Kinds of Skunks
Skunks and stink badgers are the common names applied to the skunk family, which is scientifically known as Family Mephitidae. Within this family, the skunks and stink badgers have been divided into four groups. Skunks reside in the Americas, while stink badgers reside in Indonesia and the Philippines, reports Animal Diversity Web. All eat an omnivore diet that includes insects, fruits, small rodents and eggs. Their acute sense of smell and long claws allow them to find and dig up food underground. All also live a nocturnal lifestyle.
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Hog-nosed Skunks
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Four species fall into the hog-nosed skunk group, all with the genus name Conepatus. The four include the Molina's hog-nosed skunk, Humboldt's hog-nosed skunk, North American hog-nosed skunk and the striped hog-nosed skunk. These skunks inhabit North and South America and are characterized by their long snout and thick white band that runs from the top of their head to their tail.
Hooded and Striped Skunk
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Only two species form this group with the Mephitis genus name. The striped skunk being the most common North American skunk with a range that covers much of Canada, all of the U.S. and parts of northern Mexico. The small hooded skunk lives in the deserts of the southwestern U.S. and Mexico. Both species can vary in their white markings. The striped skunk typically will have a black stripe in the center of its back surrounded by white. The hooded skunk has a white hood on its head and may have a thick white band that runs from its head to tail.
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Spotted Skunks
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Spotted skunks have multiple white stripes, bands and spots that give them a mottled look. Four species of spotted skunk are found in different regions of North America. With females barely weighing 1 lbs., the Western spotted skunk is found in the western half of the United States. Eastern spotted skunks inhabit parts of the Midwest and Eastern U.S. The pygmy spotted skunk measures just 4 1/2 to 13 inches from nose to base of the tail and lives along the west coast of Mexico. The southern spotted skunk inhabits a region from southern Mexico to Costa Rica.
Stink Badgers
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The two species of stink badgers resemble skunks but lack the long bushy tail and have a longer, narrower snout. The stink badgers have found themselves bounced back and forth from the badger family to the skunk family as scientists have studied their features to determine which group they most resemble. A species account published in 2003 in the "Mammalian Species" supports the skunk family placement, however it may be many more years before a consensus among zoologists is reached.
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References
- "The Encyclopedia of Mammals"; Edited by Dr. David Macdonald; 1995
- Animal Diversity Web: Family Mephitidae Classification
- Animal Diversity Web: Family Mephitidae
- Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History: Striped Skunk
- Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History: Hooded Skunk
- Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History: Western Spotted Skunk
Resources
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