Mellivora capensis – Honey Badger

Taxonomic notes: Coetzee (1977) described 10 subspecies for Africa based primarily on size and pelage (mantle) variation, with only M. c. capensis present in the assessment region. However, no DNA investigation of subspecies has been completed so far and, therefore, subspecies denoted only by morphometrics, or pelage colour and pattern, are of dubious validity. There may even be a large variation in pelage pattern (length and size of white stripe) within populations and in size between localities within the same geographical areas (for example Mellivora capensis – Honey Badger