Striped hog-nosed skunk
| Striped hog-nosed skunk | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Suborder: | Caniformia |
| Family: | Mephitidae |
| Genus: | Conepatus |
| Species: | C. semistriatus
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| Binomial name | |
| Conepatus semistriatus (Boddaert, 1785)
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| Striped hog-nosed skunk range | |
The striped hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus semistriatus) is a skunk species that is found in Central and South America. It is distributed from southern Mexico to northern Peru, and in a pocket in the extreme east of Brazil. They live in a wide range of habitats such as dry forests, orchards, and occasionally in rainforests. It is classified as least concern in the IUCN Red List.
Taxonomy
[edit]The striped hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus semistriatus) belongs to the genus Conepatus. It comes under the family Mephitidae, which includes skunks and stink badgers.[2] It was first described by Pieter Boddaert in 1785.[3]
Distribution and habitat
[edit]The range of striped hog-nosed skunk extends from southern Mexico in Central America to northern Peru in South America, and in a pocket in the extreme east of Brazil.[4][5][6] They live in a wide range of habitats, including arboreal caatingas, orchards, and dry forest scrubs, grasslands, and occasionally, in rainforests.[7] In the wet season, they prefer higher grounds in deciduous forests. They usually reside in small dens made from fallen tree logs or burrows of about 1–2 m (3 ft 3 in – 6 ft 7 in) length dug below the surface. They also use burrows dug by other animals.[8] It is classified as least concern in the IUCN Red List.[1]
Morphology
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The species measures about 35–50 cm (14–20 in) from head to tail with the females slightly smaller than the males. It weighs about 1.4–3.5 kg (3.1–7.7 lb) and has a short tail covered with black hair. The snout small and is typically black. The fur varies in color and has two narrow white stripes running from the head to the rump. The species has long claws and forelimbs adapted for digging.[8][9] They also have specialized skunk glands used to spray a fluid as a means of defense.[4]
Behaviour
[edit]It is a nocturnal solitary animal, and are mostly active after sunset.[7][10] The animals are rarely seen during the daylight hours. They are omnivores feeding on invertebrates, small vertebrates and fruits.[8][11] The species breed in the early spring. It produces a litter of two to five animals after a gestation period of about 60 days.[8]
Gallery
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Striped skunk skeleton -
Skunk heart -
Teeth of a striped skunk
References
[edit]- ^ a b 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. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- ^ "Conepatus semistriatus". Animal diversity. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ Pieter Boddaert (1785). Elenchus Animalium: Volume I. Hake.
- ^ a b Ronald M. Nowak. Walker's Mammals of the World, Volume 1. Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 736-737.
- ^ Dias, Douglas de Matos. Spatiotemporal ecology of the striped hog-nosed skunk Conepatus semistriatus (Carnivora, Mephitidae) in a seasonally dry forest of northeastern Brazil. Brill Academic Publishers.
- ^ Gitana Nunes Cavalcanti; Luis Diego Alfaro-Alvarado; Rodrigues Guimaraes; Henrique Flavio. Home range and activity patterns of Conepatus semistriatus (Carnivora, Mephitidae) in Emas National Park, Brazil. Brill Academic Publishers.
- ^ a b Louise H. Emmons; Francois Feer (1997). Neotropical Rainforest Mammals, A Field Guide.
- ^ a b c d Don E. Wilson; Russell A. Mittermeier (2009). "Mephitidae". Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 1 Carnivores. Lynx Edicions. pp. 532–562. ISBN 978-8-496-55349-1.
- ^ Medellin, R., G. Cancino, A. Clemente, R. Guerrero (1992). "Noteworthy records of three mammals from Mexico". The Southwestern Naturalist. 37 (4): 427–430.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Sunquist, M., F. Sunquist, D. Daneke (1989). "Ecological separation in a Venezuelan llanos carnivore community". Advances in Neotropical Mammalogy: 197–232.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Olmos, F (1993). "Notes on the food habits of brazilian "caatinga" carnivores". Mammalia. 57 (1): 126–130.
External links
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Media related to Conepatus semistriatus at Wikimedia Commons
