There are two recognized subspecies of this canid:
| Subspecies | Trinomial authority | Description | Range | Synonyms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape jackal Canis m. mesomelas |
Schreber, 1775 | Nominate subspecies | Cape of Good Hope, northward to Angola, Zimbabwe, and southern Mozambique |
|
| East African jackal Canis m. schmidti |
Noack, 1897 | Differing from C. m. mesomelas by its larger size and not being known to howl, it also has differently shaped teeth due to its more carnivorous diet, and is less sexually dimorphic. | Southern Ethiopia, southern Sudan, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, and northern Tanzania |
Read more about this topic: Black-backed Jackal