Mephitidae (skunks and stink badgers)

Mephitidae
There are 11 species in this family. Skunks are found in North, Central, and South America. Stink badgers are found in Indonesia and the Philippines. Members of this family are black, brown, or gray and have white stripes or spots. Skunks and stink badgers are about the size of a domestic cat and have squat bodies; bushy tails; and powerful, stubby legs. They have a gland under their tails that emits a spray with strong odor. This spray is used to warn away predators.

Striped Skunk

Conepatus (hog-nosed skunks)
Mephitis (hooded skunk, striped skunk)

Mydaus (stink badgers)
Spilogale (spotted skunks)

Conepatus (hog-nosed skunks)

Molina's Hog-nosed Skunk
Molina's hog-nosed skunks are found in Chile, Peru, northern Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay and southern Brazil.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle /High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

North American Hog-nosed Skunk
Hog-nosed Skunks can be helpful to farmers because they eat crop-destroying insects.
Source: Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Striped Hog-nosed Skunk
Striped hog-nosed skunks are found from southern Mexico south and east into northern Peru and eastern Brazil.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle /High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Mephitis (hooded skunk striped skunk)

Hooded Skunk
The hooded skunk is found in desert habitats and prefers rocky canyons and valleys.
Source: Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Hooded Skunk
The hooded skunk usually has an all white back.
Source: Tonto National Park Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Striped Skunk
The striped skunk is about the size of a house cat.
Source: NHPTV Wildlife Journal Junior Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: No

Striped Skunk
A skunk's spray is an oily liquid produced by glands under its large tail.
Source: National Geographic Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: Yes

Striped Skunk
Skunks don't have a lot of predators! Most animals see the skunk's stripes and leave it alone!
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Striped Skunk
Don't say he didn't warn you. The striped skunk will stomp its front feet before spraying.
Source: Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Striped Skunk
The striped skunk is a solitary animal.
Source: Maryland Zoo Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: No

Striped Skunk
The striped skunk has short legs with strong claws for digging.
Source: Binghamton Zoo Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: No

Striped Skunk
The striped skunk is an opportunistic omnivore. It eats insects, mice, frogs, grubs, worms, carrion and even garbage.
Source: Elmwood Park Zoo Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: No

Striped Skunk
The striped skunk is found from central Canada, throughout the United States, and south into northern Mexico.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle /High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Striped Skunk
The stripe pattern on a skunk can vary from skunk to skunk.
Source: Enchanted Learning Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary School Teacher Section: No Searchable: No

Mydaus (stink badgers)

Palawan Stink Badger
The Palawan sting badger is only found on Palawan and Busuanga Islands in the Philippines.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle /High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Sunda Stink Badger
The Sunda stink badger is found on the Indonesian islands of Sumatra, Java, Borneo, and North Natuna.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle /High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Spilogale (spotted skunks)

Eastern Spotted Skunk
Eastern spotted skunks are found throughout much of the eastern United States. They are found as far north as Minnesota and south through Central America to El Salvador. They occur as far west as eastern Wyoming and Colorado.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle /High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Pygmy Spotted Skunk
The pygmy spotted skunk is found in a very small area along the Pacific coast of Mexico.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle /High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Western Spotted Skunk
Scientists once though that the eastern and western spotted skunks were the same species.
Source: Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Western Spotted Skunk
The western spotted skunk has shiny black fur with white stripes on the front part of its body and a white spot on its forehead and in front of each of its ears.
Source: Utah's Hogle Zoo Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: No

Western Spotted Skunk
Western spotted skunks are found in western half of the United States.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle /High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes