Spilogale, commonly called the spotted skunks, is a genus in the skunk family Mephitidae, order Carnivora, established by Gray in 1865. Its members are relatively small, black skunks variously patterned with white stripes and blotches, with males notably larger than females and possessing considerably longer tails. As of 2025 the genus contains seven recognized species, based on recent phylogenomic studies. The genus occurs throughout most of the United States except the northeastern region, eastern coastal areas and Montana with neighboring states, reaching into Canada near Minnesota and British Columbia, and through most of Mexico and into Central America as far as El Salvador while avoiding most Caribbean coasts.
Facts
Taxonomic Rank Member Count Band Era First Appeared Classification
Living or Extinct Connections
Child Taxon Of
Source Wikipedia: Mephitidae
Parent Taxon Of
Source Spotted skunk (Wikipedia)
Source Eastern Spotted Skunk (Wikidata)
Source Spotted skunk (Wikipedia)
Source Pygmy spotted skunk (Wikipedia)
Source Southern spotted skunk (Wikipedia)
Source Global Biodiversity Information Facility: Spilogale microdens
Additional Source Paleobiology Database: Spilogale microdensTaxon record, parent genus
Source Global Biodiversity Information Facility: Spilogale rexroadi
Additional Source Paleobiology Database: Spilogale rexroadiTaxon record, parent genus
Source Western Spotted Skunk (Wikidata)
Source Spilogale yucatanensis (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ1154492, descriptionView the Source 2. Spilogale (Wikipedia)
Introduction
Spotted skunks are species of skunk belonging to the genus Spilogale.
- Taxonomic rank (structure-wave classification, ruling 761/926)
View the Source3. Catalogue of Life (ChecklistBank): Taxon metrics for Spilogale
Catalogue of Life (ChecklistBank)Taxon metrics, speciesExtantCountQuote, Taxon metrics, speciesExtantCount
"speciesExtantCount": 7
4. Paleobiology Database: Taxon record for Spilogale
Paleobiology DatabaseTaxon record, first appearance (firstapp_max_ma, early_interval)Quote, Taxon record, first appearance (firstapp_max_ma, early_interval)
"taxon_name": "Spilogale" ... "firstapp_max_ma": 4.7 ... "early_interval": "Zanclean"
Wikidata: Spilogale
Wikidata Q1154492, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source Western Spotted Skunk (Wikidata)
WikidataParent Taxon Of: Western Spotted Skunk, Wikidata P171 (parent taxon) claim, rank=normal, target=Q1154492 (Spilogale)View the Source Eastern Spotted Skunk (Wikidata)
WikidataParent Taxon Of: Eastern Spotted Skunk, Wikidata P171 (parent taxon) claim, rank=normal, target=Q1154492 (Spilogale)View the Source Southern spotted skunk (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Southern Spotted Skunk, Lead, scientific nameQuote, Parent Taxon Of: Southern Spotted Skunk, Lead, scientific name
The southern spotted skunk (Spilogale angustifrons) is a species of mammal in the skunk family, Mephitidae.
Pygmy spotted skunk (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Pygmy Spotted Skunk, Lead, scientific nameQuote, Parent Taxon Of: Pygmy Spotted Skunk, Lead, scientific name
The pygmy spotted skunk (Spilogale pygmaea) is a species of mammal in the family Mephitidae.
Spilogale yucatanensis (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Yucatan Spotted Skunk, Lead, scientific nameQuote, Parent Taxon Of: Yucatan Spotted Skunk, Lead, scientific name
Spilogale yucatanensis, the Yucatan spotted skunk, is a species of skunk native to the
Spotted skunk (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Plains Spotted Skunk, Lead, genus
Spotted skunks are species of skunk belonging to the genus Spilogale.
Parent Taxon Of: Desert Spotted Skunk, Lead, genus
Spotted skunks are species of skunk belonging to the genus Spilogale.
View the SourcePaleobiology Database: Spilogale rexroadi
Parent Taxon Of: Spilogale rexroadi, Taxon record, parent genusQuote, Parent Taxon Of: Spilogale rexroadi, Taxon record, parent genus
"parent_name": "Spilogale"
Paleobiology Database: Spilogale microdens
Parent Taxon Of: Spilogale microdens, Taxon record, parent genusQuote, Parent Taxon Of: Spilogale microdens, Taxon record, parent genus
"parent_name": "Spilogale"
Global Biodiversity Information Facility: Spilogale rexroadi
Global Biodiversity Information FacilityParent Taxon Of: Spilogale rexroadi, Species record, genusQuote, Parent Taxon Of: Spilogale rexroadi, Species record, genus
"genus": "Spilogale"
Global Biodiversity Information Facility: Spilogale microdens
Global Biodiversity Information FacilityParent Taxon Of: Spilogale microdens, Species record, genusQuote, Parent Taxon Of: Spilogale microdens, Species record, genus
"genus": "Spilogale"
Wikipedia: Mephitidae
Child Taxon Of: Mephitidae, Lead, genera, SpilogaleQuote, Child Taxon Of: Mephitidae, Lead, genera, Spilogale
Spilogale (spotted skunks, eight species)
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