• Nyumbani
  • Mellivora capensis Schreber, 1776

Mellivora capensis Schreber, 1776

Order: Carnivora > Family: Mustelidae > Genus: Mellivora > Species: Mellivora capensis Schreber, 1776

Common Name: Honey Badger [English]

Type Description

Die Saugethiere, 3(18):pl. 125 [1776]; text, 3(26):450 [1777].

Type Locality

'Vorgebirge der guten Hofnung' [South Africa, Western Cape Prov., Cape of Good Hope].

Measurements

Head and body: 600-770 mm
Tail length: 160-300 mm
Weight: 7-13 kg

Description

This mustelid is recognized by the white forehead and white back, with black underside.

Distribution

Ranging throughout all of Africa except for the driest areas of the Sahara north to the Mediterranean, Mellivora capensis can be commonly found in open woodland and patchy in forests, waterless desert steppe, Afro-alpine moorland and in coastal scrub. (Kingdon, 1997)

Key References

1. Kingdon, J. 1989. East African mammals: An atlas of evolution in Africa. (Carnivores). University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 3A:86-103. 2. Kingdon, J. 1997. The Kingdon field guide to African mammals, AP Natural World Academic Press, Harcourt Brace & Company, San Diego, p. 232-233.
3. Nowak, R. M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World. Sixth ed. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 1:704-705, 737-739.