Badgers are short-legged omnivores in the family Mustelidae which also includes the otters, polecats, weasels and wolverines. The 11 species of badger are grouped in three subfamilies: Melinae , Mellivorinae and Taxideinae . The Asiatic stink badgers of the genus Mydaus were formerly included within Melinae , but recent genetic evidence indicates these are actually members of the skunk family, placing them in the taxonomic family Mephitidae.