Hooded skunk

Hooded skunk
Hooded skunk
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Family:	Mephitidae
Genus:	Mephitis
Species:	M. macroura
Binomial name
Mephitis macroura Lichtenstein 1832
Hooded skunk range

The hooded skunk (Mephitis macroura) is a species of mammal in the family Mephitidae. It can be distinguished from the similar striped skunk (M. mephitis) by its longer tail and longer, softer coat of fur. A ruff of white fur around its neck gives the animal its common name. It is generally more white dorsally, and black ventrally, but two color variants exist. One type has an all-white back, while the other has a black back with two white longitudinal stripes.

The hooded skunk ranges from the Southwestern United States to Central America, but is most abundant in Mexico. It is found in grasslands, desert, and in the foothills of mountains, avoiding high elevations. It tends to live near a water source, such as a river.

The diet of the hooded skunk consists mostly of vegetation, especially prickly pear (Opuntia spp.), but it will readily consume insects and small rodents as well. It shelters in a burrow or a nest of thick plant cover during the day and is active at night. Its breeding season is in the late winter and the female bears an average litter of three young.

Hooded skunk skeleton on display at The Museum of Osteology, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Links

• Smithsonian Institution - North American Mammals: Mephitis macroura

References

1. ^ Cuarón, A.D., Reid, F. & Helgen, K. (2008). Mephitis macroura. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 27 January 2009.

• Irwin, M. 2001. "Mephitis macroura" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed September 13, 2006