A note on side-striped jackal Lupulella adusta diversity in North-East Africa

Abstract

There is increasing evidence showing that basic taxonomic knowledge remains superficial even among better-known animals such as mammals, including members of the order Carnivora. Here, we examine photographic evidence collected in the Harenna Forest (Ethiopia) in 2012, integrated with a literature review of the taxonomy of Lupulella adusta, the side-striped jackal. Our results demonstrate that taxonomic diversity is seriously overlooked, as the geographic range of the adusta complex must include northeastern Sudan and Eritrea. Currently, the taxon kaffensis deserves recognition as a further Ethiopian montane endemic, but a complete taxonomic revision of the adusta complex is urgently needed.

Keywords

• Canidae
• Ethiopia
• Harenna Forest
• integrative zoology
• Lupulella
• Schaeffia
• taxonomy

Supporting Agencies

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Data Availability Statement

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