The western spotted skunk is a small skunk species found across western North America, including the western United States, northern Mexico, and southwestern British Columbia in Canada. It is smaller than the striped skunk, measuring 35 to 45 centimeters in total length, with males weighing 336 to 734 grams and females 227 to 482 grams. It carries three longitudinal stripes on each side of the front of its body and three vertical stripes on its hindquarters, a white spot between its eyes, white patches below each ear, and a large tail that is mostly black with a white tip. A nocturnal omnivore, it inhabits mixed woodlands, open areas, and farmlands, eating insects, scorpions, small vertebrates such as mice and small birds, roots, grains, fruit, berries, eggs, and carrion.
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) Relationship to People Living or Extinct Comparison
NatureServe Rank CITES Appendix Scientific Name Conservation Status Connections
Child Taxon Of
Source Western Spotted Skunk (Wikidata)
In Biome
Source NatureServe Explorer: Spilogale gracilis
Desert, Biomes Source NatureServe Explorer: Spilogale gracilis
Source NatureServe Explorer: Spilogale gracilis
Source NatureServe Explorer: Spilogale gracilis
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Western Spotted Skunk
2. NatureServe Explorer: Spilogale gracilis
NatureServe ExplorerGlobal rank (roundedGRank)
"roundedGRank": "GNR"
Species characteristics: habitat
"terrestrialHabitatDescEn": "Woodland - Hardwood" ... "palustrineHabitatDescEn": "Riparian"
In Biome: Chaparral, Species characteristics: Shrubland/chaparral
"terrestrialHabitatDescEn": "Shrubland/chaparral"
In Biome: Grassland, Species characteristics: Grassland/herbaceous
"terrestrialHabitatDescEn": "Grassland/herbaceous"
In Biome: Desert, Species characteristics: Desert
"terrestrialHabitatDescEn": "Desert"
In Biome: Riparian Zone, Species characteristics: Riparian
"palustrineHabitatDescEn": "Riparian"
View the Source 3. Animal Diversity Web (University of Michigan Museum of Zoology): Spilogale gracilis
Animal Diversity Web (University of Michigan Museum of Zoology)Economic Importance for Humans: Positive (kept-as-pets)Quote, Economic Importance for Humans: Positive (kept-as-pets)
People have also begun descenting skunks and keeping them as pets because they are quite friendly and can be kitty litter trained (Skunks).
4. Western Spotted Skunk (Wikidata)
Wikidata- Wikidata Q971191 (P225 taxon name)
Statements section, conservation status (P141)
IUCN Red List conservation status (Wikidata property P141): least concern.
- Child Taxon Of: Spilogale, Wikidata P171 (parent taxon) claim, rank=normal, target=Q1154492 (Spilogale)
View the Source 5. UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat): Species+: Mammalia
UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat)Species+ taxon_concepts, id 34Quote, Species+ taxon_concepts, id 34
"cites_listing":"I/II/III/NC","eu_listing":"A/B/C/D/NC","higher_taxa":{"kingdom":"Animalia","phylum":"Chordata","class":"Mammalia","order":null,"family":null},"synonyms":[],"common_names":[{"name":"Mammifères","language":"FR"},{"name":"Mammals","language":"EN"},{"name":"Mamíferos","language":"ES"},{"name":"哺乳纲","language":"ZH"}],"cites_listings":[]
UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat): Species+: Mephitidae
UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat)Species+ taxon_concepts, id 348Quote, Species+ taxon_concepts, id 348
"cites_listing":"II/NC","eu_listing":"B/NC","higher_taxa":{"kingdom":"Animalia","phylum":"Chordata","class":"Mammalia","order":"Carnivora","family":"Mephitidae"},"synonyms":[],"common_names":[{"name":"Zorrillos","language":"ES"},{"name":"Hog-Nosed Skunk","language":"EN"},{"name":"Moufette De Patagonie","language":"FR"},{"name":"臭鼬科","language":"ZH"}],"cites_listings":[]
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