Hog-nosed skunk
Encyclopedia
The hog-nosed skunks belong to the genus Conepatus and are members of the family
Mephitidae (skunks). They are native to the Americas. They have white backs and tails and black underparts.
Recent work has concluded that the western hog-nosed skunk or common hog-nosed skunk (formerly Conepatus mesoleucus) is the same species as the American hog-nosed skunk, and that Conepatus leuconotus is the correct name of the merged populations.
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The individual hog-nosed skunk species
vary in size, but among them is included the largest of all skunks. All are characterized by comparatively short hair
, especially on the tail
, and this appendage lacks the plumelike appearance observed in other skunks. The nose
is prolonged into a distinct "snout", naked on the top and sides and evidently used for rooting in the earth after the manner of a pig
. In addition, the front feet are armed with long, heavy claw
s, and the front leg
s and shoulder
s are provided with a strong muscular
development for digging, as in a badger
. This likeness has led to the use in some places of the appropriate name "badger skunk" for these animal
s. The single white
stripe along the back, and including the tail, is a common pattern with these skunks, but this marking is considerably varied, as in the common species.
The hair on these skunks is coarse and harsh, lacking the qualities which render the coats of their northern relatives so valuable.
is abundant and the supply of food
most plentiful, or in canyon
s and on rocky mountain slopes.
For their protection hog-nosed skunks create their own burrow
s, generally within a bank, or beneath a rock
, or the root
s of a tree
, but do not hesitate to take possession of the deserted burrows of other animals, or of natural cavities among the rocks. Owing to their strictly nocturnal habits, they are generally much less frequently seen than the common skunks, even in localities where they are numerous.
and common skunks live mainly on insect
s, the hog-nosed skunks are even more insectivorous
in their feeding habits. The bare snout appears to be used constantly for the purpose of rooting out beetle
s, grubs, and larva
e of various kinds from the ground.
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Mephitidae (skunks). They are native to the Americas. They have white backs and tails and black underparts.
Species
- Conepatus chinga - Molina's hog-nosed skunkMolina's Hog-nosed SkunkMolina's hog-nosed skunk, also called the Andes Skunk , is a skunk species from South America. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Peru and Uruguay in heights up to 5000m.-References:**The Andes: A Trekking Guide...
- Conepatus humboldtii - Humboldt's hog-nosed skunkHumboldt's Hog-nosed SkunkHumboldt's hog-nosed skunk, also known as the Patagonian hog-nosed skunk is a type of hog-nosed skunk indigenous to the open grassy areas in the Patagonian regions of Argentina and Chile.- Appearance :...
- Conepatus leuconotus - American hog-nosed skunkAmerican Hog-nosed SkunkThe American hog-nosed skunk is a species of hog-nosed skunk from Central and North America, and is one of the largest skunk in the world, growing to lengths of up to 2.7 feet...
- Conepatus semistriatus - Striped hog-nosed skunkStriped Hog-nosed SkunkThe striped hog-nosed skunk, Conepatus semistriatus, is a skunk species from Central and South America. It lives in a wide range of habitats including dry forest scrub and occasionally, in rainforest....
Recent work has concluded that the western hog-nosed skunk or common hog-nosed skunk (formerly Conepatus mesoleucus) is the same species as the American hog-nosed skunk, and that Conepatus leuconotus is the correct name of the merged populations.
Description
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
vary in size, but among them is included the largest of all skunks. All are characterized by comparatively short hair
Hair
Hair is a filamentous biomaterial, that grows from follicles found in the dermis. Found exclusively in mammals, hair is one of the defining characteristics of the mammalian class....
, especially on the tail
Tail
The tail is the section at the rear end of an animal's body; in general, the term refers to a distinct, flexible appendage to the torso. It is the part of the body that corresponds roughly to the sacrum and coccyx in mammals, reptiles, and birds...
, and this appendage lacks the plumelike appearance observed in other skunks. The nose
Nose
Anatomically, a nose is a protuberance in vertebrates that houses the nostrils, or nares, which admit and expel air for respiration in conjunction with the mouth. Behind the nose are the olfactory mucosa and the sinuses. Behind the nasal cavity, air next passes through the pharynx, shared with the...
is prolonged into a distinct "snout", naked on the top and sides and evidently used for rooting in the earth after the manner of a pig
Pig
A pig is any of the animals in the genus Sus, within the Suidae family of even-toed ungulates. Pigs include the domestic pig, its ancestor the wild boar, and several other wild relatives...
. In addition, the front feet are armed with long, heavy claw
Claw
A claw is a curved, pointed appendage, found at the end of a toe or finger in most mammals, birds, and some reptiles. However, the word "claw" is also often used in reference to an invertebrate. Somewhat similar fine hooked structures are found in arthropods such as beetles and spiders, at the end...
s, and the front leg
Leg
Łęg may refer to the following places in Poland:*A former name for the town of Ełk *Part of the Czyżyny district of Kraków*Łęg, Pleszew County in Greater Poland Voivodeship...
s and shoulder
Shoulder
The human shoulder is made up of three bones: the clavicle , the scapula , and the humerus as well as associated muscles, ligaments and tendons. The articulations between the bones of the shoulder make up the shoulder joints. The major joint of the shoulder is the glenohumeral joint, which...
s are provided with a strong muscular
Muscle
Muscle is a contractile tissue of animals and is derived from the mesodermal layer of embryonic germ cells. Muscle cells contain contractile filaments that move past each other and change the size of the cell. They are classified as skeletal, cardiac, or smooth muscles. Their function is to...
development for digging, as in a badger
Badger
Badgers are short-legged omnivores in the weasel family, Mustelidae. There are nine species of badger, in three subfamilies : Melinae , Mellivorinae , and Taxideinae...
. This likeness has led to the use in some places of the appropriate name "badger skunk" for these animal
Animal
Animals are a major group of multicellular, eukaryotic organisms of the kingdom Animalia or Metazoa. Their body plan eventually becomes fixed as they develop, although some undergo a process of metamorphosis later on in their life. Most animals are motile, meaning they can move spontaneously and...
s. The single white
White
White is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light that stimulates all three types of color sensitive cone cells in the human eye in nearly equal amounts and with high brightness compared to the surroundings. A white visual stimulation will be void of hue and grayness.White light can be...
stripe along the back, and including the tail, is a common pattern with these skunks, but this marking is considerably varied, as in the common species.
The hair on these skunks is coarse and harsh, lacking the qualities which render the coats of their northern relatives so valuable.
Habitat
Where their range coincides with that of the common skunks, the local distribution of the two is practically the same. They live along the bottom-lands of watercourses, where vegetationVegetation
Vegetation is a general term for the plant life of a region; it refers to the ground cover provided by plants. It is a general term, without specific reference to particular taxa, life forms, structure, spatial extent, or any other specific botanical or geographic characteristics. It is broader...
is abundant and the supply of food
Food
Food is any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for the body. It is usually of plant or animal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals...
most plentiful, or in canyon
Canyon
A canyon or gorge is a deep ravine between cliffs often carved from the landscape by a river. Rivers have a natural tendency to reach a baseline elevation, which is the same elevation as the body of water it will eventually drain into. This forms a canyon. Most canyons were formed by a process of...
s and on rocky mountain slopes.
For their protection hog-nosed skunks create their own burrow
Burrow
A burrow is a hole or tunnel dug into the ground by an animal to create a space suitable for habitation, temporary refuge, or as a byproduct of locomotion. Burrows provide a form of shelter against predation and exposure to the elements, so the burrowing way of life is quite popular among the...
s, generally within a bank, or beneath a rock
Rock (geology)
In geology, rock or stone is a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids.The Earth's outer solid layer, the lithosphere, is made of rock. In general rocks are of three types, namely, igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic...
, or the root
Root
In vascular plants, the root is the organ of a plant that typically lies below the surface of the soil. This is not always the case, however, since a root can also be aerial or aerating . Furthermore, a stem normally occurring below ground is not exceptional either...
s of a tree
Tree
A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...
, but do not hesitate to take possession of the deserted burrows of other animals, or of natural cavities among the rocks. Owing to their strictly nocturnal habits, they are generally much less frequently seen than the common skunks, even in localities where they are numerous.
Feeding habits
Although both the spotted skunkSpotted Skunk
The Eastern Spotted Skunk is smaller and more weasel-like than the striped skunk. The spotted skunks are faster and more agile than the striped skunks and they have better pelts. For the last 100 years, the Eastern Spotted Skunk was bred for its fine silky fur...
and common skunks live mainly on insect
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
s, the hog-nosed skunks are even more insectivorous
Insectivore
An insectivore is a type of carnivore with a diet that consists chiefly of insects and similar small creatures. An alternate term is entomophage, which also refers to the human practice of eating insects....
in their feeding habits. The bare snout appears to be used constantly for the purpose of rooting out beetle
Beetle
Coleoptera is an order of insects commonly called beetles. The word "coleoptera" is from the Greek , koleos, "sheath"; and , pteron, "wing", thus "sheathed wing". Coleoptera contains more species than any other order, constituting almost 25% of all known life-forms...
s, grubs, and larva
Larva
A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...
e of various kinds from the ground.