carrion, birds, and small animals.
Wolverine vs honey badger, like honey badgers, are mostly carnivores. They do, however, favor giant ungulates over tiny mammals.
In general, wolverines can take down prey like reindeer, elk, or moose that are up to five times larger than themselves.
Wolverines are opportunistic, though, like the majority of carnivores. They are referred to as scavengers in addition to having a seasonal diet.
In times when food is scarce, both mammals also consume fruits or root tubers, eggs, and reptiles.
Wolverine vs honey badger have few natural predators because they are ferocious predators themselves.
Lions and leopards are the main predators of honey badgers, however the big cats usually mainly target elderly and feeble honey badgers.
Bears, mountain lions, and wolves can all prey on wolverines.
These predators primarily target young, inexperienced, or elderly, feeble wolverines, although adult wolverines are typically able to defend themselves.
9. Geographic Range
Despite belonging to the same family, these two mammals wolverine vs honey badger have distinct geographic distributions.
Native to both North America and northern Eurasia, wolverines can be found across the northern hemisphere’s boreal zone.
Typically, they can be found in the mountainous areas around the Pacific Coast, Alaska, and northern Canada. The majority of wolverines in Eurasia are found in Russia and Scandinavia.
Africa, Asia, and the Indian subcontinent are home to honey badgers. They are distributed throughout Africa, from Morocco to the southernmost tip of the continent. They can also be found in western Asia and India, in places like Afghanistan, Nepal, and Turkmenistan.
The Middle East, including Saudi Arabia and Iran, is another region with a concentration of small populations.
10. Habitat
Habitat preferences vary across different geographic areas.
Usually found in mountains, woodlands, and rainforests, honey badgers are found in areas with warm temperatures. But they can also be found in deserts, grasslands, and savannas, frequently sharing habitats with tigers and lions.
Forests and mountainous regions are also home to wolverines. However, they can be found in arctic and subalpine ecosystems, including tundra and taiga regions.
11. Conservation Status
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified both wolverine vs honey badger as “least concerned,” meaning that they are not in danger of going extinct.
Both species’ populations, however, have been declining recently.
In areas where the snowpack is drastically decreasing, scientists have noticed a fall in the wolverine population.
This is thought to occur because the heavy snow and frigid weather may give wolverines access to more food sources, such as huge ungulate carcasses.
The population of honey badgers is also decreasing, most likely as a result of human habitat exploitation. Honey badgers frequently reside in degraded habitat areas with limited food supplies due to land use.
Who Would Win A Fight?
Wolverine vs honey badger live in separate places of the planet and are unlikely to encounter each other in the wild.
However, wolverines would prevail if they did. This is a result of wolverines’ greater size, speed, and strength. In addition, their bite is more powerful than that of honey badgers.
Although wolverines can also be hostile when provoked or assaulted, honey badgers are known for their aggression.
Wolverines routinely hunt and kill large mammals, but honey badgers sometimes fend off lions. The chances are definitely in their favor.