Mephitis

hooded skunk and striped skunk

Features
By Kalandra Muse

Diversity

There are two species within the Mephitis genus: striped skunks ( Mephitis mephitis ) and hooded skunks ( Mephitis macroura ). This genus does not represent all of the skunks within Mephitidae , as there are also the genera Spilogale (spotted skunks), Myadus (stink badgers), and Conepatus (hog-nosed skunks). The genus Mephitis is sister to Spilogale while Conepatus is more basal with Myadus .

Geographic Range

The geographic range of both striped skunks ( Mephitis mephitis ) and hooded skunks ( Mephitis macroura ) are within North America. Striped skunks ( Mephitis mephitis ) are found in the southern nearctic while hooded skunks ( Mephitis macroura ) are found in the northern neotropics. Striped skunks ( Mephitis mephitis ) avoid arid climates, such as the Mojave Desert in North America, but are ubiquitous in the rest of their range.

Habitat

Striped skunks ( Mephitis mephitis ) and hooded skunks ( Mephitis macroura ) live in a variety of ranges due to their generalist diet. However, striped skunks ( Mephitis mephitis ) do not live in extremely arid landscapes, while hooded skunks ( Mephitis macroura ) live in drier conditions. Mephitis mephitis survives in temperate areas and in higher in latitudes while Mephitis macroura inhabit warmer temperatures with low to high precipitation due to their distribution in Central America and the northern edges of South America. Striped skunks ( Mephitis mephitis ) range from sea level to 1,800 meters and hooded skunks ( Mephitis macroura ) range from sea level to 3,000 meters. The ranges are averages as they can be found in higher elevations, such as a striped skunk ( Mephitis mephitis ) being observed at 4,200 meters. Hooded skunks ( Mephitis macroura ) inhabit areas of coniferous and deciduous forests in the southern regions of North America as well as arid scrublands to riparian waterways. Striped skunks ( Mephitis mephitis ) inhabit edge habitats and prefer forests that are a mix of deciduous and coniferous trees along edges of open prairie.

Due to the human presence throughout the landscape, there are changes in the environment and both skunks have similar responses as they both exhibit little change in their distribution and are found in areas that are close to agriculture or in suburban areas.

Systematic and Taxonomic History

The genus Mephitis is placed in the family Mephitidae , which used be a part of Mustelidae due to similar traits in their morphologies. However, genetic data has lead to Mephitidae becoming its own family and splitting from Mustelidae . The family Mephitidae is within the Order Carnivora on the phylogenetic tree of Mammalia. The genus Mephitis is most closely related to the genus Spilogale and are sister taxa due to common ancestry. Both Mephitis and Spilogale split from the genus Conepatus later in evolutionary time.

Physical Description

The species in genus Mephitis are similar in body shape, but are still differentiable. The body of striped skunks ( Mephitis mephitis ) are stocky with a plantigrade stance and long claws that are curved at the forelimbs rather than the hind limbs. The head shape is triangular in shape and sports a nose that is spherical. Striped skunks ( Mephitis mephitis ) are identified with their aposematic pattering on their back. Their pelage is black with a distinct white forehead that goes down the nape and then branches off into two stripes down the left and right sides of the body. Striped skunks ( Mephitis mephitis ) may have a small patch of white on their nose or in other places. There are different color morphs with striped skunks ( Mephitis mephitis ), such as having the black pelage being brown or the white stripes having a yellow tint. Hooded skunks ( Mephitis macroura ) are similar in stature but are more slender in shape. They are smaller compared to striped skunks but are similar in locomotion and stance. Hooded skunks ( Mephitis macroura ) have their own color morphs, where the striping is more variable rather than just the color change in the fur seen in striped skunks ( Mephitis mephitis ). Hooded skunks ( Mephitis macroura ) have three morphs that are present in their populations. The first morph has black pelage all over the body with a single white stripe that is present dorsally. The second is similar to a striped skunk ( Mephitis mephitis ), where the back is black and there are two stripes that go down the sides of the skunk. To differ between similar patterned hooded skunks ( Mephitis macroura ) and striped skunks ( Mephitis mephitis ) is through the length of the hairs on the nape. Hooded skunks ( Mephitis macroura ) have longer hairs while striped skunks ( Mephitis mephitis ) are shorter. The final morph of hooded skunks ( Mephitis macroura ) is a patch of white on the nose and some white hairs on the tail.

A difference between hooded skunk ( Mephitis macroura ) and striped skunk ( Mephitis mephitis ) skulls is that hooded skunks ( Mephitis macroura ) have a larger tympanic bullae than striped skunks ( Mephitis mephitis ). Both species have the same dental formula of I 3/3, C 1/1, P 3/3, M 1/2, with a total of 34 teeth. Skull measurements are relatively the same, but hooded skunks ( Mephitis macroura ) tend to be smaller.

  • Sexual Dimorphism
  • male larger

Reproduction

Both striped skunks ( Mephitis mephitis ) and hooded skunks ( Mephitis macroura ) exhibit behaviors of being promiscuous and polygynous. Males tend to have larger ranges than females, but during the breeding season, a males region overlaps with those of females nearby. A male's range is determined by the presence of females, while a female's range is based on the presence of resources. In hooded skunk ( Mephitis macroura ) populations, there are multiple females around the range of a male. With both skunks, the ranges of the females vary during the breeding season and change outside of the breeding season. The mating behaviors associated with breeding season has an affect on other behaviors like when hooded skunks ( Mephitis macroura ) inhabit a den together. Usually a communal den has the presence of one male and multiple females. During the breeding season, the females are much more aggressive and communal dens are not present during that part of the year. A similar behavior is seen in striped skunks ( Mephitis mephitis ). The typical behavior of males and females are that they are indifferent to each other during regular parts of the year outside of the mating season. During the mating season however, the females are aggressive and the males are more interested.

There is little information on the behaviors associated with attracting mates in Mephitis . There is also not much information on hooded skunks ( Mephitis macroura ) and their mating behaviors, but striped skunks ( Mephitis mephitis ) have been observed. Females make vocal sounds and act in defiance during copulation. Males typically have no more interest in a female after copulation, and goes in search for more females. However, some males do stay with the female, but the female tends to be much more aggressive towards the male when pregnant or pseudopregnant.

The breeding seasons in both striped skunks ( Mephitis mephitis ) and hooded skunks ( Mephitis macroura ) are in the early part of the year, from mid-winter to late spring. Hooded skunks ( Mephitis macroura ) have a mating season of mid-February to the end of March while striped skunks ( Mephitis mephitis ) vary between mid-February to mid-April. On average, striped skunks ( Mephitis mephitis ) tend to mate during February and March. The number of offspring for hooded skunks ( Mephitis macroura ) is 3-8 while striped skunks ( Mephitis mephitis ) have 6-8. There are variations in populations that are captive, and can either have more or less. The gestation period for striped skunks ( Mephitis mephitis ) is 59-77 days and around an average of 60 days for hooded skunks ( Mephitis macroura ). Compared to another skunk species, like a western spotted skunk ( Spilogale gracilis ), the gestation times of Mephitis species are relatively short. A female striped skunk ( Mephitis mephitis ) may be able to delay implantation which is seen with their progesterone levels rising at different rates depending on the time of copulation. Weaning lasts 8 weeks and females are able to breed at the age of 10 months for striped skunks ( Mephitis mephitis ) but weaning time and age of maturity hasn't been clear in hooded skunks ( Mephitis macroura ).

The parental investment of both M. macroura and M. mephitis are similar as the investment is done by the female. When born, baby skunks are altricial and depend on their mother to feed and protect them. In striped skunks ( Mephitis mephitis ), after weaning is complete, juvenile skunks follow the mother around. The mother goes between different dens that are within her range and forages along the way, teaching the offspring how to survive. They are able to mature into adult age at 10 months. Hooded skunks ( Mephitis macroura ) are similar as the females take care of the juveniles before adult age. Females typically forage and the juveniles are able to learn and forage for themselves. At a certain age in both skunks, the young and the mother split off.

  • Parental Investment
  • altricial
  • female parental care
  • pre-fertilization
    • protecting
      • female
  • pre-hatching/birth
    • provisioning
      • female
    • protecting
      • female
  • pre-weaning/fledging
    • provisioning
      • female
    • protecting
      • female
  • pre-independence
    • provisioning
      • female
    • protecting
      • female

Lifespan/Longevity

The lifespan of the genus Mephitis varies greatly in the species. Striped skunks ( Mephitis mephitis ) live for an average of 5-6 years in the wild, but up to 10 years in captivity. Hooded skunks ( Mephitis macroura ) have a high lifespan of 3 years in captivity. What limits lifespan is predation and the presence of diseases.

Behavior

Both Mephitis species are solitary animals. Throughout the year and the parts of the day their solitary status differs based on the presence of kits, harsher weather, or the mating season. Striped skunks ( Mephitis mephitis ) share a den communally during winter times, yet some skunks do not. The amount of time in which a striped skunk ( Mephitis mephitis ) inhabits a den also varies based on the geographic location. Striped skunks ( Mephitis mephitis ) are in a den during autumn, winter, and the early parts of spring. In warmer climates, the skunks don't den but find a daytime retreat. Females who are pregnant also change their behavior as they reside in a den for a few months in the spring as they raise their offspring. The behavior of using a den is a feature seen in both skunks. Both of them do not create their own dens, but use one that already exists from another animal. Hooded skunks ( Mephitis macroura ) are also known to reside in areas that are close to human settlements, as they can provide a den-like habitat. When there are no animals that create dens, then skunks are capable of creating their own.

A behavior that both skunks share is their mode of locomotion. They are both plantigrade and have a quadrupedal walk. They both can demonstrate fossorial behaviors, such as being underground for a certain amount of time, but they use dens from other animals and do not create their own. Another form of social behavior is feeding, as seen in hooded skunks ( Mephitis macroura ). Both skunks also demonstrate nocturnal behavior as they are active during the night as well as at dawn and dusk.

Communication and Perception

A major sense that both species in the genus Mephitis use is olfaction as they have scent glands that provide a musky smell. When a skunk is threatened or bothered, they can spray a viscous substance that has a profound odor to drive away predators. A spray has a high energy use, so skunks tend to raise their tails as well as provide a few stomps with their feet as a warning. These skunks differ to their sister genus, Spilogale , as spotted skunks stand on their forelegs to warn off predators. In other forms of communication, both striped skunks ( Mephitis mephitis ) and hooded skunks ( Mephitis macroura ) are capable of making vocal fluctuations of their voice, from making growls to higher pitched chirps. In striped skunks ( Mephitis mephitis ), they have been documented to also display scent-marking behavior through cheek rubbing and claw scratching on the edges of their territory. There hasn't been research done on other types of communication in hooded skunks ( Mephitis macroura ).

Food Habits

Both M. macroura and M. mephitis are insectivorous in their diet. Hooded skunks ( Mephitis macroura ) have been documented to have grasshoppers as well as black beetles in their stomachs. The geographic areas of the skunks play a role in their diet as their environment . Both skunks are generalists in their diet and are adaptable to the differences in environments. Diets are variable during harsher climatic conditions as some skunks either go for more vertebrate prey, such as small mice, or they eat plants in their area when there isn't enough insects to sustain them. As the human population grows there is an expansion to more natural areas. The close contact to human populations has affected both Mephitis species by having them become more omnivorous.

Predation

Both skunks show aposematic coloration to deter predators. They both have a stark difference in coloration with both black and white pelage to give a clear warning to predators. Most mammals do not prey on skunks unless they are on the brink of starvation, but birds of prey are more likely to hunt them. To ward off predators and give a warning, both species of Mephitis stomp on the ground with their feet and raise their tail. In tall foliage, skunks are more prone to making noise in order for their presence to be known. Skunks rely on their coloration to deter predators, as a skunk can only spray so much and it costs energy to develop. When a skunk does spray, the smell released is pungent and can be an irritant to the eyes. Even at a young age, hooded skunks ( Mephitis macroura ) and striped skunks ( Mephitis mephitis ) have a musk to them and are able to spray as they age.

Ecosystem Roles

Hooded skunks ( Mephitis macroura ) and striped skunks ( Mephitis mephitis ) are both insectivorous and can impact populations of insects based on their distribution on the landscape. Both skunks are not proficient prey for most predators as they are aposematic in coloration and have a smell that is negatively associated. However, birds of prey will most likely benefit from the genus Mephitis as they are mostly unaffected by a skunks smell. If the spray is caught within the eyes or mouth of the bird, then there can be extreme effects that impact the survival of that bird. One of the major ecosystem roles that both skunks have is that they are a vector for diseases and parasites. Many parasites take refuge on or within both Mephitis species, and can impact the health of the skunks as well as other organisms that come into contact with them.

Commensal/Parasitic Species

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

The genus Mephitis does have positive economic values. Those values have changed throughout the years, but they are still beneficial to humans. In the early 20th century, M. mephitis were known to be hunted for their fur, but that declined as the fashion trends changed. This negatively impacted the skunks, but they were able to recover. There isn't much information on the use of M. macroura in the past. Today, a factor that is important for human benefit is that both skunks are insectivorous and regulate populations of insects. Due to their wide distribution and their generalist diets, there are many types of insects that striped skunks ( Mephitis mephitis ) and hooded skunks ( Mephitis macroura ) eat. This is economically important because a pest species can decline through natural predation. Another interest that humans have with both Mephitis species is their use in research and education such as the chemical make-up of their spray to their prevalence in North America.

  • Positive Impacts
  • body parts are source of valuable material
  • research and education
  • controls pest population

Economic Importance for Humans: Negative

The main negative economic importance of Mephitis is that hooded skunks ( Mephitis macroura ) and striped skunks ( Mephitis mephitis ) are a vector for disease and parasites that negatively impact people and the animals that humans value, such as livestock and pets. In striped skunks ( Mephitis mephitis ), the major concern is that they are known to carry rabies. As the human population expands, there are more chances to come into contact with a skunk that has contracted rabies. There is research going into how skunks are carriers for diseases as well as parasites. Hooded skunks ( Mephitis macroura ) do not have any cases of rabies, but are associated with diseases and parasites that have a negative effects on the human population. Another concern with the Mephitis genus is that they can cause damage to people with their basic defenses used against predators. They can bite as well as spray a person which can be dangerous based on the skunk's health or the person's health. There is also a concern with people's pets where they can get negative effects from a skunk encounter.

Conservation Status

The two species of Mephitis are of least concern in their conservation status. They are found in many regions of North America and South America, and their numbers are stable. One area of rarity for hooded skunks ( Mephitis macroura ) is within Texas, an edge to their region.

Other Comments

The genus Mephitis used to be in the family Mustelidae . The family Mephitidae was split from them and harbors the genus Mephitis .

Encyclopedia of Life

Contributors

Kalandra Muse (author), Colorado State University.

Nearctic

living in the Nearctic biogeographic province, the northern part of the New World. This includes Greenland, the Canadian Arctic islands, and all of the North American as far south as the highlands of central Mexico.

World Map

native range

the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.

Neotropical

living in the southern part of the New World. In other words, Central and South America.

World Map

native range

the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.

cosmopolitan

having a worldwide distribution. Found on all continents (except maybe Antarctica) and in all biogeographic provinces; or in all the major oceans (Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific.

temperate

that region of the Earth between 23.5 degrees North and 60 degrees North (between the Tropic of Cancer and the Arctic Circle) and between 23.5 degrees South and 60 degrees South (between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Antarctic Circle).

tropical

the region of the earth that surrounds the equator, from 23.5 degrees north to 23.5 degrees south.

terrestrial

Living on the ground.

taiga

Coniferous or boreal forest, located in a band across northern North America, Europe, and Asia. This terrestrial biome also occurs at high elevations. Long, cold winters and short, wet summers. Few species of trees are present; these are primarily conifers that grow in dense stands with little undergrowth. Some deciduous trees also may be present.

tropical savanna and grassland

A terrestrial biome. Savannas are grasslands with scattered individual trees that do not form a closed canopy. Extensive savannas are found in parts of subtropical and tropical Africa and South America, and in Australia.

savanna

A grassland with scattered trees or scattered clumps of trees, a type of community intermediate between grassland and forest. See also Tropical savanna and grassland biome.

temperate grassland

A terrestrial biome found in temperate latitudes (>23.5° N or S latitude). Vegetation is made up mostly of grasses, the height and species diversity of which depend largely on the amount of moisture available. Fire and grazing are important in the long-term maintenance of grasslands.

forest

forest biomes are dominated by trees, otherwise forest biomes can vary widely in amount of precipitation and seasonality.

rainforest

rainforests, both temperate and tropical, are dominated by trees often forming a closed canopy with little light reaching the ground. Epiphytes and climbing plants are also abundant. Precipitation is typically not limiting, but may be somewhat seasonal.

scrub forest

scrub forests develop in areas that experience dry seasons.

mountains

This terrestrial biome includes summits of high mountains, either without vegetation or covered by low, tundra-like vegetation.

marsh

marshes are wetland areas often dominated by grasses and reeds.

suburban

living in residential areas on the outskirts of large cities or towns.

riparian

Referring to something living or located adjacent to a waterbody (usually, but not always, a river or stream).

endothermic

animals that use metabolically generated heat to regulate body temperature independently of ambient temperature. Endothermy is a synapomorphy of the Mammalia, although it may have arisen in a (now extinct) synapsid ancestor; the fossil record does not distinguish these possibilities. Convergent in birds.

bilateral symmetry

having body symmetry such that the animal can be divided in one plane into two mirror-image halves. Animals with bilateral symmetry have dorsal and ventral sides, as well as anterior and posterior ends. Synapomorphy of the Bilateria.

polymorphic

"many forms." A species is polymorphic if its individuals can be divided into two or more easily recognized groups, based on structure, color, or other similar characteristics. The term only applies when the distinct groups can be found in the same area; graded or clinal variation throughout the range of a species (e.g. a north-to-south decrease in size) is not polymorphism. Polymorphic characteristics may be inherited because the differences have a genetic basis, or they may be the result of environmental influences. We do not consider sexual differences (i.e. sexual dimorphism), seasonal changes (e.g. change in fur color), or age-related changes to be polymorphic. Polymorphism in a local population can be an adaptation to prevent density-dependent predation, where predators preferentially prey on the most common morph.

polygynous

having more than one female as a mate at one time

polygynandrous

the kind of polygamy in which a female pairs with several males, each of which also pairs with several different females.

iteroparous

offspring are produced in more than one group (litters, clutches, etc.) and across multiple seasons (or other periods hospitable to reproduction). Iteroparous animals must, by definition, survive over multiple seasons (or periodic condition changes).

seasonal breeding

breeding is confined to a particular season

sexual

reproduction that includes combining the genetic contribution of two individuals, a male and a female

induced ovulation

ovulation is stimulated by the act of copulation (does not occur spontaneously)

fertilization

union of egg and spermatozoan

viviparous

reproduction in which fertilization and development take place within the female body and the developing embryo derives nourishment from the female.

delayed implantation

in mammals, a condition in which a fertilized egg reaches the uterus but delays its implantation in the uterine lining, sometimes for several months.

altricial

young are born in a relatively underdeveloped state; they are unable to feed or care for themselves or locomote independently for a period of time after birth/hatching. In birds, naked and helpless after hatching.

female parental care

parental care is carried out by females

nocturnal

active during the night

motile

having the capacity to move from one place to another.

sedentary

remains in the same area

solitary

lives alone

territorial

defends an area within the home range, occupied by a single animals or group of animals of the same species and held through overt defense, display, or advertisement

visual

uses sight to communicate

acoustic

uses sound to communicate

chemical

uses smells or other chemicals to communicate

scent marks

communicates by producing scents from special gland(s) and placing them on a surface whether others can smell or taste them

tactile

uses touch to communicate

acoustic

uses sound to communicate

chemical

uses smells or other chemicals to communicate

aposematic

having coloration that serves a protective function for the animal, usually used to refer to animals with colors that warn predators of their toxicity. For example: animals with bright red or yellow coloration are often toxic or distasteful.

causes disease in humans

an animal which directly causes disease in humans. For example, diseases caused by infection of filarial nematodes (elephantiasis and river blindness).

causes or carries domestic animal disease

either directly causes, or indirectly transmits, a disease to a domestic animal

carnivore

an animal that mainly eats meat

insectivore

An animal that eats mainly insects or spiders.

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To cite this page: Muse, K. 2025. "Mephitis" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed {%B %d, %Y} at https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Mephitis/

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