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Taxa

Mephitidae

Mammal Families

Mephitidae is a family of mammals in the order Carnivora comprising the skunks and stink badgers. Its members are noted for the great development of their anal scent glands, which they use to deter predators. The family contains sixteen extant species across four genera. The two stink badgers of the genus Mydaus live in Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines, while the rest of the family ranges through the Americas from Canada to central South America.

Facts
Taxonomic Rank
Family 2
Member Count Band
10 to 100 Species 3
Era First Appeared
Neogene 4
Classification
Living or Extinct
Yes 1
Connections

Parent Taxon Of

Brachyopsigale dubius, Species
Source Brachyopsigale dubius (Paleobiology Database)
Brachyprotoma obtusata, Species
Source Brachyprotoma (Wikipedia)
Buisnictis breviramus, Species
Source Buisnictis (Wikipedia)
Buisnictis burrowsi, Species
Source Buisnictis (Wikipedia)
Buisnictis metabatos, Species
Source Buisnictis (Wikipedia)
Buisnictis schoffi, Species
Source Buisnictis (Wikipedia)
Conepatus, Taxa
Source Wikipedia: Mephitidae
Hooded Skunk, Species
Source Hooded Skunk (Wikidata)
Martinogale alveodens, Species
Source Martinogale (Wikipedia)
Martinogale chisoensis, Species
Source Martinogale (Wikipedia)
Martinogale faulli, Species
Source Martinogale (Wikipedia)
Martinogale nambiana, Species
Source Paleobiology Database: Martinogale nambiana
Mephitis, Taxa
Source Wikipedia: Mephitidae
Miomephitis pilgrimi, Species
Source Miomephitis pilgrimi (Paleobiology Database)
Mydaus, Taxa
Source Wikipedia: Mephitidae
Osmotherium spelaeum, Species
Source Osmotherium (Wikipedia)
Palaeomephitis steinheimensis, Species
Source Palaeomephitis (Wikipedia)
Pliogale furlongi, Species
Source Paleobiology Database: Pliogale furlongi
Pliogale manka, Species
Source Pliogale manka (Paleobiology Database)
Promephitis alexejewi, Species
Source Promephitis (Wikipedia)
Promephitis brevirostris, Species
Source Promephitis (Wikipedia)
Promephitis hootoni, Species
Source Promephitis (Wikipedia)
Promephitis larteti, Species
Source Promephitis (Wikipedia)
Promephitis maeotica, Species
Source Promephitis (Wikipedia)
Promephitis majori, Species
Source Promephitis (Wikipedia)
Promephitis malustenensis, Species
Source Promephitis (Wikipedia)
Promephitis maxima, Species
Source Promephitis (Wikipedia)
Promephitis parvus, Species
Source Promephitis (Wikipedia)
Promephitis pristinidens, Species
Source Promephitis (Wikipedia)
Promephitis qinensis, Species
Source Promephitis (Wikipedia)
Spilogale, Taxa
Source Wikipedia: Mephitidae
In the Other Atlases

Found In

Brunei

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Canada

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Indonesia

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Malaysia

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Philippines

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

South America

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Sources
1. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ83244, descriptionView the Source
2. Wikipedia: Mephitidae
  • Taxonomic rank (Wikipedia confirms the entity; rank from slug/structure-wave classification)
  • Parent Taxon Of: Conepatus, Lead, genera
    Conepatus (hog-nosed skunks, four species)
  • Parent Taxon Of: Mephitis, Lead, genera, Mephitis
    Mephitis (the hooded and striped skunks, two species)
  • Parent Taxon Of: Mydaus, Lead, genera, Mydaus
    Mydaus (stink badgers, two species)
  • Parent Taxon Of: Spilogale, Lead, genera, Spilogale
    Spilogale (spotted skunks, eight species)
View the Source
3. Catalogue of Life (ChecklistBank): Taxon metrics for Mephitidae
Catalogue of Life (ChecklistBank)Taxon metrics, speciesExtantCount
Quote, Taxon metrics, speciesExtantCount
"speciesExtantCount": 14
View the Source
4. Paleobiology Database: Taxon record for Mephitidae
Paleobiology DatabaseTaxon record, first appearance (firstapp_max_ma, early_interval)
Quote, Taxon record, first appearance (firstapp_max_ma, early_interval)
"taxon_name": "Mephitidae" ... "firstapp_max_ma": 20 ... "early_interval": "Burdigalian"
View the Source
Wikidata: Mephitidae
Wikidata Q83244, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source
Hooded Skunk (Wikidata)
WikidataParent Taxon Of: Hooded Skunk, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the Source
Brachyprotoma (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Brachyprotoma obtusata, Etymology and Phylogeny
Quote, Parent Taxon Of: Brachyprotoma obtusata, Etymology and Phylogeny
relationships of Brachyprotoma within Mephitidae remain controversial
View the Source
Osmotherium (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Osmotherium spelaeum, Lead, kind of animal
Quote, Parent Taxon Of: Osmotherium spelaeum, Lead, kind of animal
is an extinct genus of skunk from Pleistocene North America
View the Source
Palaeomephitis (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Palaeomephitis steinheimensis, Lead, kind of animal
Quote, Parent Taxon Of: Palaeomephitis steinheimensis, Lead, kind of animal
possibly a mephitid (skunk), from the Miocene epoch of Europe
View the Source
Martinogale (Wikipedia)
  • Parent Taxon Of: Martinogale alveodens, Lead, kind of animal
    Martinogale is an extinct genus of skunk from the Late Miocene of central North America
  • Parent Taxon Of: Martinogale chisoensis, Lead, kind of animal
    Martinogale is an extinct genus of skunk from the Late Miocene of central North America
  • Parent Taxon Of: Martinogale faulli, Lead, kind of animal
    Martinogale is an extinct genus of skunk from the Late Miocene of central North America
View the Source
Promephitis (Wikipedia)
  • Parent Taxon Of: Promephitis larteti, Lead, kind of animal
    Promephitis is an extinct genus of mephitid
  • Parent Taxon Of: Promephitis maeotica, Lead, family
    Promephitis is an extinct genus of mephitid
  • Parent Taxon Of: Promephitis alexejewi, Lead, family
    Promephitis is an extinct genus of mephitid
  • Parent Taxon Of: Promephitis malustenensis, Lead, family
    Promephitis is an extinct genus of mephitid
  • Parent Taxon Of: Promephitis majori, Lead, family
    Promephitis is an extinct genus of mephitid
  • Parent Taxon Of: Promephitis hootoni, Lead, family
    Promephitis is an extinct genus of mephitid
  • Parent Taxon Of: Promephitis pristinidens, Lead, family
    Promephitis is an extinct genus of mephitid
  • Parent Taxon Of: Promephitis brevirostris, Lead, family
    Promephitis is an extinct genus of mephitid
  • Parent Taxon Of: Promephitis maxima, Lead, family
    Promephitis is an extinct genus of mephitid
  • Parent Taxon Of: Promephitis qinensis, Lead, family
    Promephitis is an extinct genus of mephitid
  • Parent Taxon Of: Promephitis parvus, Lead, family
    Promephitis is an extinct genus of mephitid
View the Source
Buisnictis (Wikipedia)
  • Parent Taxon Of: Buisnictis breviramus, Lead, family
    Buisnictis is an extinct genus of skunk
  • Parent Taxon Of: Buisnictis schoffi, Lead, family
    Buisnictis is an extinct genus of skunk
  • Parent Taxon Of: Buisnictis burrowsi, Lead, family
    Buisnictis is an extinct genus of skunk
  • Parent Taxon Of: Buisnictis metabatos, Lead, family
    Buisnictis is an extinct genus of skunk
View the Source
Brachyopsigale dubius (Paleobiology Database)
Parent Taxon Of: Brachyopsigale dubius, Classification, family
Quote, Parent Taxon Of: Brachyopsigale dubius, Classification, family
"family": "Mephitidae"
View the Source
Miomephitis pilgrimi (Paleobiology Database)
Parent Taxon Of: Miomephitis pilgrimi, Classification, family
Quote, Parent Taxon Of: Miomephitis pilgrimi, Classification, family
"family": "Mephitidae"
View the Source
Pliogale manka (Paleobiology Database)
Parent Taxon Of: Pliogale manka, Classification, family
Quote, Parent Taxon Of: Pliogale manka, Classification, family
"family": "Mephitidae"
View the Source
Paleobiology Database: Pliogale furlongi
Parent Taxon Of: Pliogale furlongi, Taxon record, classification, family
Quote, Parent Taxon Of: Pliogale furlongi, Taxon record, classification, family
"family": "Mephitidae"
View the Source
Paleobiology Database: Martinogale nambiana
Paleobiology DatabaseParent Taxon Of: Martinogale nambiana, Taxon record, classification, family
Quote, Parent Taxon Of: Martinogale nambiana, Taxon record, classification, family
"family": "Mephitidae"
View the Source
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