Mellivora capensis

(von Schreber, 1776)

Honey Badger

Taxonomy

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

Species status

Living
Found in the wild
Listed in MSW3 2005

Authority citation

Schreber, J.C.D. von. 1776. pl. 125. P. pl. 125 in Schreber, J.C.D. von. 1774-1855. Die Säugthiere in Abbildungen nach der Natur, mit Beschreibungen. Walther, Die Säugthiere in Abbildungen nach der Natur.

Authority publication link

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/31064712

Original name as described

Viverra capensis

Other common names

Ratel

Type locality

Cape of Good Hope, South Africa.

Biogeographic realm

Afrotropic · Indomalaya

Country distribution

Kazakhstan · Uzbekistan · Turkmenistan · India · Nepal · Pakistan · Iran · Iraq · Syria · Kuwait · Lebanon · Israel · Palestine · Saudi Arabia · Qatar · United Arab Emirates · Oman · Yemen · Egypt · Algeria · Morocco · Mauritania · Mali · Senegal · Gambia · Guinea-Bissau · Guinea · Sierra Leone · Liberia · Cote d'Ivoire · Burkina Faso · Ghana · Togo · Benin · Niger · Nigeria · Chad · Sudan · South Sudan · Cameroon · Central African Republic · Equatorial Guinea · Gabon · Republic of the Congo · Democratic Republic of the Congo · Eritrea · Ethiopia · Somalia · Kenya · Uganda · Rwanda · Burundi · Tanzania · Angola · Zambia · Malawi · Mozambique · Namibia · Botswana · Zimbabwe · South Africa · Eswatini · Lesotho

IUCN Red List status

Least Concern

Species Permalink

https://www.mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1005860

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.

Ursitaxus inauritus

(Hodgson, 1836)

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

inaurita

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1845.1.8.251

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/02a6c456-44ec-4e74-84b9-c6386677ed3f

Authority page

61

Authority publication

Asiatic Researches

Ursitaxus Nepalensis

(Lesson, 1842)

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

nepalensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

nomen_novum

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1845.1.8.251

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/02a6c456-44ec-4e74-84b9-c6386677ed3f

Authority page

79

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

Lesson (1842:79) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36812)

Mellivora wilsoni

Cheesman, 1920

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

wilsoni

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1905.10.4.21

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/ca34605f-341b-4c85-9e12-cf39582b5283

Authority page

335

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/30358948

Authority publication

Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society

Mellivora cottoni

Lydekker, 1906

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

cottoni

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1906.6.2.2

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/f4d5886b-fba3-477c-9ae3-96ad8d61955a

Authority page

112

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/32051434

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London

Mellivora concisa

O. Thomas & Wroughton, 1907

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

concisa

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1907.7.8.62

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/4242fd44-f929-41e6-b202-0a2b633ea5da

Authority page

376

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/24254836

Authority publication

Annals and Magazine of Natural History

Mellivora signata

Pocock, 1909

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

signata

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1909.7.19.1

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/49496ec1-ec56-4ae4-94b9-f026cdf27d2f

Authority page

394

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/31577996

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London

Mellivora brockmani

Wroughton & Cheesman, 1920

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

brockmani

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1910.10.3.10

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/b70448c6-277f-45bc-bd5f-2dd368f9468b

Authority page

197

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15625244

Authority publication

Annals and Magazine of Natural History

Name usages

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

Mellivora maxwelli

O. Thomas, 1923

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

maxwelli

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1922.11.24.2

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/23d4bca4-ff82-4258-9a7d-e21703f1d7ed

Authority page

340

Authority publication

Annals and Magazine of Natural History

Mellivora buchanani

O. Thomas, 1925

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

buchanani

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1925.5.12.27

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/65c1df1c-d696-4ecf-8b7f-022b6d550586

Authority page

190

Authority publication

Annals and Magazine of Natural History

Name usages

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

Mellivora capensis pumilio

Pocock, 1946

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

pumilio

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1945.1

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/273fd783-8fb3-4151-900f-a75287db16b3

Authority page

314

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London

Name usages

  1. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)
  2. Wilson & Mittermeier (2009:621) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67177)

Mellivora capensis vernayi

A. Roberts, 1932

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

vernayi

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

TM 6604

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

7

Authority publication

Annals of the Transvaal Museum

Name usages

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

Mellivora sagulata

Hollister, 1910

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

sagulata

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

USNM:MAMM:171875

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/3656e8ca7-57ad-4885-8f52-3567f331daa8

Authority page

2

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/8813396

Authority publication

Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections

Name usages

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

Mellivora abyssinica

Hollister, 1910

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

abyssinica

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

USNM:MAMM:171876

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/334c0cac2-0241-468d-8509-c99e37b48e54

Authority page

1

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/8813395

Authority publication

Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections

Mellivora capensis buechneri

Baryshnikov, 2000

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

buechneri

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

ZIN 10000, ZIN 25700

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

53

Authority publication

Acta Theriologica

Name usages

  1. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)
  2. Wilson & Mittermeier (2009:621) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67177)

Meles capensis

(G. Fischer, 1814)

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

capensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

xi

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/29130072

Authority publication

Moscow

Name usages

Fischer (1814:xi, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/29130072) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/12226)

Mellivora capensis

Lesson, 1827

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

capensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

143

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/54207611

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

  1. Lesson (1827:143, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/54207611) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36839)
  2. Lesson (1842:81) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36812)
  3. Coetzee (1971:10) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67173)
  4. Corbet & Hill (1980:97) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63069)
  5. Honacki, Kinman & Koeppl (1982:260) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63071)
  6. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)
  7. O'Brien, Menninger & Nash (2006:497) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/7321)
  8. Wilson & Mittermeier (2009:621) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67177)
  9. Kingdon & Hoffman (2013:119) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/27643)
  10. Mammal Diversity Database (2018:ID #41629) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67336)
  11. Mammal Diversity Database (2019:ID #41629) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67337)
  12. Mammal Diversity Database (2024, https://www.mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1005860) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67250)
  13. International Union for the Conservation of Nature (2024, https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/41629/45210107) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67246)

Ratelus capensis

(Fitzinger, 1855)

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

capensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

320

Authority publication

Vienna

Name usages

Fitzinger (1855:320) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/65926)

Mellivora indica

J. E. Gray, 1865

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

indica

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

143

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/28497074

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London

Name usages

Gray (1865:143, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/28497074) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/18241)

Mellivora capensis abyssinica

Coetzee, 1971

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

abyssinica

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

10

Authority publication

Washington

Name usages

  1. Coetzee (1971:10) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67173)
  2. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Mellivora capensis brockmani

Coetzee, 1971

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

brockmani

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

11

Authority publication

Washington

Name usages

Coetzee (1971:11) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67173)

Mellivora capensis buchanani

Coetzee, 1971

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

buchanani

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

11

Authority publication

Washington

Name usages

Coetzee (1971:11) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67173)

Mellivora capensis capensis

Coetzee, 1971

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

capensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

11

Authority publication

Washington

Name usages

  1. Coetzee (1971:11) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67173)
  2. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)
  3. Wilson & Mittermeier (2009:621) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67177)

Mellivora capensis concisa

Coetzee, 1971

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

concisa

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

11

Authority publication

Washington

Name usages

  1. Coetzee (1971:11) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67173)
  2. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)
  3. Wilson & Mittermeier (2009:621) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67177)

Mellivora capensis cottoni

Coetzee, 1971

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

cottoni

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

11

Authority publication

Washington

Name usages

  1. Coetzee (1971:11) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67173)
  2. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Mellivora capensis leuconota

Coetzee, 1971

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

leuconota

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

11

Authority publication

Washington

Name usages

  1. Coetzee (1971:11) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67173)
  2. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Mellivora capensis maxwelli

Coetzee, 1971

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

maxwelli

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

11

Authority publication

Washington

Name usages

  1. Coetzee (1971:11) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67173)
  2. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)
  3. Wilson & Mittermeier (2009:621) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67177)

Mellivora capensis sagulata

Coetzee, 1971

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

sagulata

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

11

Authority publication

Washington

Name usages

Coetzee (1971:11) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67173)

Mellivora capensis signata

Coetzee, 1971

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

signata

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

11

Authority publication

Washington

Name usages

  1. Coetzee (1971:11) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67173)
  2. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)
  3. Wilson & Mittermeier (2009:621) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67177)

Mellivora capensis inaurita

Wozencraft, 2005

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

inaurita

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

  1. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)
  2. Wilson & Mittermeier (2009:621) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67177)

Mellivora capensis indica

Wozencraft, 2005

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

indica

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

  1. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)
  2. Wilson & Mittermeier (2009:621) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67177)

Mellivora capensis wilsoni

Wozencraft, 2005

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

wilsoni

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

  1. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)
  2. Wilson & Mittermeier (2009:621) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67177)

Viverra capensis

(von Schreber, 1776)

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

capensis

Validity status

species

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

pl. 125

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/31064712

Authority publication

Die Säugthiere in Abbildungen nach der Natur

Name usages

Erxleben (1777:493, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15873290) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36060)

Viverra ratel

(Sparrman, 1777)

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

ratel

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

147

Authority publication

Kunglika Svenska Vetenskapsakademiens Handlingar

Name usages

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

Viverra (Mellivora)

(E. A. W. von Zimmermann, 1780)

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

mellivora

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

287

Authority publication

Leipzig

Ursus indicus

(Kerr, 1792)

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

indica

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

188

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/38664212

Authority publication

Edinburgh

Ursus mellivorus

(G. Cuvier, 1797)

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

mellivora

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

preoccupied

Authority page

112

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11637194

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

  1. Cuvier (1797:112, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11637194) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/38531)
  2. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Viverra Mellivora

(G. K. Shaw, 1800)

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

mellivora

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

preoccupied

Authority page

395

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/19632487

Authority publication

London

Meles mellivora

(Thunberg, 1811)

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

mellivora

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

306

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11767800

Authority publication

Mémoires de l'Académie Impériale des Sciences de Saint-Pétersbourg

Name usages

Thunberg (1811:306, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11767800) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/64194)

Gulo Mellivora

(A. Smith, 1826)

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

mellivora

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

preoccupied

Authority page

17

Authority publication

Cape Town

Ratelus mellivorus

(E. T. Bennett, 1830)

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

mellivora

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

preoccupied

Authority page

13

Authority publication

London

Name usages

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

Ratellus typicus

(A. Smith, 1833)

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

typica

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

83

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15968199

Authority publication

South African Quarterly Journal

Name usages

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

Mellivora ratel

C. H. Smith, 1842

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

ratel

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

205

Authority publication

Edinburgh

Name usages

  1. Smith (1842:205) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67141)
  2. Blyth (1863:69, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/47534697) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/37155)
  3. Gray (1865:144, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/28497075) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/18241)
  4. Matschie (1895:84, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/14835477) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67260)
  5. Roberts (1913:102, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/50439560) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/17656)

Ratelus indicus

(H. R. Schinz, 1844)

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

indicus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

113

Authority publication

Solothurn

Mellivora ratel

Horsfield, 1851

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

ratel

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

misidentification

Authority page

120

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/23832417

Authority publication

London

Name usages

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

Mellivora ratelus

L. Fraser, 1862

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

ratelus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

nomen_nudum

Authority publication

London

Name usages

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

Mellivora leuconota

P. L. Sclater, 1867

Family

Mustelidae

Root name

leuconota

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

98

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/29533538

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London

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