The honey badger has a long body. Its skin is remarkably loose, and allows it to turn and twist freely within it. The skin around the neck is 0.24 inches thick, which helps them while fighting. The head is small and flat, with a short muzzle and sharp, yet thick teeth. The eyes are small, and the ears are little more than ridges on the skin, another possible adaptation to avoiding damage while fighting. The honey badger has short and sturdy legs, with five toes on each foot. The feet are armed with very strong claws, which are short on the hind legs and remarkably long on the forelimbs. The tail is short and is covered in long hairs. Adults measure 9.1 to 11.0 inches in shoulder height and 22–30 inches in body length, with the tail adding another 4.7–11.8 inches. Males weigh 20 to 35 pounds, while females weigh 11 to 22 pounds on average.