Following modified from North American Mammals, Smithsonian Institution

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Carnivora · Mephitidae · Mephitis mephitis    Smithsonian Institution    Copyright Notice    Privacy Notice   Mephitis mephitis Striped Skunk Order: Carnivora Family: Mephitidae   QTVR Animation 519kb Mephitis mephitis - typical pattern, lower left; white tail variant, upper right Click to enlarge. (110 kb) The Striped Skunk is the most common skunk in North America, yet most of what we know about it comes from studies of captive individuals. Like all skunks, it has a superb defense system, the ability to spray a foul-smelling fluid from two glands near the base of its tail. Skunk musk is oily and difficult to remove. If sprayed in the eyes, it causes intense pain and temporary blindness. Skunk kittens can spray when they are only eight days old, long before they can aim, a skill they exhibit only after their eyes open at about 24 days. Skunks attempt to give a warning before they spray: both Hooded and Striped skunks stamp their front feet before turning around and spraying. Like all skunks, Striped Skunks are nocturnal and eat a variable diet, mostly of insects, but also including small mammals, carrion , and some vegetation. Also known as: Skunk, Big/large Skunk, Polecat Sexual Dimorphism: Males are 15% larger than females, but females have longer tails. Length: Range: 575-800 mm Weight: Range: 1,200-5,300 g References: Schreber, J.C.D., 1776.  in Schreber's Die Säugthiere in Abbildungen nach der Natur mit Beschreibungen , Wolfgang Walther, Erlangen, 7 volumes, 1774-1846; 3(17):pl. 121[1776], text, 3(26):444, 588 (index)[1777]. Links: Mammal Species of the World Click here for The American Society of Mammalogists species account Mephitis mephitis - other pattern variations: short bands, upper right; spotted bands, lower left Click to enlarge. (104kb) Click to enlarge. (147kb) Click to enlarge. (24kb)   English · Español

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CalPhotos     Photo Database   Number of matches : 25 Query: SELECT * FROM img WHERE ready=1 and taxon like "Mephitis mephitis%" and (lifeform != "specimen_tag" OR lifeform != "Animal") ORDER BY taxon Click on the thumbnail to see an enlargement Mephitis mephitis Striped Skunk ID: 8235 3181 2559 0088 [detail] Dr. Lloyd Glenn Ingles © 1999 California Academy of Sciences Mephitis mephitis Striped Skunk ID: 0000 0000 0901 0093 [detail] © 2001 Kim Cabrera Mephitis mephitis Striped Skunk ID: 8235 3181 2555 0028 [detail] Dr. Lloyd Glenn Ingles © 1999 California Academy of Sciences Mephitis mephitis Striped Skunk ID: 8235 3181 2559 0087 [detail] Dr. Lloyd Glenn Ingles © 1999 California Academy of Sciences Mephitis mephitis Striped Skunk ID: 0000 0000 0906 0299 [detail] © 2006 Kim Cabrera Mephitis mephitis Striped Skunk ID: 8235 3181 2559 0089 [detail] Dr. Lloyd Glenn Ingles © 1999 California Academy of Sciences Mephitis mephitis Striped Skunk ID: 0000 0000 0906 0297 [detail] © 2006 Kim Cabrera Mephitis mephitis Striped Skunk ID: 0000 0000 0906 0298 [detail] © 2006 Kim Cabrera UCMP specimen card ID: 2222 0904 0012 0062 [detail] © University of California Museum of Paleontology UCMP specimen card ID: 2222 0904 0015 0007 [detail] © University of California Museum of Paleontology UCMP specimen card ID: 2222 0904 0015 0008 [detail] © University of California Museum of Paleontology UCMP specimen card ID: 2222 0904 0015 0009 [detail] © University of California Museum of Paleontology UCMP specimen card ID: 2222 0904 0015 0022 [detail] © University of California Museum of Paleontology UCMP specimen card ID: 2222 0904 0024 0097 [detail] © University of California Museum of Paleontology UCMP specimen card ID: 2222 0904 0028 0008 [detail] © University of California Museum of Paleontology UCMP specimen card ID: 2222 0904 0030 0061 [detail] © University of California Museum of Paleontology UCMP specimen card ID: 2222 0904 0030 0062 [detail] © University of California Museum of Paleontology UCMP specimen card ID: 2222 0904 0030 0063 [detail] © University of California Museum of Paleontology UCMP specimen card ID: 2222 0904 0030 0065 [detail] © University of California Museum of Paleontology UCMP specimen card ID: 2222 0904 0032 0043 [detail] © University of California Museum of Paleontology UCMP specimen card ID: 2222 0904 0033 0009 [detail] © University of California Museum of Paleontology Mephitis mephitis Striped Skunk ID: 0000 0000 1005 1086 [detail] © 2005 Kim Cabrera Mephitis mephitis Striped Skunk ID: 0000 0000 1005 1087 [detail] © 2005 Kim Cabrera Mephitis mephitis Striped Skunk ID: 0000 0000 0906 0296 [detail] © 2006 Kim Cabrera Using these photos: A variety of organizations and individuals have contributed photographs to CalPhotos. Please follow the usage guidelines provided with each image. Use and copyright information, as well as other details about the photo such as the date and the location, are available by clicking on the [detail] link under the thumbnail. See also: Using the Photos in CalPhotos .    Copyright © 1995-2010 UC Regents. All rights reserved. CalPhotos is a project of BSCIT     University of California, Berkeley