Skunk (Mephitis mephitis)

Information:

Skunks are defined by their contrasting fur. The basic color is black or dark brown, the face, trunk and tail are marked with white stripes or spots. The body is elongated and rather slender, the tail is bushy and the legs are relatively short. In particular, the front feet are equipped with long, curved claws that are suited for digging. The snout is elongated in most species, eyes and ears are relatively small. Is a characteristic feature is the pronounced anal glands that secrete a strongly-smelling secretion, which is sprayed up to 6 meters wide. It is said to mimic the smell of a mixture of garlic, sulfur, carbon and burnt rubber. Skunks get a head body length of 12 to 51 centimeters, a tail length of 7 to 41 cm and a weights from 0.2 to 4.5 kg.

Skunks are native to America, Southeast Asia and South Africa. In America, their range extends from Canada to Patagonia, Southeast Asia, they live on the islands of Sumatra, Borneo, Java and the southern Philippines (Palawan and neighboring islands). Their habitats are more open habitats such as steppes, semi-desert and scrub, but they avoid overly dense forests and wetlands.

Skunks are opportunistic omnivores, take the flesh but mostly food. They capture small mammals such as rodents and rabbits, birds, lizards, snakes and amphibians, but insects and other invertebrates. As foods they eat vegetable matter such as fruits, nuts and tubers.