List of mephitids (original) (raw)

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Species in mammal family Mephitidae

Two black and white striped skunks

Striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis)

Mephitidae is a family of mammals in the order Carnivora, which comprises the skunks and stink badgers. A member of this family is called a mephitid. The skunks of the family are widespread across the Americas, while the stink badgers are in the Greater Sunda Islands of southeast Asia. Species inhabit a variety of habitats, though typically grassland, forest, and shrubland. Most mephitids are 20–50 cm (8–20 in) long, plus a 10–40 cm (4–16 in) tail, though the pygmy spotted skunk can be as small as 11 cm (4 in) plus a 7 cm (3 in) tail, and some striped skunks can be up to 82 cm (32 in) plus a 40 cm (16 in) tail. No estimates have been made for overall population sizes of any of the species, but two species are classified as vulnerable. Mephitids in general are not domesticated, though skunks are sometimes kept as pets.[1]

The twelve species of Mephitidae are split into four genera: the monotypic Conepatus, hog-nosed skunks; Mephitis, skunks; Mydaus, stink badgers; and Spilogale, spotted skunks. Mephitidae was traditionally a clade within the Mustelidae family, with the stink badgers combined with other badgers within the Melinae genus, but more recent genetic evidence resulted in the consensus to separate Mephitidae into its own family.[2] Extinct species have also been placed into all of the extant genera besides Mydaus, as well as 9 extinct genera; 26 extinct Mephitidae species have been found, though due to ongoing research and discoveries the exact number and categorization is not fixed.

IUCN Red List categories

Conservation status
EX Extinct (0 species)
EW Extinct in the wild (0 species)
CR Critically endangered (0 species)
EN Endangered (0 species)
VU Vulnerable (2 species)
NT Near threatened (0 species)
LC Least concern (10 species)

The author citation for the species or genus is given after the scientific name; parentheses around the author citation indicate that this was not the original taxonomic placement. Conservation status codes listed follow the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Range maps are provided wherever possible; if a range map is not available, a description of the mephetid's range is provided. Ranges are based on the IUCN Red List for that species unless otherwise noted. All extinct species or subspecies listed alongside extant species went extinct after 1500 CE, and are indicated by a dagger symbol "†". Population figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.

The family Mephitidae consists of twelve extant species belonging to four genera and divided into dozens of extant subspecies. It is not divided into subfamilies. This does not include hybrid species or extinct prehistoric species.

The following classification is based on the taxonomy described by Mammal Species of the World (2005), with augmentation by generally accepted proposals made since using molecular phylogenetic analysis.

Genus Conepatus – Gray, 1837 – four species

Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
American hog-nosed skunk Drawing of black skunk with white back and tail on sand C. leuconotus (Lichtenstein, 1832) Three subspecies C. l. figginsi (Eastern hog-nosed skunk) C. l. leuconotus (Furnace Canyon hog-nosed skunk) C. l. telmalestes (Big Thicket hog-nosed skunk)† Southern North America and northern Central AmericaMap of range Size: 34–51 cm (13–20 in) long, plus 12–41 cm (5–16 in) tail[3]Habitat: Rocky areas, forest, grassland, and desert[4]Diet: Primarily eats insects, as well as fruit and small vertebrates[4] LC Unknown Population declining[4]
Humboldt's hog-nosed skunk Black skunk with long white stripes in grass C. humboldtii Gray, 1837 Three subspecies C. h. castaneus C. h. humboldtii C. h. proteus Southern tip of South AmericaMap of range Size: 32–45 cm (13–18 in) long, plus 15–18 cm (6–7 in) tail[5]Habitat: Shrubland, grassland, savanna, and rocky areas[6]Diet: Primarily eats insects, as well as small mammals, shrubs, and fruit[6] LC Unknown Population steady[6]
Molina's hog-nosed skunk Black and white skunk with pink nose in grass C. chinga (Molina, 1792) Seven subspecies C. c. budini C. c. chinga C. c. gibsoni C. c. inca C. c. mendosus C. c. rex C. c. suffocans Southern South AmericaMap of range Size: 20–49 cm (8–19 in) long, plus 13–29 cm (5–11 in) tail[3]Habitat: Grassland, shrubland, and savanna[7]Diet: Omnivorous; primarily eats invertebrates, rodents, small reptiles, and eggs[3][7] LC Unknown Population declining[7]
Striped hog-nosed skunk Museum exhibit of brown skunk with white stripes C. semistriatus (Boddaert, 1785) Six subspecies C. s. amazonicus C. s. semistriatus C. s. taxinus C. s. trichurus C. s. yucatanicus C. s. zorrino Northern and eastern South America and Central AmericaMap of range Size: 33–50 cm (13–20 in) long, plus 13–31 cm (5–12 in) tail[3]Habitat: Grassland, shrubland, and forest[8]Diet: Primarily eats insects, lizards, and birds[8] LC Unknown Unknown[8]

Genus Mephitis – Geoffroy, 1795 – two species

Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Hooded skunk Black skunk with white back and tail in dirt M. macroura Lichtenstein, 1832 Four subspecies M. m. eximius M. m. macroura M. m. milleri M. m. richardsoni Mexico and Central AmericaMap of range Size: 19–30 cm (7–12 in) long, plus 35–40 cm (14–16 in) tail[9]Habitat: Desert, shrubland, rocky areas, grassland, and forest[10]Diet: Primarily eats insects, fruit, small vertebrates, and bird eggs[10] LC Unknown Population increasing[10]
Striped skunk Black and white striped skunk in snow M. mephitis (Schreber, 1776) Thirteen subspecies M. m. avia (Illinois skunk) M. m. elongata (Florida skunk) M. m. estor (Arizona skunk) M. m. holzneri (Southern California skunk) M. m. hudsonica (Northern plains skunk) M. m. major (Great Basin skunk) M. m. mephitis (Canada skunk) M. m. mesomelas (Louisiana skunk) M. m. nigra (Eastern skunk) M. m. notata (Cascade Mountains skunk) M. m. occidentalis (California skunk) M. m. spissigrada (Puget Sound skunk) M. m. varians (Texas long-tailed skunk) North AmericaMap of range Size: 46–82 cm (18–32 in) long, plus 17–40 cm (7–16 in) tail[11]Habitat: Shrubland, savanna, forest, and grassland[12]Diet: Primarily eats insects, as well as small mammals, birds, and vegetation[12] LC Unknown Population steady[12]

Genus Mydaus – F. Cuvier, 1821 – two species

Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Palawan stink badger Drawing of black/brown stink badger M. marchei Huet, 1887 Western PhilippinesMap of range Size: 32–49 cm (13–19 in) long, plus 1–5 cm (0–2 in) tail[3]Habitat: Forest, shrubland, and introduced vegetation[13]Diet: Primarily eats worms and arthropods[13] LC Unknown Population steady[13]
Sunda stink badger Black and white stink badger M. javanensis (Desmarest, 1820) Three subspecies M. j. javanensis (Sunda stink badger) M. j. lucifer (Bornean stink badger) M. j. ollula (Natuna Islands stink badger) Indonesia and MalaysiaMap of range Size: 37–51 cm (15–20 in) long, plus 5–8 cm (2–3 in) tail[14]Habitat: Grassland, forest, and shrubland[15]Diet: Primarily eats birds' eggs, carrion, insects, worms, and plants[15] LC Unknown Population steady[15]

Genus Spilogale – Gray, 1865 – four species

Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Eastern spotted skunk Black skunk with white spots on log S. putorius (Linnaeus, 1758) Three subspecies S. p. ambarvalis S. p. interrupta S. p. putorius Eastern United StatesMap of range Size: 11–35 cm (4–14 in) long, plus 7–22 cm (3–9 in) tail[16]Habitat: Forest, rocky areas, shrubland, and grassland[17]Diet: Omnivorous; primarily eats insects, as well as small mammals and birds[17] VU Unknown Population declining[17]
Pygmy spotted skunk S. pygmaea Thomas, 1897 Three subspecies S. p. australis S. p. intermedia S. p. pygmaea West coast of MexicoMap of range Size: 11–35 cm (4–14 in) long, plus 7–12 cm (3–5 in) tail[18]Habitat: Shrubland, marine coastal/supratidal, and forest[19]Diet: Primarily eats insects, spiders, birds, eggs, small mammals, fruit, and seeds[19] VU Unknown Population declining[19]
Southern spotted skunk Blakc skunk with white spots and tail in grass S. angustifrons Howell, 1902 Five subspecies S. a. angustifrons S. a. celeris S. a. elata S. a. tropicalis S. a. yucatanensis Mexico and Central AmericaMap of range Size: 20–25 cm (8–10 in) long, plus 10–15 cm (4–6 in) tail[3]Habitat: Forest and rocky areas[20]Diet: Omnivorous; primarily eats insects, small mammals, fruit, grain, birds, and bird eggs[20] LC Unknown Population steady[20]
Western spotted skunk Black skunk with white spots on rocks S. gracilis Merriam, 1890 Seven subspecies S. g. amphialus (Island spotted skunk) S. g. gracilis S. g. latifrons S. g. leucoparia S. g. lucasana S. g. martirensis S. g. phenax Western North AmericaMap of range Size: 24–37 cm (9–15 in) long, plus 8–21 cm (3–8 in) tail[3]Habitat: Inland wetlands, grassland, shrubland, rocky areas, savanna, and forest[21]Diet: Primarily eats insects, small mammals, carrion, berries, and fruit[21] LC Unknown Population declining[21]
  1. ^ Johnson-Delaney, C. (October 2014). "Pet Virginia Opossums and Skunks". Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine. Unusual Exotic Pets. 23 (4): 317–326. doi:10.1053/j.jepm.2014.07.011.
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  7. ^ a b c Emmons, L.; Schiaffini, M.; Schipper, J. (2016). "Conepatus chinga". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016 e.T41630A45210528. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T41630A45210528.en.
  8. ^ a b c Cuarón, A. D.; Helgen, K.; Reid, F. (2016). "Conepatus semistriatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016 e.T41633A45210987. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T41633A45210987.en.
  9. ^ Bairos-Novak, Kevin (2014). "Mephitis macroura". Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
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  13. ^ a b c Widmann, P. (2015). "Mydaus marchei". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015 e.T14055A45201420. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T14055A45201420.en.
  14. ^ Krauskopf, Rachel (2002). "Mydaus javanensis". Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
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  16. ^ Pennington, Stefanie (2002). "Spilogale putorius". Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  17. ^ a b c Gompper, M.; Jachowski, D. (2016). "Spilogale putorius". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016 e.T41636A45211474. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T41636A45211474.en.
  18. ^ Gay, Bradley David (1999). "Spilogale pygmaea". Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  19. ^ a b c Helgen, K.; Cuarón, A. D.; Schipper, J.; González-Maya, J. F. (2016). "Spilogale pygmaea". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016 e.T41637A45211592. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T41637A45211592.en.
  20. ^ a b c Helgen, K.; Reid, F.; Timm, R. (2016). "Spilogale angustifrons". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016 e.T136636A45221538. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T136636A45221538.en.
  21. ^ a b c Cuarón, A. D.; Helgen, K.; Reid, F. (2016). "Spilogale gracilis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016 e.T136797A45221721. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T136797A45221721.en.