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{{short description|Species of mammal}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Striped skunk
| image =
| image2 =
| status =
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name=iucn/>
| genus = Mephitis
| species = mephitis
| authority = ([[Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber|Schreber]], 1776)
| synonyms_ref = {{r|verts1982}}
| synonyms = ''Viverra mephitis'' {{small|Schreber, 1776}}
| range_map = Mephitis mephitis range map.png
| range_map_alt = Map showing distribution of striped skunk in North America
| range_map_caption =
}}
The '''striped skunk''' ('''''Mephitis mephitis''''') is a [[skunk]] of the [[genus]] ''[[Mephitis (genus)|Mephitis]]'' that occurs across much of North America, including southern [[Canada]], the [[United States]], and northern [[Mexico]].<ref name="msw3">{{MSW3|accessdate=2010-01-18}}</ref> It is currently listed as [[least concern]] by the [[IUCN]] on account of its wide range and ability to adapt to human-modified environments.<ref name="iucn"/>
Striped skunks are [[Animal sexual behavior#Polygamy|polygamous]] omnivores with few natural predators, save for [[birds of prey]].<ref name="verts1982"/> Like all skunks, they possess highly developed musk-filled scent glands to ward off predators. They have a long history of association with humans, having been trapped and captively bred for their fur<ref name="lantz1923"/> and kept as [[pet]]s.<ref name="cipriani2011"/> The striped skunk is one of the most recognizable of North America's animals, and is a popular figure in cartoons and children's books.<ref>Feinstein, J. (2011). ''Field Guide to Urban Wildlife''. Stackpole Books. p. 67. {{ISBN|0811705854}}</ref>
==Taxonomy==
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===Evolution and subspecies===
The earliest fossil finds attributable to ''Mephitis'' were found in the Broadwater site in [[Nebraska]], dating back to the [[early Pleistocene]] less than 1.8 million years ago. By the [[late Pleistocene]] (70,000–14,500 years ago), the striped skunk was widely distributed throughout the southern United States, and it expanded northwards and westwards by the [[Holocene]] (10,000–4,500 years ago) following the retreat of the [[Wisconsin glaciation|Wisconsin glacier]].<ref name="barton2012">{{cite journal |last=Barton
[[Phylogenetics|Phylogenetic analyses]] of the species' [[cytochrome b]] gene and microsatellite data in 2012 indicated that there are four [[phylogroup]]s of striped skunk. The first emerged from the Texas-Mexico region during the [[Rancholabrean]] before the Illinoian glaciation and colonized the southeastern United States. The second, still originating in the Texas-Mexico region, expanded westwards to the Rocky Mountains during the Illinoian glacial period. Two subsequent subclades were formed during the Sangamonian interglacial on either side of the Sierra Nevada. The subclade that colonized the Great Basin later expanded eastwards across the northern Rocky Mountains during the Holocene, recolonising the Great Plains and making contact with the southern phylogroup. A similar, but less significant, secondary contact occurred when the same subclade intermingled with members of the eastern phylogroup east of the Mississippi river.<ref name="barton2012"/>
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|A very small, short-tailed subspecies.<ref name="howell1901"/>
|West side of Mississippi Valley from southern Louisiana to Missouri; westward along the coast of Texas to Matagorda Island; and up the Red River Valley as far at least as Wichita Falls.
|<small>''mesomeles'' (Gerrard, 1862), ''scrutator'' (Bangs, 1896)<
|-
|'''Eastern skunk'''<br/>''M. m. nigra''
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|A large subspecies resembling ''M. m. hudsonica'', but with a longer tail and narrower skull.<ref name="howell1901"/>
|Northern and central California, from the vicinity of Monterey Bay northward, west of the Sierra and Cascades, to the Willamette Valley, Oregon.
|<small>''notata'' (Howell, 1901), ''platyrhina'' (Howell, 1901)<
|-
|'''Puget Sound skunk'''<br />''M. m. spissigrada''
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|Similar to ''M. m. occidentalis'', but with a shorter tail and more white on the body and tail.<ref name="howell1901"/>
|Shores of Puget Sound and coastal region of Washington and northern Oregon.
|<small>''foetulenta'' (Elliot, 1899)</small>
|-
|'''Texas long-tailed skunk'''<br />''M. m. varians''
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*Names must be sourced and verifiable.
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[[File:Striped Skunk Skeleton.jpg|thumb|[[Skeleton]] on exhibit at [[the Museum of Osteology]], [[Oklahoma City, Oklahoma]]]]
[[File:Mephitis mephitis 03 MWNH 1516.jpg|thumb|Skull of a striped skunk]]
The striped skunk is a stoutly-built, short-limbed animal with a small, conical head and a long, heavily furred tail.<ref name="coues1877">Coues, E. (1877). ''[https://archive.org/stream/furbearinganimal00coue#page/194/mode/2up Fur-bearing animals: a monograph of North American Mustelidae, in which an account of the wolverene, the martens or sables, the ermine, the mink and various other kinds of weasels, several species of skunks, the badger, the land and sea otters, and numerous exotic allies of these animals, is contributed to the history of North American mammals].'' Geological and Geographical Survey of the Territories (U.S.). pp. 195-235.</ref> Adult males are 10% larger than females, with both sexes measuring between {{convert|52
[[File:The back left foot of an albino skunk.jpg|thumb|Left hind foot of an albino skunk]]
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The color patterns of the fur vary greatly, but generally consist of a black base with a white stripe extending from the head which divides along the shoulders, continuing along the flanks to the rump and tail. Some specimens have a white patch on the chest, while others bear white stripes on the outer surface of the front limbs.<ref name="rosatte2003"/> Brown or cream-colored mutations occasionally occur.<ref name="seton1909">Seton, E. T. (1909). ''[https://archive.org/stream/lifehistoriesofn02seto#page/966/mode/2up Life-histories of northern animals : an account of the mammals of Manitoba]''. New York City: Scribner. pp. 966-994</ref>
Like all skunks, the striped skunk possesses two highly developed [[scent gland]]s, one on each side of the anus, containing about 15 milliliters of musk each,<ref name="merriam1886" /> which provides a [[chemical defense]] against predation.<ref name=beren>{{Cite journal|last=Berenbaum|first=M. R.|date=1995-01-03|title=The chemistry of defense: theory and practice|journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences|language=en|volume=92|issue=1|pages=2–8|doi=10.1073/pnas.92.1.2|issn=0027-8424|pmid=7816816|pmc=42807|bibcode=1995PNAS...92....2B|doi-access=free}}</ref> This oily, yellow-colored musk consists of a mixture of powerfully odorous [[thiol]]s ([[sulfur]] analogues of alcohols, in older sources called "mercaptans"), which can be sprayed at a distance of several meters. The odor of this musk was likened by [[Ernest Thompson Seton]] to a mixture of perfume musk, essence of garlic, burning sulfur and sewer gas "magnified a thousand times",<ref name="seton1909"/> though [[Clinton Hart Merriam]] claimed that it
==Life history==
===Reproduction and development===
The striped skunk is [[
When a male locates a female, he will approach her from the rear and lick her genitals, then bite her on the nape before copulating. A single male may have a [[Harem (zoology)|harem]] of several females, which he mates with and defends against other males for a period of about 35 days. Once the mating period has finished, the impregnated females confine themselves to their dens, while the males attempt to rebuild their fat reserves.<ref name="rosatte2003"/>
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[[File:Skunk about to spray.jpg|thumb|In defensive posture with erect and puffed tail, indicating that it may be about to spray|alt=]]
While primarily an [[insectivore]], the striped skunk is adaptable enough to incorporate other animals and even vegetable matter into its diet. The most frequently consumed insects include grasshoppers, beetles, crickets, caterpillars, other insect larvae and bees.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Mephitis_mephitis/|title = Mephitis mephitis (Striped skunk)| website=[[Animal Diversity Web]] }}</ref> Other invertebrates may include worms, crayfish and other non-insect arthropods.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Mephitis_mephitis/|title = Mephitis mephitis (Striped skunk)| website=[[Animal Diversity Web]] }}</ref> In the winter and spring months, the striped skunk will supplement its diet with vertebrates such as [[White-footed mouse|white-footed mice]], [[Microtus|vole]]s, eggs and the chicks of ground nesting birds.<ref name="verts1982"/> The striped skunk is also known to consume amphibians, reptiles, carrion and fish.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Mephitis_mephitis/|title = Mephitis mephitis (Striped skunk)| website=[[Animal Diversity Web]] }}</ref> Striped skunks inhabiting California's coastal areas will feed on crabs and beached fish.<ref name="ingles1947"/> While not adapted for chasing fleet-footed prey, at least one specimen was observed pursuing [[New England cottontail|gray cottontail]]s into their burrows.<ref name="seton1909"/> The skunk will also consume vegetable matter, such as apples, [[Vaccinium|blueberries]], [[Prunus serotina|black cherries]], [[Physalis heterophylla|ground cherries]], corn and [[nightshade]] when in season.<ref name="verts1982"/>
Striped skunks are known to use their sharp claws to tear apart rotting logs to find grubs, dig in the soil for insects, and pin down prey. Their practice of digging leaves small-but-noticeable pits in the ground, which can provide evidence of their presence in an area.<ref name=":0" />
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===Disease===
The striped skunk is one of the major carriers of the [[rabies virus]], second only to [[raccoon]]s in the US where skunks are 25% of annual cases. Skunks are the primary hosts in the north- and south-central United States as well as in Canada. Cases of rabies in this species are generally [[epizootic]] and recurrent. They are also host for the [[canine parvovirus]] and may also suffer from [[leptospirosis]].<ref>{{cite book|author1=Newman, C. |author2=Byrne, A. W. |title=Biology and Conservation of Musteloids|editor1=Macdonald, D. W. |editor2=Newman, C. |editor3=Harrington, L. A. |year=2018|contribution=Musteloid diseases: implications for conservation and species management|publisher=Oxford University Press|pages=249|isbn=978-0198759805}}</ref> A striped skunk from Texas was found to be a host of an intestinal [[acanthocephala]]n worm, ''[[Pachysentis canicola]]''.<ref name="Amin2022">{{Cite journal|last1=Amin|first1=Omar M.|last2=Chaudhary|first2=Anshu|last3=Heckmann|first3=Richard A.|last4=Swenson|first4=Julie|last5=Singh|first5=Hridaya S.|date=2022-03-01|title=Redescription and Molecular Characterization of ''Pachysentis canicola'' Meyer, 1931 (Acanthocephala: Oligacanthorhynchidae) from the Maned Wolf, ''Chrysocyon brachyurus'' (Illiger, 1815) in Texas|url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s11686-021-00458-5|journal=Acta Parasitologica|language=en|volume=67|issue=1|pages=275–287|doi=10.1007/s11686-021-00458-5|pmid=34345996|s2cid=236914933|access-date=28 December 2022|archive-date=22 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230722191043/https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11686-021-00458-5|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Relationships with humans==
===In
The striped skunk is commonly featured in the myths and oral traditions of [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]]s. Some stories try to explain its striped pattern or how it got its smell. Skunks fill various roles in legends and may be featured as heroes, villains, [[trickster]]s, or monsters. For the [[Muscogee]] people, the skunk represented family loyalty and defense of loved ones. The [[Ho-Chunk|Winnebago]] people used the skunk to symbolize vanity, being beautiful on the outside but ugly on the inside.<ref name="skunk">{{cite book|author=Miller, Alyce L.|year=2015|title=Skunk|publisher=Reaktion Books
The striped skunk was once called the "emblem of America" by [[Ernest Thompson Seton]]. It has been prevalent in modern popular culture, being the subject of various jazz and [[funk]] songs like [[Cab Calloway]]'s "Skunk Song" and the Brecker Brothers' "[[Some Skunk Funk]]". The skunk connection in these genres may be due to the term "funk" being a term for strong odor. The novelty song "[[Dead Skunk]]" by [[Loudon Wainwright III]] was popular in the early 1970s. Skunks are also popular characters in children's stories, comics and cartoons, most notably the [[Warner Bros. Cartoons|Warner Bros.]] character [[Pepé Le Pew]] and the [[Walt Disney Company|Disney]] character [[Flower
===Trapping and fur use===
The striped skunk is one of North America's most sought
[[File:Skunks fur skins.jpg|thumb|Striped skunk peltries]]▼
[[File:Striped skunk tracks.png|thumb|Tracks in the snow]]▼
▲The striped skunk is one of North America's most sought after furbearers, and was once the second most harvested after the [[muskrat]]. Its fur is intrinsically valuable, being durable and having rich luster, though this trait decreases with wear and exposure to sunlight. Skunk pelts are divided into four grades, with the most prized being the ones with a greater amount of black. These grades are further subdivided in value according to their locality, with the most valuable occurring in northern regions, where the fur is finer and darker.<ref name="lantz1923">Lantz, D. E. (1923). ''[https://archive.org/details/CAT87203967 Economic value of North American skunks]''. Washington, D.C. : U.S. Dept. of Agriculture</ref> Skunks are notable for being easy to trap, even approaching traps they had been previously caught in. Because skunks are difficult to kill without having them discharge their musk (and thus ruin their fur) they were typically dispatched with a paralyzing blow to the lower back or drowned if caught in a box trap.<ref name="seton1909"/>
Skunk farming largely began during the late 1890s, when there was much foreign demand for their skins, and intensive trapping had largely extirpated the more valuable mostly black-colored specimens. Captive breeding of skunks proved relatively simple when compared to mink and marten farming, as skunks are easier to tame and have less specialized dietary needs.<ref name="lantz1923"/> Emphasis was placed on selectively breeding the tamest and darkest colored skunks.<ref name="seton1909"/> Prior to the [[First World War]], skunk pelts were primarily shipped to Europe until better methods of deodorizing and processing the skins lead to increased interest in selling them for North American consumption.<ref name="lantz1923"/> Despite being easy to breed and manage, skunk farming was not overly profitable, as the relatively low price of the pelts did not compensate for the costs in maintaining them. Nevertheless, raising skunks was considered good practice for amateur fur farmers wishing to later move on to more valuable furbearers like martens, sable, mink and silver foxes.<ref name="seton1909"/>
<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px">
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===Taming===
{{Main article|Skunks as pets}}
The striped skunk is easily tamed and was often kept in barns to kill rats and mice during the 19th century.<ref name="lantz1923"/> [[Selective breeding]] has resulted in the emergence of various color mutations, including black, chocolate-brown or smokey gray and white, [[Apricot (color)|apricot]], albino, white, [[Lavender (color)|lavender]], [[Champagne (color)|champagne]] and [[Mahogany (color)|mahogany]].<ref name="cipriani2011">Cipriani, D. (2011) "Skunks are affectionate, intelligent pets for owners who offer the proper care
===Other uses===
[[File:Skunk being cuddled.jpg|thumb|right|A tame skunk being
The striped skunk was regularly eaten by trappers and indigenous peoples, provided the animal was not too old or had not sprayed before being killed.<ref name="seton1909"/> American zoologist [[Clinton Hart Merriam]] described skunk meat as white, tender, sweet and more delicate than [[Chicken (food)|chicken]].<ref name="merriam1886"/> The meat was prized by [[History of Chinese Americans|Chinese immigrant]]s, who also bought skunk [[gall bladder]]s for [[Traditional Chinese medicine|medicinal purposes]].<ref name="ingles1947">Ingles, L. G. (1947). ''Mammals of California''. Stanford University Press. pp. 69-76 . {{ISBN|080471195X}}</ref>
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The musk was once used as a folk remedy for [[asthma]], despite its very strong odor.<ref name="coues1877"/>
{{Clear}}
==References==
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}}
{{Carnivora|C.}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q368495}}
{{Authority control}}
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[[Category:Mammals described in 1776]]
[[Category:Fauna of the United States]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber]]
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