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Striped skunk
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Striped skunk[1]
Conservation status

Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[2]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Suborder: Caniformia
Family: Mephitidae
Genus: Mephitis
Species: M. mephitis
Binomial name
Mephitis mephitis
(Schreber, 1776)
Range of Mephitis mephitis
The striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) is a skunk of the genus Mephitis that is native to southern Canada, the United States and northern Mexico. It is currently listed as least concern by the IUCN on account of its wide range and ability to adapt to human-modified environments.[2]
It is a polygamous omnivore with few natural predators, save for birds of prey.[3] The striped skunk has a long history of association with humans, having been trapped and captively bred for its fur[4] and kept as an exotic pet.[5] It is one of the most recognizable of North America's animals, and is a popular figure in cartoons and children's books.[6]
Contents
[hide]
1 Description
2 Naming
2.1 Local and indigenous names
3 Taxonomy and evolution
3.1 Subspecies
4 Life history
4.1 Reproduction and development
4.2 Denning and sheltering behaviors
5 Ecology
5.1 Habitat
5.2 Diet
5.3 Mortality
6 Relationships with humans
6.1 In culture
6.2 Trapping and fur use
6.3 Other uses
6.4 Taming
7 References
8 External links
Description[edit]
Skeleton on exhibit at The Museum of Osteology, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
The striped skunk is a stoutly-built, short-limbed animal with a small, conical head and a long, heavily furred tail.[7] Adult males are 10% larger than females, with both sexes measuring between 52–77 cm in total body length and usually weighing 1.8–4.5 kg (4.0–9.9 lb), though some may weigh 5.5 kg (12 lb).[8] The feet are plantigrade with bare soles,[8] and are not as broad or flat as those of hog-nosed skunks.[7] The forefeet are armed with five long, curved claws adapted for digging, while those on the hind feet are shorter and straighter.[8]
The color patterns of the fur vary greatly, but generally consist of a black base with a white stripe extending from the head which divides along the shoulders, continuing along the flanks to the rump and tail. Some specimens have a white patch on the chest, while others bear white stripes on the outer surface of the front limbs.[8] Brown or cream-colored mutations occasionally occur.[9]
Like all skunks, the striped skunk possesses two highly developed scent glands, one on each side of the anus, containing about 15 milliliters of musk each. This oily, yellow-colored musk consists of a mixture of powerfully odorous thiols (sulfur analogues of alcohols, in older sources called "mercaptans"), which can be sprayed at a distance of several meters. If sprayed on the eyes, this compound can cause a temporary burning sensation.[8] The odor of this musk was likened by Ernest Thompson Seton to a mixture of perfume musk, essence of garlic, burning sulfur and sewer gas "magnified a thousand times",[9] though Clinton Hart Merriam claimed that it isn't "one tenth" as offensive as that produced by minks and weasels.[10]
Naming[edit]
The English word "skunk" has two root words of Algonquian and Iroquoian origin, specifically seganku (Abenaki) and scangaresse (Huron).[8][9] The Cree and Ojibwe word shee-gawk is the root word for Chicago, which means 'skunk-land'.[9] Alternative English names for the striped skunk include common skunk,[7] Hudsonian skunk, northern skunk, black-tailed skunk and prairie polecat.[9] The latter name was originally used by English settlers, who noted the animal's similarity to the European polecat. This association likely resulted in the striped skunk's subsequent unfavorable reputation as a poultry thief, despite it being a much less destructive animal than the true polecat.[4] The name "Alaska sable" was employed by furriers during the late 19th century.[10]
Local and indigenous names[edit]
See also: Wiktionary:striped skunk § Translations
Indigenous names for Mephitis mephitis[9]
Linguistic group or area
Indigenous name
Abenaki Seganku
Canadian French Enfant du diable
Chinche
Moufette
Bête puante
Chipewyan Nool'-tsee-a
Cree
Ojibwe Shee-gawk'
Tŝilhqot’in (Chilcotin) Guli
Huron Scangaresse
Ogallala Sioux Mah-kah'
Yankton Sioux Mah-cah
Taxonomy and evolution[edit]
The earliest fossil finds attributable to Mephitis were found in the Broadwater site in Nebraska, dating back to the early Pleistocene less than 1.8 million years ago. By the late Pleistocene (70,000–14,500 years ago), the striped skunk was widely distributed throughout the southern United States, and it expanded northwards and westwards by the Holocene (10,000–4,500 years ago) following the retreat of the Wisconsin glacier.[11]
Phylogenetic analyses of the species' cytochrome b gene and microsatellite data in 2012 indicated that there are four phylogroups of striped skunk. The first emerged from the Texas-Mexico region during the Rancholabrean before the Illinoian glaciation and colonized the southeastern United States. The second, still originating in the Texas-Mexico region, expanded westwards to the Rocky Mountains during the Illinoian glacial period. Two subsequent subclades were formed during the Sangamonian interglacial on either side of the Sierra Nevada. The subclade that colonized the Great Basin later expanded eastwards across the northern Rocky Mountains during the Holocene, recolonising the Great Plains and making contact with the southern phylogroup. A similar, but less significant, secondary contact occurred when the same subclade intermingled with members of the eastern phylogroup east of the Mississippi river.[11]
Subspecies[edit]
Thirteen subspecies of striped skunk are generally recognized:[1]
Subspecies
Skin
Skull
Trinomial authority
Description
Range
Synonyms
Canada skunk
M. m. mephitis
(Nominate subspecies)
Schreber, 1776 A large subspecies with a short and slender tail and a mixed black and white coat with constant markings.[12] Eastern Canada; Nova Scotia, Quebec, and northern Ontario. americana (Desmarest, 1818), chinche (Fischer, 1829), mephitica (Saw, 1792), vulgaris (F. Cuvier, 1842)
Illinois skunk
M. m. avia Bangs, 1898 Similar to M. m. mesomelas, but with a slightly larger skull.[12] Prairie region of Illinois, western Indiana, and eastern Iowa. newtonensis Brown, 1908
Florida skunk
M. m. elongata
Bangs, 1895 A medium-sized subspecies with a very long tail. The white markings are usually very broad.[12] Florida to North Carolina, and in the mountains to West Virginia; west on the Gulf coast to the Mississippi River.
Arizona skunk
M. m. estor
Merriam, 1890 A small subspecies resembling M. m. varians, but with a shorter tail and smaller skull. The white markings are particularly broad along the back and tail.[12] Arizona, western New Mexico, Sonora, Chihuahua, and northern Lower California; south in the Sierra Madre to southern Chihuahua.
Southern California skunk
M. m. holzneri
Mearns, 1898 Similar to M. m. occidentalis, but smaller.[12] Southern California, from vicinity of Monterey Bay south into Lower California; east to the Sierra Nevada and San Bernardino Range.
Northern Plains skunk
M. m. hudsonica Richardson, 1829 A very large subspecies with a heavily furred, medium-sized tail.[12] Western Canada, from Manitoba to British Columbia; south in the United States to Colorado, Nebraska, and Minnesota. americana (Lesson, 1865), chinga (Tiedemann, 1808), minnesotoe (Brass, 1911)
Great Basin skunk
M. m. major Howell, 1901 Probably the largest subspecies, similar to M. m. occidentalis, but with longer hind feet and a heavier skull.[12] Eastern Oregon, northern California, and Nevada; east to the Wasatch Mountains in Utah.
Louisiana skunk
M. m. mesomelas
Lichtenstein, 1832 A very small, short-tailed subspecies.[12] West side of Mississippi Valley from southern Louisiana to Missouri; westward along the coast of Texas to Matagorda Island; and up the Red River Valley as far at least as Wichita Falls. mesomeles (Gerrard, 1862)
scrutator (Bangs, 1896)
Eastern skunk
M. m. nigra Peale and Palisot de Beauvois, 1796 A medium-sized subspecies, with a longer tail than that of M. m. mephitis.[12] New England and Middle Atlantic States; south to Virginia; west to Indiana. bivirgata (C. E. H. Smith, 1839), dentata (Brass, 1911), fetidissima (Boitard, 1842), frontata (Coues, 1875), olida (Boitard, 1842), putida (Boitard, 1842)
Cascade skunk
M. m. notata
Hall, 1936 Similar to M. m. occidentalis, but with a shorter tail, heavier skull, and narrower stripes.[12] Southern Washington and northern Oregon, east of the Cascades.
California skunk
M. m. occidentalis Baird, 1858 A large subspecies resembling M. m. hudsonica, but with a longer tail and narrower skull.[12] Northern and central California, from the vicinity of Monterey Bay northward, west of the Sierra and Cascades, to the Willamette Valley, Oregon. notata (Howell, 1901)
platyrhina (Howell, 1901)
Puget Sound skunk
M. m. spissigrada
Bangs, 1898 Similar to M. m. occidentalis, but with a shorter tail and more white on the body and tail.[12] Shores of Puget Sound and coastal region of Washington and northern Oregon. foetulenta Elliot, 1899
Long-tailed Texas skunk
M. m. varians Gray, 1837 A large, very long-tailed subspecies whose markings closely approach those of M. m. hudsonica.[12] Southern and western Texas, eastern New Mexico, and adjacent parts of Mexico; north into Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska. texana (Low, 1879)
Life history[edit]
Reproduction and development[edit]
The striped skunk is polygamous, and normally breeds once a year, though yearling females who have failed to mate may enter a second estrous cycle a month after the first. The mating season usually occurs between mid-February to mid-April, though it is delayed at higher latitudes. Prior to copulating, the males' testicles swell during the January–February period, with maximum size being attained in March. Males during this period will cover much ground in their search for females, sometimes covering 4 km per night.[8]
When a male locates a female, he will approach her from the rear and lick her genitals, then bite her on the nape before copulating. A single male may have a harem of several females, which he mates with and defends against other males for a period of about 35 days. Once the mating period has finished, the impregnated females confine themselves to their dens, while the males attempt to rebuild their fat reserves.[8]
Striped skunk pair
The gestation period lasts around 59–77 days, with kits being born at about mid-May to early June. Litters generally consist of 2–12 kits, though a litter of 18 is known from Pennsylvania. Kits are born blind and sparsely furred, weighing 25–40 grams. The eyes open after around three weeks, and are weaned after 42–56 days.[8] Although their musk is still undeveloped, kits of this age will instinctively assume the defensive stand position when threatened.[9] At this point, the kits may accompany their mother outside the den, becoming independent after 2½ months.[8]
Denning and sheltering behaviors[edit]
The striped skunk may dig its own dens, though it will appropriate those abandoned by other animals should the opportunity present itself. These dens are normally used only in late fall, winter, and early spring, while females with unweaned kits make use of them in late spring and summer. In cultivated areas, striped skunks will dig their dens in fencerows, likely because they are less likely to be disturbed by machinery or livestock. In winter it is common for a single den to be occupied by multiple females and a single male.[3] During this period, the striped skunk saves its energy by lowering its body temperature from 38 °C to 32 °C. Although it will forage for short periods in winter, it primarily depends on its fat reserves in cold weather, and can lose as much as 50% of its body weight.[13]
Ecology[edit]
Skunk in Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Habitat[edit]
The striped skunk inhabits a wide variety of habitats, particularly mixed woodlands, brushy corners and open fields interspersed with wooded ravines and rocky outcrops. Some populations, particularly in northwestern Illinois, prefer cultivated areas over uncultivated ones.[3]
Diet[edit]
While primarily an insectivore, the striped skunk is adaptable enough to incorporate other animals and even vegetable matter into its diet. The most frequently consumed insects include grasshoppers, beetles, crickets, and caterpillars. In the winter and spring months, the striped skunk will supplement its diet with vertebrates such as white-footed mice, voles, eggs and the chicks of ground nesting birds.[3] Striped skunks inhabiting California's coastal areas will feed on crabs and beached fish.[14] While not adapted for chasing fleet-footed prey, at least one specimen was observed pursuing gray cottontails into their burrows.[9] When in season, the skunk will also consume vegetable matter, such as apples, blueberries, black cherries, ground cherries, corn and nightshade.[3]
Mortality[edit]
Because of its formidable defensive capability, the striped skunk has few natural enemies. Mammalian predators typically avoid skunks, unless they're starving. Such predators include cougars, coyotes, bobcats, badgers, and red and gray foxes. Predatory birds, including golden and bald eagles, and great horned owls tend to have greater success in hunting skunks, though they still risk being blinded by their prey's musk.[3]
The striped skunk is one of the major carriers of the rabies virus, second only to raccoons in the US where skunks are 25% of annual cases. Skunks are the primary hosts in the north- and south-central US as well as in Canada. Cases of rabies in this species are generally epizootic and recurrent. They are also host for the Canine parvovirus and may also suffer from leptospirosis.[15]
Relationships with humans[edit]
In culture[edit]
The striped skunk is commonly featured in the myths and oral traditions of Native Americans. Some stories try to explain its striped pattern or how it got its smell. Skunks fill various roles in legends and may be featured as heroes, tricksters, villains or monsters. For the Muscogee people, the skunk represented family loyal and defense of loved ones. The Winnebago people used the skunk to symbolize vanity, being beautiful on the outside but ugly on the inside.[16]
The striped skunk was once called the "emblem of America" by Ernest Thompson Seton. It has been prevalent in modern popular culture, being the subject of various jazz and funk songs like Cab Calloway's Skunk Song and the Breaker Brother's Some Skunk Funk. The skunk connection these genres may be due to the term "funk" being a term for strong odor. Skunks are also popular characters in children's stories, comics and cartoons, most notably the Warner Bros character Pepé Le Pew, their musky odor making them a source of fear and ostracization.[16]
Trapping and fur use[edit]
Striped skunk peltries.
The striped skunk is one of North America's most sought after furbearers, and was once the second most harvested after the muskrat. Its fur is intrinsically valuable, being durable and having rich luster, though this trait decreases with wear and exposure to sunlight. Skunk pelts are divided into four grades, with the most prized being the ones with a greater amount of black. These grades are further subdivided in value according to their locality, with the most valuable occurring in northern regions, where the fur is finer and darker.[4] Skunks are notable for being easy to trap, even approaching traps they'd been previously caught in. Because skunks are difficult to kill without having them discharge their musk (and thus ruin their fur) they were typically dispatched with a paralyzing blow to the lower back or drowned if caught in a box trap.[9]
Skunk farming largely began during the late 1890s, when there was much foreign demand for their skins, and intensive trapping had largely extirpated the more valuable mostly black-colored specimens. Captive breeding of skunks proved relatively simple when compared to mink and marten farming, as skunks are easier to tame and have less specialized dietary needs.[4] Emphasis was placed on selectively breeding the tamest and darkest colored skunks.[9] Prior to the First World War, skunk pelts were primarily shipped to Europe until better methods of deodorizing and processing the skins lead to increased interest in selling them for North American consumption.[4] Despite being easy to breed and manage, skunk farming wasn't overly profitable, as the relatively low price of the pelts didn't compensate for the costs in maintaining them. Nevertheless, raising skunks was considered good practice for amateur fur farmers wishing to later move on to more valuable furbearers like martens, sable, mink and silver foxes.[9]
Other uses[edit]
A tame skunk being cuddled.
The striped skunk was regularly eaten by trappers and indigenous peoples, provided the animal wasn't too old or hadn't sprayed before being killed.[9] American zoologist Clinton Hart Merriam described skunk meat as white, tender and sweet, and more delicate than chicken.[10] The meat was prized by Chinese immigrants, who also bought skunk gall bladders for medicinal purposes.[14] The fat was once reputed to make an excellent lubricant.[9] The musk was once used as a folk remedy for asthma, despite its very strong odor.[7]
Taming[edit]
Main article: Pet skunk
The striped skunk is easily tamed, and was often kept in barns to kill rats and mice during the 19th century.[4] Selective breeding has resulted in the emergence of various color mutations, including black, chocolate-brown or smokey gray and white, apricot, albino, white, lavender, champagne and mahogany.[5]
References[edit]
^ Jump up to: a b Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M., eds. (2005). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
^ Jump up to: a b Reid, F. & Helgen, K. (2008). "Mephitis mephitis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 2010-01-18.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Wade-Smith, J. & Verts, B. J. (1982). "Mephitis mephitis" (PDF). Mammalian Species 173 : 1–7.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Lantz, D. E. (1923). Economic value of North American skunks. Washington, D.C. : U.S. Dept. of Agriculture
^ Jump up to: a b Cipriani, D. (2011) "Skunks are affectionate, intelligent pets for owners who offer the proper care." Critters USA. pp. 2-6
Jump up ^ Feinstein, J. (2011). Field Guide to Urban Wildlife. Stackpole Books. p. 67. ISBN 0811705854
^ Jump up to: a b c d Coues, E. (1877). Fur-bearing animals: a monograph of North American Mustelidae, in which an account of the wolverene, the martens or sables, the ermine, the mink and various other kinds of weasels, several species of skunks, the badger, the land and sea otters, and numerous exotic allies of these animals, is contributed to the history of North American mammals. Geological and Geographical Survey of the Territories (U.S.). pp. 195-235.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j Rosatte, R. & Lawson, S. (2003). Skunks. In G. Feldhamer, B. Thompson, & J. Chapman (Eds., Wild Mammals of North America; biology, management and conservation (2nd ed.) Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 692-707.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m Seton, E. T. (1909). Life-histories of northern animals : an account of the mammals of Manitoba. New York City: Scribner. pp. 966-994
^ Jump up to: a b c Merriam, C. H. (1886). The mammals of the Adirondack region, northeastern New York. New York : Henry Holt and Co. pp. 69-87.
^ Jump up to: a b Barton, H. D., and S. M. Wisely. 2012. Phylogeography of striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) in North America: Pleistocene dispersal and contemporary population structure. Journal of Mammalogy 93(1):38-51.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m Howell, A. H. (1901). Revision of the skunks of the genus Chincha. U. S. Department of Agriculture. Washington, Government Printing Office.
Jump up ^ Kurta, A. (1995). Mammals of the Great Lakes Region. University of Michigan Press. p. 246. ISBN 0472064975
^ Jump up to: a b Ingles, L. G. (1947). Mammals of California. Stanford University Press. pp. 69-76 . ISBN 080471195X
Jump up ^ Newman, C.; Byrne, A. W. (2018). "Musteloid diseases: implications for conservation and species management". In Macdonald, D. W.; Newman, C.; Harrington, L. A. Biology and Conservation of Musteloids. Oxford University Press. p. 249. ISBN 978-0198759805. CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: Uses editors parameter (link)
^ Jump up to: a b Miller, Alyce L. (2015). Skunk. Reaktion Books LDT. pp. 97, 134–146, 117–121. ISBN 9781780234908.
External links[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mephitis mephitis.
Wikispecies has information related to Mephitis mephitis
Striped Skunk at Animal Diversity Web
Striped Skunk Tracks
Smithsonian Institution – North American Mammals: Mephitis mephitis
Smithsonian Wild: Mephitis mephitis
[show]
v
t
e
Extant species of family Mephitidae
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Suborder: Caniformia
Conepatus
Western hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus mesoleucus)
Eastern hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus leuconotus)
Striped hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus semistriatus)
Molina's hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus chinga)
Humboldt's hog-nosed sskunk (Conepatus humboldtii)
Mydaus
Javan stink badger (Mydaus javanensis)
Palawan stink badger (Mydaus marchei)
Mephitis
Striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis)
Hooded skunk (Mephitis macroura)
Spilogale
Western spotted skunk (Spilogale gracilis)
Eastern spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius)
Pygmy spotted skunk (Spilogale pygmaea)
Category
[show]
v
t
e
Extant Carnivora species
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Infraclass: Eutheria
Superorder: Laurasiatheria
[show]
Suborder Feliformia
Nandiniidae
Nandinia
African palm civet (N. binotata)
Herpestidae
(Mongooses)
Atilax
Marsh mongoose (A. paludinosus)
Bdeogale
Bushy-tailed mongoose (B. crassicauda)
Jackson's mongoose (B. jacksoni)
Black-footed mongoose (B. nigripes)
Crossarchus
Alexander's kusimanse (C. alexandri)
Angolan kusimanse (C. ansorgei)
Common kusimanse (C. obscurus)
Flat-headed kusimanse (C. platycephalus)
Cynictis
Yellow mongoose (C. penicillata)
Dologale
Pousargues's mongoose (D. dybowskii)
Galerella
Angolan slender mongoose (G. flavescens)
Black mongoose (G. nigrata)
Somalian slender mongoose (G. ochracea)
Cape gray mongoose (G. pulverulenta)
Slender mongoose (G. sanguinea)
Helogale
Ethiopian dwarf mongoose (H. hirtula)
Common dwarf mongoose (H. parvula)
Herpestes
Short-tailed mongoose (H. brachyurus)
Indian gray mongoose (H. edwardsii)
Indian brown mongoose (H. fuscus)
Egyptian mongoose (H. ichneumon)
Small Asian mongoose (H. javanicus)
Long-nosed mongoose (H. naso)
Collared mongoose (H. semitorquatus)
Ruddy mongoose (H. smithii)
Crab-eating mongoose (H. urva)
Stripe-necked mongoose (H. vitticollis)
Ichneumia
White-tailed mongoose (I. albicauda)
Liberiictus
Liberian mongoose (L. kuhni)
Mungos
Gambian mongoose (M. gambianus)
Banded mongoose (M. mungo)
Paracynictis
Selous' mongoose (P. selousi)
Rhynchogale
Meller's mongoose (R. melleri)
Suricata
Meerkat (S. suricatta)
Hyaenidae
(Hyenas)
Crocuta
Spotted hyena (C. crocuta)
Hyaena
Brown hyena (H. brunnea)
Striped hyena (H. hyaena)
Proteles
Aardwolf (P. cristatus)
Felidae
Large family listed below
Viverridae
Large family listed below
Eupleridae
Small family listed below
[show]
Family Felidae
Felinae
Acinonyx
Cheetah (A. jubatus)
Caracal
Caracal (C. caracal)
African golden cat (C. aurata)
Catopuma
Bay cat (C. badia)
Asian golden cat (C. temminckii)
Felis
European wildcat (F. silvestris)
African wildcat (F. lybica)
Jungle cat (F. chaus)
Black-footed cat (F. nigripes)
Sand cat (F. margarita)
Chinese mountain cat (F. bieti)
Domestic cat (F. catus)
Leopardus
Ocelot (L. pardalis)
Margay (L. wiedii)
Pampas cat (L. colocola)
Geoffroy's cat (L. geoffroyi)
Kodkod (L. guigna)
Andean mountain cat (L. jacobita)
Oncilla (L. tigrinus)
Southern tigrina (L. guttulus)
Leptailurus
Serval (L. serval)
Lynx
Canadian lynx (L. canadensis)
Eurasian lynx (L. lynx)
Iberian lynx (L. pardinus)
Bobcat (L. rufus)
Otocolobus
Pallas's cat (O. manul)
Pardofelis
Marbled cat (P. marmorata)
Prionailurus
Fishing cat (P. viverrinus)
Leopard cat (P. bengalensis)
Sundaland leopard cat (P. javanensis)
Flat-headed cat (P. planiceps)
Rusty-spotted cat (P. rubiginosus)
Puma
Cougar (P. concolor)
Herpailurus
Jaguarundi (H. yagouaroundi)
Pantherinae
Panthera
Lion (P. leo)
Jaguar (P. onca)
Leopard (P. pardus)
Tiger (P. tigris)
Snow leopard (P. uncia)
Neofelis
Clouded leopard (N. nebulosa)
Sunda clouded leopard (N. diardi)
[show]
Family Viverridae (includes Civets)
Paradoxurinae
Arctictis
Binturong (A. binturong)
Arctogalidia
Small-toothed palm civet (A. trivirgata)
Macrogalidia
Sulawesi palm civet (M. musschenbroekii)
Paguma
Masked palm civet (P. larvata)
Paradoxurus
Golden wet-zone palm civet (P. aureus)
Asian palm civet (P. hermaphroditus)
Jerdon's palm civet (P. jerdoni)
Golden palm civet (P. zeylonensis)
Hemigalinae
Chrotogale
Owston's palm civet (C. owstoni)
Cynogale
Otter civet (C. bennettii)
Diplogale
Hose's palm civet (D. hosei)
Hemigalus
Banded palm civet (H. derbyanus)
Prionodontinae
(Asiatic linsangs)
Prionodon
Banded linsang (P. linsang)
Spotted linsang (P. pardicolor)
Viverrinae
Civettictis
African civet (C. civetta)
Genetta
(Genets)
Abyssinian genet (G. abyssinica)
Angolan genet (G. angolensis)
Bourlon's genet (G. bourloni)
Crested servaline genet (G. cristata)
Common genet (G. genetta)
Johnston's genet (G. johnstoni)
Rusty-spotted genet (G. maculata)
Pardine genet (G. pardina)
Aquatic genet (G. piscivora)
King genet (G. poensis)
Servaline genet (G. servalina)
Haussa genet (G. thierryi)
Cape genet (G. tigrina)
Giant forest genet (G. victoriae)
Poiana
African linsang (P. richardsonii)
Leighton's linsang (P. leightoni)
Viverra
Malabar large-spotted civet (V. civettina)
Large-spotted civet (V. megaspila)
Malayan civet (V. tangalunga)
Large Indian civet (V. zibetha)
Viverricula
Small Indian civet (V. indica)
[show]
Family Eupleridae
Euplerinae
Cryptoprocta
Fossa (C. ferox)
Eupleres
Eastern falanouc (E. goudotii)
Western falanouc (E. major)
Fossa
Malagasy civet (F. fossana)
Galidiinae
Galidia
Ring-tailed mongoose (G. elegans)
Galidictis
Broad-striped Malagasy mongoose (G. fasciata)
Grandidier's mongoose (G. grandidieri)
Mungotictis
Narrow-striped mongoose (M. decemlineata)
Salanoia
Brown-tailed mongoose (S. concolor)
Durrell's vontsira (S. durrelli)
[hide]
Suborder Caniformia (cont. below)
Ursidae
(Bears)
Ailuropoda
Giant panda (A. melanoleuca)
Helarctos
Sun bear (H. malayanus)
Melursus
Sloth bear (M. ursinus)
Tremarctos
Spectacled bear (T. ornatus)
Ursus
American black bear (U. americanus)
Brown bear (U. arctos)
Polar bear (U. maritimus)
Asian black bear (U. thibetanus)
Mephitidae
Conepatus
(Hog-nosed
skunks)
Molina's hog-nosed skunk (C. chinga)
Humboldt's hog-nosed skunk (C. humboldtii)
American hog-nosed skunk (C. leuconotus)
Striped hog-nosed skunk (C. semistriatus)
Mephitis
Hooded skunk (M. macroura)
Striped skunk (M. mephitis)
Mydaus
Sunda stink badger (M. javanensis)
Palawan stink badger (M. marchei)
Spilogale
(Spotted skunks)
Southern spotted skunk (S. angustifrons)
Western spotted skunk (S. gracilis)
Eastern spotted skunk (S. putorius)
Pygmy spotted skunk (S. pygmaea)
Procyonidae
Bassaricyon
(Olingos)
Eastern lowland olingo (B. alleni)
Northern olingo (B. gabbii)
Western lowland olingo (B. medius)
Olinguito (B. neblina)
Bassariscus
Ring-tailed cat (B. astutus)
Cacomistle (B. sumichrasti)
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South American coati (N. nasua)
Nasuella
(Coatis inclusive)
Western mountain coati (N. olivacea)
Eastern mountain coati (N. meridensis)
Potos
Kinkajou (P. flavus)
Procyon
Crab-eating raccoon (P. cancrivorus)
Raccoon (P. lotor)
Cozumel raccoon (P. pygmaeus)
Ailuridae
Ailurus
Red panda (A. fulgens)
[show]
Suborder Caniformia (cont. above)
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and sea lions)
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Arctocephalus
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Australasian fur seal (A. forsteri)
Galápagos fur seal (A. galapagoensis)
Antarctic fur seal (A. gazella)
Juan Fernández fur seal (A. philippii)
Brown fur seal (A. pusillus)
Guadalupe fur seal (A. townsendi)
Subantarctic fur seal (A. tropicalis)
Callorhinus
Northern fur seal (C. ursinus)
Eumetopias
Steller sea lion (E. jubatus)
Neophoca
Australian sea lion (N. cinerea)
Otaria
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Phocarctos
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Odobenidae
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Hydrurga
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Lobodon
Crabeater seal (L. carcinophagus)
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Southern elephant seal (M. leonina)
Monachus
Mediterranean monk seal (M. monachus)
Hawaiian monk seal (M. schauinslandi)
Ommatophoca
Ross seal (O. rossi)
Pagophilus
Harp seal (P. groenlandicus)
Phoca
Spotted seal (P. largha)
Harbor seal (P. vitulina)
Pusa
Caspian seal (P. caspica)
Ringed seal (P. hispida)
Baikal seal (P. sibirica)
Canidae
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Mustelidae
Large family listed below
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Family Canidae (includes dogs)
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Canis
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African golden wolf (C. anthus)
Golden jackal (C. aureus)
Coyote (C. latrans)
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Ethiopian wolf (C. simensis)
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Cuon
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Darwin's fox (L. fulvipes)
South American gray fox (L. griseus)
Pampas fox (L. gymnocercus)
Sechuran fox (L. sechurae)
Hoary fox (L. vetulus)
Lycaon
African wild dog (L. pictus)
Nyctereutes
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Otocyon
Bat-eared fox (O. megalotis)
Speothos
Bush dog (S. venaticus)
Urocyon
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Island fox (U. littoralis)
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Blanford's fox (V. cana)
Cape fox (V. chama)
Corsac fox (V. corsac)
Tibetan sand fox (V. ferrilata)
Arctic fox (V. lagopus)
Kit fox (V. macrotis)
Pale fox (V. pallida)
Rüppell's fox (V. rueppelli)
Swift fox (V. velox)
Red fox (V. vulpes)
Fennec fox (V. zerda)
[show]
Family Mustelidae
Lutrinae
(Otters)
Aonyx
African clawless otter (A. capensis)
Oriental small-clawed otter (A. cinerea)
Enhydra
Sea otter (E. lutris)
Hydrictis
Spotted-necked otter (H. maculicollis)
Lontra
North American river otter (L. canadensis)
Marine otter (L. felina)
Neotropical otter (L. longicaudis)
Southern river otter (L. provocax)
Lutra
Eurasian otter (L. lutra)
Hairy-nosed otter (L. sumatrana)
Lutrogale
Smooth-coated otter (L. perspicillata)
Pteronura
Giant otter (P. brasiliensis)
Mustelinae
(including badgers)
Arctonyx
Hog badger (A. collaris)
Eira
Tayra (E. barbara)
Galictis
Lesser grison (G. cuja)
Greater grison (G. vittata)
Gulo
Wolverine (G. gulo)
Ictonyx
Saharan striped polecat (I. libyca)
Striped polecat (I. striatus)
Lyncodon
Patagonian weasel (L. patagonicus)
Martes
(Martens)
American marten (M. americana)
Yellow-throated marten (M. flavigula)
Beech marten (M. foina)
Nilgiri marten (M. gwatkinsii)
European pine marten (M. martes)
Japanese marten (M. melampus)
Sable (M. zibellina)
Pekania
Fisher (P. pennanti)
Meles
Japanese badger (M. anakuma)
Asian badger (M. leucurus)
European badger (M. meles)
Mellivora
Honey badger (M. capensis)
Melogale
(Ferret-badgers)
Bornean ferret-badger (M. everetti)
Chinese ferret-badger (M. moschata)
Javan ferret-badger (M. orientalis)
Burmese ferret-badger (M. personata)
Mustela
(Weasels and Ferrets)
Amazon weasel (M. africana)
Mountain weasel (M. altaica)
Stoat (M. erminea)
Steppe polecat (M. eversmannii)
Colombian weasel (M. felipei)
Long-tailed weasel (M. frenata)
Japanese weasel (M. itatsi)
Yellow-bellied weasel (M. kathiah)
European mink (M. lutreola)
Indonesian mountain weasel (M. lutreolina)
Black-footed ferret (M. nigripes)
Least weasel (M. nivalis)
Malayan weasel (M. nudipes)
European polecat (M. putorius)
Siberian weasel (M. sibirica)
Back-striped weasel (M. strigidorsa)
Egyptian weasel (M. subpalmata)
Neovison
(Minks)
American mink (N. vison)
Poecilogale
African striped weasel (P. albinucha)
Taxidea
American badger (T. taxus)
Vormela
Marbled polecat (V. peregusna)
Taxon identifiers
Wd: Q368495
ADW: Mephitis_mephitis
ARKive: mephitis-mephitis
EoL: 328593
EPPO: MEPHME
Fossilworks: 48141
GBIF: 5219380
iNaturalist: 41880
ITIS: 180562
IUCN: 41635
MSW: 14001552
NCBI: 30548
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Striped_skunk&oldid=830594262"
Categories:
IUCN Red List least concern species
Skunks
Mammals of North America
Mammals of the United States
Mammals of Canada
Mammals of Mexico
Urban animals
Fauna of the Southeastern United States
Mammals described in 1776
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