Aardvark subspecies

Around 17 to 18 subspecies of the aardvark have been named since 1766, but scientists do not agree that they are real. A 2005 species list recognises 17 (Schlitter 2005, Order Tubulidentata, in Mammal Species of the World, 3rd ed.), a 2011 handbook lists 18 (Taylor 2011, in Handbook of the Mammals of the World, vol. 2), and the Mammal Diversity Database treats every one as a synonym of the single species (Mammal Diversity Database, Orycteropus afer). A 2014 study noted that none has ever been merged and that no modern revision exists (Pohlová et al. 2014, Zoo Biology 33: 433–439).

The names are grouped here by the region in the 2011 handbook. The descriptions are short summaries of what each original author said, from the original papers (Matschie 1898, Matschie 1900, Lesson 1840, Lönnberg 1906, Hirst 1906, Rothschild 1907, Lydekker 1908, Grote 1921, Rothschild 1927, Hatt 1932.), which are in German, French and Latin, and translated here. The scan of the original aethiopicus description is only partly legible, and the original angolensis description is not available online. Ranges are approximate: many African countries are inside the species’ range, but their subspecies is unresolved. Colour is a weak clue, since red soil stains the hair. This list follows the 2005 and 2011 lists, and other names may have been published, so there may be more. See Forms and variants on the aardvark page.