| Hooded skunk | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Mephitidae |
| Genus: | Mephitis |
| Species: | M. macroura |
| Binomial name | |
| Mephitis macroura Lichtenstein, 1832 | |
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| Hooded skunk range | |
Thehooded skunk (Mephitis macroura) is a species ofmammal in the familyMephitidae.Mephītis in Latin means "foul odor", μακρός (makrós) in Greek translates to "long" and οὐρά (ourá) translates to "tail".
It can be distinguished from the similarstriped skunk (M. mephitis) by its longer tail and longer, much softer coat of fur, and larger tympanic bullae.[2] A ruff of white fur around its neck gives the animal its common name. Three color phases are known and in all three, a thin white medial stripe is present between the eyes: black-backed with two lateral white stripes, white-backed with one dorsal white stripe, or entirely black with a few white hairs in the tail.[3][4]
The hooded skunk ranges from theSouthwestern United States toMexico,Guatemala,Honduras,Nicaragua, and northwestCosta Rica.[1] It is more abundant inMexico. These skunks are found to be more than 50% smaller in southern Mexico than in the Southwestern United States.[5] It is found ingrasslands,deserts, and in the foothills ofmountains, avoiding high elevations. It tends to live near a water source, such as a river. The females tend to be 15% smaller than the males[6] and their breeding season is between February and March.[4] The litter size ranges from three to eight.[7]
The diet of the hooded skunk consists mostly of vegetation, especially prickly pear (Opuntia spp.), but it will readily consumeinsects, smallvertebrates, fruit, bird eggs, and human garbage as well.[4][8] Hooded skunks in Costa Rica utilize their forelimbs to throw bird eggs between their hindlegs, in order to break the eggs open.[8] In the wild, their stomach contents include 74.3% insects, with 50% of their diet consisting ofearwigs,stink bugs, andbeetles. Vertebrate tissues made up 12% of the diet, and only about 1% of the diet consisted of plant material.[8] No cases of rabies are reported,[9][10] but they host a range of parasites, including nematodes, roundworms, and fleas.[4]
Hooded skunks are solitary, but they might interact at a feeding ground without showing any signs of aggression.[11] They shelter in a burrow or a nest of thick plant cover during the day and are active at night. LikeM. mephitis, for self-defense, they spray volatile components from theiranal glands.[12] Seven major components comprised 99% of the volatiles in this secretion: (E)-2-butene-1-thiol, 3-methyl-1-butanethiol,S-(E)-2-butenyl thioacetate,S-3-methylbutenyl thioacetate, s2-phenylethanethiol, 2-methylquinoline, and 2-quinolinemethanethiol[13]
Hooded skunks are currently not endangered. They are very abundant in Mexico and can live in human suburban areas mostly on pastures and cultivated fields.[14] Their fur has low economic value.[7] However, their fat[12] andscent glands[11] can be used in local folk medicine. In some parts of their range, their flesh is considered a delicacy.[15] Other common names for the hooded skunk include:mofeta rayada (Spanish),moufette à capuchon (French), pay (Maya), southern skunk, white-sided skunk, andzorillo.[16]
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