獾亚科，学名Melinae，属于食肉目鼬科，包括在欧亚大陆常见的獾（即狗獾）、猪獾、鼬獾等。有时獾作为统称，也包括产于非洲的蜜獾和美洲的美洲獾。

獾的主要特点是体型粗壮，腿短、尾短、吻长，嗅觉灵敏，性情好动，善于挖掘土中的动物作为食物。

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 badger 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.