现存亚种包括被提名的:“T. t. taxus”,此物种发现于加拿大中部、美国中部;“T. t. jacksoni”发现于五大湖南部、安大略省南部;“T. t. jeffersoni”发现于英属哥伦比亚省、美国西部;“T. t. berlandieri”发现于美国西南部、墨西哥北部。[3][4][5] 亚种的分布有很多重叠的地区,在重叠的地区种,生活着介于两者之间的物种。
美洲獾有着像大多数獾一样相同的特征;有着敦厚、低矮的身体、粗短但强壮的四肢,其最具特点的是外形硕大的前爪(最长有5 cm)和头部独特的印记。体型上,雄性略大于雌性,雄性体长一般在60、75 cm(23.5、29.5英寸)。它们体重一般达到6.3至7.2公斤(14至16磅),雄性体重最大可达8.6公斤(19磅)。“T. t. jeffersonii”这样生活在(美国)北部的亚种比南部生活的亚种更重。在食物充裕的秋天,成年雄性美洲獾能达到11.5至15公斤(25至33磅)重。[6][7][8][9] 在一些生活在北方的种群中,雌性平均体重可达9.5公斤(21磅)[10]
American badger
除头部外,美洲獾的身体是由灰白色,棕色,黑色和白色的毛皮或粗毛,是几乎呈棕褐色混合的外观。这样的毛皮可以在多草的生活环境中作为天然的伪装。美洲獾三角形的面部是独特的、由有规律的黑白色毛发组成的,脸颊上有棕色或黑色的“徽章”样式的色块,白色条纹从鼻子延伸到头部底部。“T. t. berlandieri”的头部白色条纹会延伸到整个身体,直到尾巴根部。[11]
^Lindzey, Fred, BADGERS (1994). The Handbook: Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage. 28
^Minta, S. C., Minta, K. A., & Lott, D. F. (1992). Hunting associations between badgers (Taxidea taxus) and coyotes (Canis latrans). Journal of Mammalogy, 73(4), 814-820.
^Quinn, J. H. (2008). The ecology of the American badger Taxidea taxus in California: assessing conservation needs on multiple scales. University of California, Davis.
^Harlow, H. J., Miller, B., Ryder, T., & Ryder, L. (1985). Energy requirements for gestation and lactation in a delayed implanter, the American badger. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Physiology, 82(4), 885-889.
^Klauber, Lawrence Monroe (1997). Rattlesnakes: Their Habits, Life Histories, and Influence on Mankind. Volume 1. 2nd ed. Berkeley (California): University of California Press. p. 1076. ISBN0520210565.
^ 17.017.117.217.317.417.5Messick, John P.; Hornocker, Maurice G. Ecology of the Badger in Southwestern Idaho. Wildlife Monographs. 1981, 76 (76): 1–53. JSTOR 3830719.引用错误:带有name属性“r16”的<ref>标签用不同内容定义了多次
^ 18.018.1Lindsey, Frederick G. (1971). Ecology of badgers in Curlew Valley, Utah and Idaho with emphasis on movement and activity patterns. Logan, UT: Utah State University
^ 19.019.1Messick, John P.; Hornocker, Maurice G. Ecology of the Badger in Southwestern Idaho. Wildlife Monographs. 1981, 76 (76): 1–53. JSTOR 3830719.
^Banfield, A. W. F. (1974). The mammals of Canada. Toronto, ON: University of Toronto Press
^de Vos, A. (1969). "Ecological conditions affecting the production of wild herbivorous mammals on grasslands", pp. 137–179 in Advances in ecological research. On file at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory, Missoula, MT
^ 22.022.122.2Long, Charles A.; Killingley, Carl Arthur. (1983). The badgers of the world. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas Publishing
^Davis, Russell; Sidner, Ronnie. (1992). Mammals of woodland and forest habitats in the Rincon Mountains of Saguaro National Monument, Arizona. Technical Report NPS/WRUA/NRTR-92/06. Tucson, AZ: The University of Arizona, School of Renewable Natural Resources, Cooperative National Park esources Study Unit
^Quinn, Ronald D. (1990). "Habitat preferences and distribution of mammals in California chaparral". Res. Pap. PSW-202. Berkeley, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station
^Morris, Meredith J.; Reid, Vincent H.; Pillmore, Richard E.; Hammer, Mary C. (1977). "Birds and mammals of Manitou Experimental Forest, Colorado". Gen. Tech. Rep. RM-38. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment.
^Tyser, Robin W. (1990). "Ecology of fescue grasslands in Glacier National Park", pp. 59–60 in Boyce, Mark S.; Plumb, Glenn E. (eds.) National Park Service Research Center, 14th annual report. Laramie, WY: University of Wyoming, National Park Service Research Center.