Main Difference
The main difference between Badger and Skunk is that the Badger is a informal group of mammals, use Q10328397 for Melinae and Skunk is a common name of mammals in the genus Mephitidae.
Badger
Badgers are short-legged omnivores in the family Mustelidae, which also includes the otters, polecats, weasels, and wolverines. They belong to the caniform suborder of carnivoran mammals. The 11 species of badgers are grouped in three subfamilies: Melinae (Eurasian badgers), Mellivorinae (the honey badger or ratel), and Taxideinae (the American badger). The Asiatic stink badgers of the genus Mydaus were formerly included within Melinae (and thus Mustelidae), but recent genetic evidence indicates these are actually members of the skunk family, placing them in the taxonomic family Mephitidae.
They include the species in the genera Arctonyx, Meles, Mellivora, Melogale and Taxidea. Badger mandibular condyles connect to long cavities in their skulls, giving resistance to jaw dislocation and increasing their bite grip strength, but in turn limiting jaw movement to hinging open and shut, or sliding from side to side but not the twisting movement possible for the jaws of most mammals.
Badgers have rather short, wide bodies, with short legs for digging. They have elongated, weasel-like heads with small ears. Their tails vary in length depending on species; the stink badger has a very short tail, while the ferret badger’s tail can be 46–51 cm (18–20 in) long, depending on age. They have black faces with distinctive white markings, grey bodies with a light-coloured stripe from head to tail, and dark legs with light-coloured underbellies. They grow to around 90 cm (35 in) in length including tail.
The European badger is one of the largest; the American badger, the hog badger, and the honey badger are generally a little smaller and lighter. Stink badgers are smaller still, and ferret badgers smallest of all. They weigh around 9–11 kg (20–24 lb), with some Eurasian badgers around 18 kg (40 lb).
Skunk
Skunks are mammals in the family Mephitidae. The animals are known for their ability to spray a liquid with a strong unpleasant smell. Different species of skunk vary in appearance from black-and-white to brown, cream or ginger colored, but all have warning coloration.
Badger (noun)
Any mammal of three subfamilies, which belong to the family Mustelidae: Melinae (Eurasian badgers), Mellivorinae (ratel or honey badger), and ver=161103 (American badger).
Badger (noun)
A native or resident of the American state, Wisconsin.
Badger (noun)
A brush made of badger hair.
Badger (noun)
A crew of desperate villains who robbed near rivers, into which they threw the bodies of those they murdered.
Badger (noun)
An itinerant licensed dealer in commodities used for food; a hawker; a huckster; — formerly applied especially to one who bought grain in one place and sold it in another.
Badger (verb)
To pester, to annoy persistently.
“He kept badgering her about her bad habits.”
Badger (verb)
To pass gas; to fart.
Skunk (noun)
Any of various small mammals, of the family Mephitidae, native to North and Central America, having a glossy black with a white coat and two musk glands at the base of the tail for emitting a noxious smell as a defensive measure.
Skunk (noun)
A despicable person.
Skunk (noun)
A walkover victory in sports or board games, as when the opposing side is unable to score. Compare shutout.
Skunk (noun)
A win by 30 or more points.
Skunk (noun)
A member of a hybrid skinhead and punk subculture.
Skunk (noun)
clipping of skunkweed|dot=marijuana.
Skunk (noun)
Any of the strains of hybrids of Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica that may have THC levels exceeding those of typical hashish.
Skunk (verb)
To defeat so badly as to prevent any opposing points.
“I skunked him at cards.”
“We fished all day but the lake skunked us.”
Skunk (verb)
To win by 30 or more points.
Skunk (verb)
To go bad, to spoil.
Skunk (noun)
a cat-sized American mammal of the weasel family, with distinctive black-and-white striped fur. When threatened it squirts a fine spray of foul-smelling irritant liquid from its anal glands towards its attacker.
Skunk (noun)
the fur of the skunk.
Skunk (noun)
a contemptible person
“he’d run up a massive phone bill and hadn’t paid—the skunk”
Skunk (noun)
short for skunkweed
Skunk (verb)
defeat (someone) overwhelmingly in a game or contest, especially by preventing them from scoring at all
“I knew he was a good fisherman, but I didn’t expect him to skunk you”
Skunk (verb)
fail to pay (a bill or creditor)
“he made a practice of skunking hotels”