Kingdom

• Animalia

Phylum

• Chordata

Class

• Mammalia

Family

• Mustelidae

Order

• Carnivora

Genus

• Mellivora

Species

• Mellivora Capensis

Subspecies

• Cape Ratel

• Indian Ratel

• Nepalese Ratel

• White-Backed Ratel

• Black Ratel

• Lake Chad Ratel

• Speckled Ratel

• Ethiopian Ratel

• Persian Ratel

• Kenyan Ratel

• Arabian Ratel

• Turkmenian Ratel

Existence: at least 5 million years but some fossils suggest they may be as old as 12 million years

Relatives: Skunks, otters, ferrets, and other types of badgers are the closest relatives

Ancestors: Promellivora Punjabiensis, Thorali, Siamogale Melilutra