Meles meles

(Linnaeus, 1758)

European Badger

Taxonomy

Subclass : Theria
Infraclass : Placentalia
Magnorder : Boreoeutheria
Superorder : Laurasiatheria
Order : Carnivora
Suborder : Caniformia
Infraorder : Arctoidea
Superfamily : Musteloidea
Family : Mustelidae
Subfamily : Melinae
Genus : Meles

Species status

Living
Found in the wild
Listed in MSW3 2005

Authority citation

Linnaeus, C. 1758-01-01. Systema Naturæ per Regna Tria Naturæ, Secundum Classes, Ordines, Genera, Species, cum Characteribus, Differentiis, Synonymis, Locis. Tomus I. Editio Decima, Reformata. Laurentii Salvii, Stockholm, 823 pp.

Authority publication link

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25033859

Original name as described

Ursus meles

Other common names

Eurasian Badger

Type locality

Sweden.

Biogeographic realm

Palearctic

Country distribution

Ireland · United Kingdom · Norway · Sweden · Finland · Portugal · Spain · France · Luxembourg · Netherlands · Belgium · Germany · Denmark · Switzerland · Liechtenstein · Italy · Austria · Czech Republic · Slovakia · Poland · Hungary · Slovenia · Croatia · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Montenegro · Serbia · Kosovo · Albania · North Macedonia · Greece · Bulgaria · Turkey · Romania · Moldova · Ukraine · Belarus · Lithuania · Latvia · Estonia · Russia

Taxonomy notes

previously included M. canescens

Taxonomy notes citation

Abramov, A. V., & Puzachenko, A. Y. (2013). The taxonomic status of badgers (Mammalia, Mustelidae) from Southwest Asia based on cranial morphometrics, with the redescription of Meles canescens. Zootaxa, 3681(1), 044-058.

IUCN Red List status

Least Concern

Species Permalink

https://www.mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1005859

Country distribution map

The map below provides a general overview. Most species inhabit only specific regions within countries. Hover over the highlighted regions to see the country name.

Names and synonyms

Present and past (if available) associated names to the species. Click on a name to view its details. If the list is long, scroll down to see more.

Meles meles britannicus

Satunin, 1905

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

britannica

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1895.12.3.1, BMNH:Mamm:1895.6.2.1

Type kind

syntypes

Authority page

115

Authority publication

Mitteilungen des Kaukasischen Museums

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Meles meles mediterraneus

Barrett-Hamilton, 1899

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

mediterranea

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1895.3.3.7

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

384

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25124408

Authority publication

Annals and Magazine of Natural History

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Meles taxus, Varietas Marianensis

Graells, 1897

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

marianensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1895.3.3.9

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/3a8f7364-81cb-4bf6-8dd1-392dcae2886e

Authority page

170

Authority publication

Memorias de la Real Academia de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales

Meles meles milleri

Baryshnikov, Puzachenko, & Abramov, 2003

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

milleri

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1908.8.9.10

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

143

Authority publication

Russian Journal of Theriology

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Meles hollitzeri

Rabeder, 1976

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

hollitzeri

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

UWPI 2275/14/113

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

43

Authority publication

Beiträge zur Paläontologie von Österreich

Meles meles tauricus

Ognev, 1926

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

taurica

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

ZMMU S-11904

Type kind

lectotype

Type specimen URI

https://zmmu.msu.ru/dbs/list_record.php?id=S-11904

Authority page

51

Authority publication

Ученые Записки Северо-Кавказского института краеведения

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Meles meles heptneri

Ognev, 1931

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

heptneri

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

ZMMU S-17753

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://zmmu.msu.ru/dbs/list_record.php?id=S-17753

Authority page

775

Authority publication

Moscow

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Meles atavus

Kormos, 1914

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

atava

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

241

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/12162556

Authority publication

Mitteilungen aus dem Jahrbuche der Königlich Ungarischen Geologischen Reichsanstalt

Meles meles caucasicus

Ognev, 1926

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

caucasica

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

50

Authority publication

Ученые Записки Северо-Кавказского института краеведения

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Meles vulgaris

Illiger, 1815

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

vulgaris

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

63

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11080919

Authority publication

Abhandlungen der physikalischen Klasse der Königlich-Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften

Name usages

  1. Illiger (1815:63, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11080919) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/38688)
  2. Lichtenstein (1823:125, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/60405162) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/65818)
  3. Lesson (1827:141, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/54207609) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36839)
  4. Smith (1842:210) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67141)

Taxus meles

(C. F. Cuvier, 1842)

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

meles

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

3

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/44518526

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

Cuvier (1842:3, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/44518526) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/60227)

Taxus Europeus

(Lesson, 1842)

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

europeus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

incorrectsubsequentspelling

Authority page

78

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

Lesson (1842:78) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36812)

Meles antediluviana

J. A. Wagner, 1851

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

antediluviana

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

incorrectsubsequentspelling

Authority page

237

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11385625

Authority publication

Abhandlungen der Bayerischen Akademie der Wissenschaften

Meles meles

Corbet & J. Edwards Hill, 1980

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

meles

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

97

Authority publication

London

Name usages

  1. Corbet & Hill (1980:97) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63069)
  2. Honacki, Kinman & Koeppl (1982:260) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63071)
  3. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)
  4. O'Brien, Menninger & Nash (2006:498) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/7321)
  5. Wilson & Mittermeier (2009:623) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67177)
  6. Mammal Diversity Database (2018:ID #29673) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67336)
  7. Mammal Diversity Database (2019:ID #29673) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67337)
  8. Mammal Diversity Database (2024, https://www.mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1005859) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67250)
  9. International Union for the Conservation of Nature (2024, https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/29673/45203002) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67246)

Meles meles marianensis

Wozencraft, 2005

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

marianensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Meles meles meles

Wozencraft, 2005

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

meles

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Ursus meles

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

meles

Validity status

species

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

48

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25033859

Authority publication

Stockholm

Name usages

  1. Erxleben (1777:161, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15872958) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36060)
  2. Cuvier (1797:112, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11637194) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/38531)
  3. Daudin (1802:154, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/42033404) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/64044)
  4. Crespon (1844:40, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/52795640) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/38970)

Meles Taxus

P. Boddaert, 1785

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

taxus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

80

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/28230044

Authority publication

Rotterdam

Name usages

  1. Fischer (1814:xi, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/29130072) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/12226)
  2. Fischer (1829:151) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59856)
  3. Gloger (1841:57, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/13515367) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59951)
  4. Fitzinger (1855:306) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/65926)
  5. Loche (1858:30, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/41949404) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/60564)
  6. Blyth (1863:70, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/47534698) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/37155)
  7. Gray (1865:139, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/28497070) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/18241)
  8. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Ursus Meles maculata

(J. F. Gmelin, 1788)

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

maculata

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

102

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25751322

Authority publication

Leipzig

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Meles Taxus albus

Bechstein, 1801

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

alba

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

733

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/30257985

Authority publication

Leipzig

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Meles Taxus maculatus

Bechstein, 1801

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

maculata

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

preoccupied

Authority page

733

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/30257985

Authority publication

Leipzig

Taxus vulgaris

(Tiedemann, 1808)

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

vulgaris

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

nomen_novum

Authority page

376

Authority publication

Landshut

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Meles europaeus

A. G. Desmarest, 1816

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

europaea

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

nomen_novum

Authority page

465

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/21109611

Authority publication

Nouveau Dictionnaire d'Histoire Naturelle

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Meles communis caninus

Billberg, 1827

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

canina

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

17

Authority publication

Stockholm

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Meles communis

Billberg, 1827

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

communis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

nomen_novum

Authority page

16

Authority publication

Stockholm

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Meles vulgaris fossilis

H. von Meyer, 1832

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

fossilis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

47

Authority publication

Frankfurt am Main

meles antidiluvianus

Schmerling, 1833

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

antidiluviana

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

165

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/43577217

Authority publication

Liège

Meles antiquus

zu Münster in F. Braun, 1840

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

antiquus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

nomen_nudum

Authority page

87

Authority publication

Leipzig

Meles Morreni

Laurillard, 1842

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

morreni

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

593

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/57476548

Authority publication

Paris

Meles antediluvianus

F.-J. Pictet, 1853

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

antediluvianus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination · incorrect_subsequent_spelling

Authority page

191

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/13775643

Authority publication

Paris

Meles Morrenii

F.-J. Pictet, 1853

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

morrenii

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

incorrectsubsequentspelling

Authority page

192

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/13775644

Authority publication

Paris

Meles meles typicus

Barrett-Hamilton, 1899

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

typica

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

nomen_novum

Authority page

384

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25124408

Authority publication

Annals and Magazine of Natural History

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Meles meles danicus

Degerbøl, 1933

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

danica

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

96

Authority publication

Copenhagen

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Meles thorali spelaeus

Bonifay, 1971

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

spelaea

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

325

Authority publication

Mémoires du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle

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