Badgers, weasels, and otters

Collectively described as the small carnivores, the 55 or so members of this family rely on an agile body to catch prey. It serves them well and there are members found in all parts of the world except the Sahara, Australia, and Antarctica. The body plan is most obvious among weasels and polecats, which have a long flexible body with short legs and a ow center of gravity, ideal or pursuing prey into burrows, over rough ground, and through tree branches. The otters have re-purposed the body for swimming, using webbed feet, thick waterproof fur that aids buoyancy, and a sleek and sturdy tail for steering. The badgers are the most robust group, wider head that boosts bite strength and large shoulders to accommodate large digging muscles.