Perception Channels: tactile ; chemical
These animals mainly fend off predators by temporarily blinding their attacker with powerfully scented musk from their anal glands. Many animals learn to stay away from the black and white warning colors of the skunk's fur. (Kruska, 1990)
Known Predators:
The Eastern hog-nosed skunk is the largest of all skunks in North America. The skunk looks similar to its close relative, the Western hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus leuconotus), with a few exceptions. Conepatus leuconotus is about 25% larger than C. leuconotus. The dorsal white stripe is much narrower or even absent near the end of the top of the tail of C. leuconotus. On the underside of the tail, C. leuconotus is mostly black with a white tip, while the tail of C. leuconotus is mostly white.
In general, Conepatus has the coarsest fur of all skunks. The body is predominantly black with only a single white stripe on the back and tail. Unlike other skunks, hog-nosed skunks do not have a white dot or bar near the eyes. Also unique to hog-nosed skunks is the nose, which resembles that of a little pig in that it is wide, long and protruding, and naked.
Conepatus leuconotus has a larger body and shorter tail than other skunks. Total body length is generally 70 to 80 cm, and tail length is about 20 to 41 cm. The animal usually weighs between 2 and 4.5 kg. The females have three pairs of mammae. The dental formula is the same as C. leuconotus, (I 3/3, C 1/1, P 2/3, M 1/2 =32). As in other skunks, this skunk has an anal scent gland. (Lichtenstein, online; Dragoo & Honeycutt, 1999; Gray, 1837)
Range mass: 2 to 4.5 kg.
Range length: 70 to 80 cm.
Other Physical Features: endothermic ; homoiothermic; bilateral symmetry
In captivity the animal has been known to live seven to eight years. (Lichtenstein, online; Kruska, 1990)
Average lifespan
Status: captivity: 7-8 years.
This skunk has been found in a wide range of habitats including forests, grasslands, mountainsides, coastal plains, tropical areas, cacti and thorny brush areas, and even cornfields. The animal lives in a den located in a hollow log, among rocks, or in a burrow made by another animal. (Dragoo & Honeycutt, 1999; Gray, 1837)
Range elevation: 0 to 4100 m.
Habitat Regions: temperate
Terrestrial Biomes: desert or dune ; forest ; scrub forest
The Eastern hog-nosed skunk is found only in the southeastern part of Texas and eastern Mexico. (Dragoo & Honeycutt, 1999)
This skunk eats primarily insects. It pounces on bugs on the surface or it may dig for larvae and beetles with its claws. If insects are not plentiful, these skunks are able find and eat fruits and small vertebrates. (Dragoo & Honeycutt, 1999)
Animal Foods: birds; mammals; amphibians; eggs; insects; terrestrial non-insect arthropods
Plant Foods: seeds, grains, and nuts; fruit
Primary Diet: carnivore (Insectivore )
The skunks overturn earth while digging for food and mix up the soil. Also, since they eat a lot of insects, especially harmful crop-eating insects, they help keep insect levels low. (Dragoo & Honeycutt, 1999)
Ecosystem Impact: soil aeration
The skunk eats crop-eating bugs to save agricultural products. Hog-nosed skunks try to avoid human contact so there is less a threat of being sprayed. Although their fur is coarse, some animals are trapped for fur in Texas. Also, the skunks turn up lots of new earth. (Gray, 1837; Dragoo & Honeycutt, 1999)
Positive Impacts: controls pest population
These skunks carry rabies that can be transmitted to humans or their pets. Also, if a human does get sprayed, the smell can be a lingering nuisance. (Aranda & Lopez-de Buen, 1999)
Negative Impacts: causes or carries domestic animal disease
This species is being watched by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. There is talk of putting this skunk on the endangered species list. (Dragoo & Honeycutt, 1999)
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
The animal has not been sighted since 1966. Much of the behavioral information on these skunks has been taken from assumptions of close relatedness to C. leuconotus.
Conepatus leuconotus is so closely related to C. leuconotus that it is believed by some researchers that the two species are actually the same. Their geographic isolation is one of the main reasons they are considered to be separate species. (Dragoo & Honeycutt, 1999)
The animals are known to be rather solitary and may only come together during the mating season. (Dragoo & Honeycutt, 1999)
Mating System: polygynandrous (promiscuous)
The breeding season is in February and March. The gestation period is about two months long and between two and four kits are born. After about two months the young are weaned and leave the den. Sexual maturity is reached in about ten months to one year. (Kruska, 1990; Dragoo & Honeycutt, 1999)
Breeding season: February and March
Range number of offspring: 2 to 4.
Average gestation period: 2 months.
Average weaning age: 2 months.
Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 10 to 12 months.
Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 10 to 12 months.
Key Reproductive Features: gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; viviparous
The mother has her young in her den so that they are sheltered and protected. The young are altricial at birth but can crawl and emit a few drops of musk from the anal gland before their eyes open. (Lichtenstein, online)
Parental Investment: altricial
The American hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus leuconotus) is a species of hog-nosed skunk from Central and North America, and is one of the largest skunks in the world, growing to lengths of up to 2.7 feet (82 cm).[2] Recent work has concluded the western hog-nosed skunk (formerly Conepatus mesoleucus) is the same species, and Conepatus leuconotus is the correct name of the merged populations.[3]
In Texas, it is commonly known as the rooter skunk for its habit of rooting and overturning rocks and debris in search of food.
The distinguishing feature of the American hog-nosed skunk is it has a single, broad white stripe from the top of the head to the base of the tail, with the tail itself being completely white. It is the only skunk that lacks a white dot or medial bar between the eyes and has primarily black body fur. The snout of C. leuconotus is relatively long, with a naked nose pad, and resembles the nose of a small hog. The nose pad (20 mm wide by 25 mm long) is about three times wider than that of Mephitis mephitis. The ears are small and rounded, and the eyes are relatively small. The fur is short and coarse.
The American hog-nosed skunk has stocky legs and plantigrade feet (the entire sole of the foot touches the ground). Its hind feet are broad and large with soles that are naked for about one-half their length. Its upper body is powerfully built, and the fore claws are very long. Length can range from 44.4–93.4 cm (17.5–36.8 in) and weight is typically 1,130–4,500 g (2.49–9.92 lb).[4] The striped skunk can broadly overlap in size with this species, but in comparison the striped, has a shorter head-and-body length and a longer tail than the hog-nosed skunk.[5] Males of this species average about 10% larger than females.
The American hog-nosed skunk is adapted for digging, and resembles badgers rather than other species of skunks in this respect. The rectangular-shaped scapula, strong forearms, and shape of the humeri of C. leuconotus resemble those of badgers. The nostrils are located ventrally and open downward. Their sense of smell is acute, and the nose is used in locating and capturing buried prey. This skunk species also is a capable climber, although not as agile as the spotted skunks of the genus Spilogale.[6]
C. leuconotus breeds from late February through early March; most adult females are pregnant by the end of March. Typically, gestation lasts about 60 days. Birth occurs in April and May. Half-grown young have been observed in late July and mid-August, and by late August young begin to disperse. The litter size is one to five young, although two to four are most common.[6]
This species occurs in canyons, stream sides, and rocky terrain. It has been collected in a variety of habitats in Mexico, including open desert-scrub and mesquite-grasslands, tropical areas, mountains, coastal plains, cornfields surrounded by brushland or adjacent to grassy plains and thickets of bull-horn acacia, thorn woodland, and riparian forests, characterized by live-oaks, pecans, sycamores, and Texas persimmons and an understory of briars, grasses, and weeds. It also has been found in pine–oak forest and in scrub and cacti. In Kleberg County, Texas, C. leuconotus occurs in mesquite-brushland, pastures, and native grassland, used exclusively for cattle ranching. Thorny brush and cactus are the predominant vegetation in the region of southern Texas where this species occurs.[6]
It is omnivorous, feeding primarily on insects and vegetation, though it will take small mammals and reptiles when available. While sometimes considered a pest by crop farmers due to their rooting habits, this is largely misplaced, as it generally prefers insects to agricultural plants. Like all skunk species, it possesses powerful anal glands used to deter would-be attackers.
Three subspecies are currently recognized,[6] although one may be extinct:
Although not threatened through most of its range, one subspecies, the Big Thicket hog-nosed skunk (C. l. telmalestes) of Oklahoma and southeastern Texas, is now considered extinct by the IUCN.
Globally, this species is of low concern for conservation efforts, but at the local level, it is considered threatened in some states. In Colorado, for instance, it was ranked as "critically imperiled because of extreme rarity (five or fewer records of occurrence in the state or less than 1,000 individuals)" as of 2006. In New Mexico and Oklahoma, it was ranked as "Imperiled because of rarity (six to 20 occurrences or less than 3,000 individuals)", also as of 2006. The situation is far different in Texas and Arizona, though; the populations are high enough for the species to be legally harvested throughout the year and is designated as a "fur bearer" by the United States Forest Service.[7]
The American hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus leuconotus) is a species of hog-nosed skunk from Central and North America, and is one of the largest skunks in the world, growing to lengths of up to 2.7 feet (82 cm). Recent work has concluded the western hog-nosed skunk (formerly Conepatus mesoleucus) is the same species, and Conepatus leuconotus is the correct name of the merged populations.
In Texas, it is commonly known as the rooter skunk for its habit of rooting and overturning rocks and debris in search of food.
La Moufette à nez de porc (Conepatus leuconotus leuconotus) est un carnivore de la famille des Mephitidae, sous-espèce de Conepatus leuconotus.
Elle était autrefois considérée comme une espèce à part, Conepatus mesoleucus.
Conepatus mesoleucus é um mamífero carnívoro da família Mephitidae parente próximo dos zorrilhos, jaratatacas e cangambás e, assim como estes, conhecido pelo seu cheiro vindo de um líquido que ele secreta por glândulas anais encontradas em todos os membros da família. O odor forte serve para proteção contra predadores e o animal só irá utilizá-lo caso se sinta ameaçado.[1]
Esse animal vive na América do Norte, desde o sul dos Estados Unidos passando pelo México até a Nicaragua. Possui 55-60 centímetros de comprimento e pelo preto e branco, sua dieta é onívora e constitui de invertebrados, plantas e pequenos répteis.
Conepatus mesoleucus é um mamífero carnívoro da família Mephitidae parente próximo dos zorrilhos, jaratatacas e cangambás e, assim como estes, conhecido pelo seu cheiro vindo de um líquido que ele secreta por glândulas anais encontradas em todos os membros da família. O odor forte serve para proteção contra predadores e o animal só irá utilizá-lo caso se sinta ameaçado.
Esse animal vive na América do Norte, desde o sul dos Estados Unidos passando pelo México até a Nicaragua. Possui 55-60 centímetros de comprimento e pelo preto e branco, sua dieta é onívora e constitui de invertebrados, plantas e pequenos répteis.
