Spilogale

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.