List of mephitids

File:Striped Skunk.jpgs (Mephitis mephitis)|alt=Two black and white striped skunks]]

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 {{convert|20|–|50|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} long, plus a {{convert|10|–|40|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} 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.

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. 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.

Conventions

{{IUCN statuses|ex=0|ew=0|cr=0|en=0|vu=2|nt=0|lc=10|suppress-others=y}}

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 "{{dagger|alt=Extinct}}". Population figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.

Classification

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.

Genus Conepatus (hog-nosed skunks): four species
Genus Mephitis (skunks): two species
Genus Mydaus: (stink badgers): two species
Genus Spilogale: (spotted skunks): four species

Mephitids

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.

{{Species table |no-note=y |genus=Conepatus |authority-name=Gray |authority-year=1837 |species-count=four}}

{{Species table/row

|name=American hog-nosed skunk |binomial=C. leuconotus

|image=File:Hog-nosed-skunk.png |image-size=180px |image-alt=Drawing of black skunk with white back and tail on sand

|authority-name=Lichtenstein |authority-year=1832 |authority-not-original=yes

|subspecies={{Collapsible list |expand=yes |title=Three subspecies |bullets=on

| C. l. figginsi (Eastern hog-nosed skunk)

| C. l. leuconotus (Furnace Canyon hog-nosed skunk)

| C. l. telmalestes (Big Thicket hog-nosed skunk){{dagger|alt=Extinct}}

}}

|range=Southern North America and northern Central America |range-image=File:Conepatus leuconotus range.PNG |range-image-size=144px

|size={{convert|34|–|51|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} long, plus {{convert|12|–|41|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} tail

|habitat=Rocky areas, forest, grassland, and desert

|hunting=Primarily eats insects, as well as fruit and small vertebrates

|iucn-status=LC |population=Unknown

|direction={{decrease|Population declining}}

}}

{{Species table/row

|name=Humboldt's hog-nosed skunk |binomial=C. humboldtii

|image=File:Zorrillo.jpg |image-size=180px |image-alt=Black skunk with long white stripes in grass

|authority-name=Gray |authority-year=1837

|subspecies={{Collapsible list |expand=yes |title=Three subspecies |bullets=on

| C. h. castaneus

| C. h. humboldtii

| C. h. proteus

}}

|range=Southern tip of South America |range-image=File:Humboldt's Hog-nosed Skunk area.png |range-image-size=119px

|size={{convert|32|–|45|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} long, plus {{convert|15|–|18|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} tail

|habitat=Shrubland, grassland, savanna, and rocky areas

|hunting=Primarily eats insects, as well as small mammals, shrubs, and fruit

|iucn-status=LC |population=Unknown

|direction={{steady|Population steady}}

}}

{{Species table/row

|name=Molina's hog-nosed skunk |binomial=C. chinga

|image=File:Chingue (Conepatus chinga) Inao Vásquez 001.jpg |image-size=180px |image-alt=Black and white skunk with pink nose in grass

|authority-name=Molina |authority-year=1792 |authority-not-original=yes

|subspecies={{Collapsible list |expand= |title=Seven subspecies |bullets=on

| C. c. budini

| C. c. chinga

| C. c. gibsoni

| C. c. inca

| C. c. mendosus

| C. c. rex

| C. c. suffocans

}}

|range=Southern South America |range-image=File:Molina's Hog-nosed Skunk area.png |range-image-size=119px

|size={{convert|20|–|49|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} long, plus {{convert|13|–|29|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} tail

|habitat=Grassland, shrubland, and savanna

|hunting=Omnivorous; primarily eats invertebrates, rodents, small reptiles, and eggs

|iucn-status=LC |population=Unknown

|direction={{decrease|Population declining}}

}}

{{Species table/row

|name=Striped hog-nosed skunk |binomial=C. semistriatus

|image=File:Conepatus semistriatus - Museo Civico di Storia Naturale Giacomo Doria - Genoa, Italy - DSC02689.JPG |image-size=180px |image-alt=Museum exhibit of brown skunk with white stripes

|authority-name=Boddaert |authority-year=1785 |authority-not-original=yes

|subspecies={{Collapsible list |expand=yes |title=Six subspecies |bullets=on

| C. s. amazonicus

| C. s. semistriatus

| C. s. taxinus

| C. s. trichurus

| C. s. yucatanicus

| C. s. zorrino

}}

|range=Northern and eastern South America and Central America |range-image=File:Striped Hog-nosed Skunk area.png |range-image-size=144px

|size={{convert|33|–|50|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} long, plus {{convert|13|–|31|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} tail

|habitat=Grassland, shrubland, and forest

|hunting=Primarily eats insects, lizards, and birds

|iucn-status=LC |population=Unknown

|direction={{population change unknown}}

}}

{{Species table |no-note=y |genus=Mephitis |authority-name=Geoffroy |authority-year=1795 |species-count=two}}

{{Species table/row

|name=Hooded skunk |binomial=M. macroura

|image=File:Skunkhooded.jpg |image-size=126px |image-alt=Black skunk with white back and tail in dirt

|authority-name=Lichtenstein |authority-year=1832

|subspecies={{Collapsible list |expand=yes |title=Four subspecies |bullets=on

| M. m. eximius

| M. m. macroura

| M. m. milleri

| M. m. richardsoni

}}

|range=Mexico and Central America |range-image=File:Hooded Skunk area.png |range-image-size=180px

|size={{convert|19|–|30|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} long, plus {{convert|35|–|40|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} tail

|habitat=Desert, shrubland, rocky areas, grassland, and forest

|hunting=Primarily eats insects, fruit, small vertebrates, and bird eggs

|iucn-status=LC |population=Unknown

|direction={{increase|Population increasing}}

}}

{{Species table/row

|name=Striped skunk |binomial=M. mephitis

|image=File:Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis) DSC 0030.jpg |image-size=180px |image-alt=Black and white striped skunk in snow

|authority-name=Schreber |authority-year=1776 |authority-not-original=yes

|subspecies={{Collapsible list |expand= |title=Thirteen subspecies |bullets=on

| 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)

}}

|range=North America |range-image=File:Mephitis mephitis range map.png |range-image-size=180px

|size={{convert|46|–|82|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} long, plus {{convert|17|–|40|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} tail

|habitat=Shrubland, savanna, forest, and grassland

|hunting=Primarily eats insects, as well as small mammals, birds, and vegetation

|iucn-status=LC |population=Unknown

|direction={{steady|Population steady}}

}}

{{Species table |no-note=y |genus=Mydaus |authority-name=F. Cuvier |authority-year=1821 |species-count=two}}

{{Species table/row

|name=Palawan stink badger |binomial=M. marchei

|image=File:Mydaus marchei Palawan stink badger Huet 1887.jpg |image-size=180px |image-alt=Drawing of black/brown stink badger

|authority-name=Huet |authority-year=1887

|range=Western Philippines |range-image=File:Palawan Stink Badger area.png |range-image-size=180px

|size={{convert|32|–|49|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} long, plus {{convert|1|–|5|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} tail

|habitat=Forest, shrubland, and introduced vegetation

|hunting=Primarily eats worms and arthropods

|iucn-status=LC |population=Unknown

|direction={{steady|Population steady}}

}}

{{Species table/row

|name=Sunda stink badger |binomial=M. javanensis

|image=File:Brehms Het Leven der Dieren Zoogdieren Orde 4 Stinkdas (Mydaus meliceps).jpg |image-size=180px |image-alt=Drawing of black and white stink badger on rocks

|authority-name=Desmarest |authority-year=1820 |authority-not-original=yes

|subspecies={{Collapsible list |expand=yes |title=Three subspecies |bullets=on

| M. j. javanensis (Sunda stink badger)

| M. j. lucifer (Bornean stink badger)

| M. j. ollula (Natuna Islands stink badger)

}}

|range=Indonesia and Malaysia |range-image=File:Sunda Stink Badger area.png |range-image-size=180px

|size={{convert|37|–|51|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} long, plus {{convert|5|–|8|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} tail

|habitat=Grassland, forest, and shrubland

|hunting=Primarily eats birds' eggs, carrion, insects, worms, and plants

|iucn-status=LC |population=Unknown

|direction={{steady|Population steady}}

}}

{{Species table |no-note=y |genus=Spilogale |authority-name=Gray |authority-year=1865 |species-count=four}}

{{Species table/row

|name=Eastern spotted skunk |binomial=S. putorius

|image=File:Spilogale putorius (2).jpg |image-size=180px |image-alt=Black skunk with white spots on log

|authority-name=Linnaeus |authority-year=1758 |authority-not-original=yes

|subspecies={{Collapsible list |expand=yes |title=Three subspecies |bullets=on

| S. p. ambarvalis

| S. p. interrupta

| S. p. putorius

}}

|range=Eastern United States |range-image=File:Spilogale putorius range map.png |range-image-size=180px

|size={{convert|11|–|35|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} long, plus {{convert|7|–|22|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} tail

|habitat=Forest, rocky areas, shrubland, and grassland

|hunting=Omnivorous; primarily eats insects, as well as small mammals and birds

|iucn-status=VU |population=Unknown

|direction={{decrease|Population declining}}

}}

{{Species table/row

|name=Pygmy spotted skunk |binomial=S. pygmaea

|image= |image-size=180px |image-alt=

|authority-name=Thomas |authority-year=1897

|subspecies={{Collapsible list |expand=yes |title=Three subspecies |bullets=on

| S. p. australis

| S. p. intermedia

| S. p. pygmaea

}}

|range=West coast of Mexico |range-image=File:Pygmy Spotted Skunk area.png |range-image-size=180px

|size={{convert|11|–|35|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} long, plus {{convert|7|–|12|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} tail

|habitat=Shrubland, marine coastal/supratidal, and forest

|hunting=Primarily eats insects, spiders, birds, eggs, small mammals, fruit, and seeds

|iucn-status=VU |population=Unknown

|direction={{decrease|Population declining}}

}}

{{Species table/row

|name=Southern spotted skunk |binomial=S. angustifrons

|image=File:Southern spotted skunk.jpg |image-size=152px |image-alt=Blakc skunk with white spots and tail in grass

|authority-name=Howell |authority-year=1902

|subspecies={{Collapsible list |expand=yes |title=Five subspecies |bullets=on

| S. a. angustifrons

| S. a. celeris

| S. a. elata

| S. a. tropicalis

| S. a. yucatanensis

}}

|range=Mexico and Central America |range-image=File:Southern Spotted Skunk area.png |range-image-size=180px

|size={{convert|20|–|25|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} long, plus {{convert|10|–|15|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} tail

|habitat=Forest and rocky areas

|hunting=Omnivorous; primarily eats insects, small mammals, fruit, grain, birds, and bird eggs

|iucn-status=LC |population=Unknown

|direction={{steady|Population steady}}

}}

{{Species table/row

|name=Western spotted skunk |binomial=S. gracilis

|image=File:Spilogale gracilis.jpg |image-size=180px |image-alt=Black skunk with white spots on rocks

|authority-name=Merriam |authority-year=1890

|subspecies={{Collapsible list |expand= |title=Seven subspecies |bullets=on

| S. g. amphialus (Island spotted skunk)

| S. g. gracilis

| S. g. latifrons

| S. g. leucoparia

| S. g. lucasana

| S. g. martirensis

| S. g. phenax

}}

|range=Western North America |range-image=File:Western Spotted Skunk area.png |range-image-size=180px

|size={{convert|24|–|37|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} long, plus {{convert|8|–|21|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} tail

|habitat=Inland wetlands, grassland, shrubland, rocky areas, savanna, and forest

|hunting=Primarily eats insects, small mammals, carrion, berries, and fruit

|iucn-status=LC |population=Unknown

|direction={{decrease|Population declining}}

}}

References

{{reflist|refs=

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{{cite iucn |last1=Emmons |first1=L. |last2=Schiaffini |first2=M. |last3=Schipper |first3=J. |title=Conepatus chinga |volume=2016 |page=e.T41630A45210528 |date=2016 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T41630A45210528.en}}

{{cite book |title=Carnivores of the World |edition=2nd |last=Hunter |first=Luke |author-link=Luke Hunter |pages=150–156 |publisher=Princeton University Press |date=January 8, 2019 |isbn=978-0-691-18295-7}}

{{cite iucn |last1=Emmons |first1=L. |last2=Helgen |first2=K. |title=Conepatus humboldtii |volume=2016 |page=e.T41631A45210677 |date=2016 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T41631A45210677.en}}

{{cite web |title=Conepatus humboldtii |last1=Shaw |first1=Weylan |date=2002 |website=Animal Diversity Web |publisher=University of Michigan |url=https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Conepatus_humboldtii/ |access-date=April 14, 2020}}

{{cite iucn |last1=Helgen |first1=K. |title=Conepatus leuconotus |volume=2016 |page=e.T41632A45210809 |date=2016 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T41632A45210809.en}}

{{cite iucn |last1=Cuarón |first1=A. D. |last2=Helgen |first2=K. |last3=Reid |first3=F. |title=Conepatus semistriatus |volume=2016 |page=e.T41633A45210987 |date=2016 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T41633A45210987.en}}

{{cite iucn |last1=Cuarón |first1=A. D. |last2=González-Maya |first2=J. F. |last3=Helgen |first3=K. |last4=Reid |first4=F. |last5=Schipper |first5=J. |last6=Dragoo |first6=J. W. |title=Mephitis macroura |volume=2016 |page=e.T41634A45211135 |date=2016 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T41634A45211135.en}}

{{cite web |title=Mephitis macroura |last1=Bairos-Novak |first1=Kevin |date=2014 |website=Animal Diversity Web |publisher=University of Michigan |url=https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Mephitis_macroura/ |access-date=April 14, 2020}}

{{cite iucn |last1=Helgen |first1=K. |last2=Reid |first2=F. |title=Mephitis mephitis |volume=2016 |page=e.T41635A45211301 |date=2016 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T41635A45211301.en}}

{{cite web |title=Mephitis mephitis |last1=Kiiskila |first1=Jeffrey |date=2014 |website=Animal Diversity Web |publisher=University of Michigan |url=https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Mephitis_mephitis/ |access-date=April 14, 2020}}

{{cite iucn |last1=Wilting |first1=A. |last2=Duckworth |first2=J. W. |last3=Meijaard |first3=E. |last4=Ross |first4=J. |last5=Hearn |first5=A. |last6=Ario |first6=A. |title=Mydaus javanensis |volume=2015 |page=e.T41628A45209955 |date=2015 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T41628A45209955.en}}

{{cite web |title=Mydaus javanensis |last1=Krauskopf |first1=Rachel |date=2002 |website=Animal Diversity Web |publisher=University of Michigan |url=https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Mydaus_javanensis/ |access-date=April 14, 2020}}

{{cite iucn |last1=Widmann |first1=P. |title=Mydaus marchei |volume=2015 |page=e.T14055A45201420 |date=2015 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T14055A45201420.en}}

{{cite iucn |last1=Helgen |first1=K. |last2=Reid |first2=F. |last3=Timm |first3=R. |title=Spilogale angustifrons |volume=2016 |page=e.T136636A45221538 |date=2016 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T136636A45221538.en}}

{{cite iucn |last1=Cuarón |first1=A. D. |last2=Helgen |first2=K. |last3=Reid |first3=F. |title=Spilogale gracilis |volume=2016 |page=e.T136797A45221721 |date=2016 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T136797A45221721.en}}

{{cite iucn |last1=Gompper |first1=M. |last2=Jachowski |first2=D. |title=Spilogale putorius |volume=2016 |page=e.T41636A45211474 |date=2016 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T41636A45211474.en}}

{{cite web |title=Spilogale putorius |last1=Pennington |first1=Stefanie |date=2002 |website=Animal Diversity Web |publisher=University of Michigan |url=https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Spilogale_putorius/ |access-date=April 14, 2020}}

{{cite iucn |last1=Helgen |first1=K. |last2=Cuarón |first2=A. D. |last3=Schipper |first3=J. |last4=González-Maya |first4=J. F. |title=Spilogale pygmaea |volume=2016 |page=e.T41637A45211592 |date=2016 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T41637A45211592.en}}

{{cite web |title=Spilogale pygmaea |last1=Gay |first1=Bradley David |date=1999 |website=Animal Diversity Web |publisher=University of Michigan |url=https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Spilogale_pygmaea/ |access-date=April 14, 2020}}

}}

Mephitidae