Molina's hog-nosed skunk

Andean Skunk ( Conepatus chinga )

The Andean Skunk ( Conepatus chinga ) is one of four species of the White Skunks trunk within the Skunks known as " skunks ". It is common in parts of South America from Peru to Argentina.

Features

The Andean Skunk reached a total length of about 46-90 inches, females are slightly smaller than males usually. The weight is about 2.3 to 4.5 kilograms.

The coat of the Andean skunks is black with two white stripes that run from the neck to the largely white tail. A white face drawing is missing.

Dissemination

The Andean Skunk is spread over the central to southern South America. The range extends from the Andes in southern Peru through Bolivia and western Paraguay and Uruguay, Chile and Argentina, where it is found up to the province of Neuquén. In addition, the nature of the region around São Paulo, Paraná and Santa Catarina in southern Brazil has been demonstrated.

This skunk prefers open steppe areas and gravel plains in dry ( arid ) areas and through bushes embossed regions.

System

Stinkdachse ( Mydaus )

Streifenskunks ( Mephitis )

Spot Skunks ( Spilogale )

Andean Skunk ( Conepatus chinga )

Piglets Skunk ( Conepatus leuconotus )

Patagonian Skunk ( Conepatus humboldtii )

Amazon Skunk ( Conepatus semistriatus )

The Andean Skunk is classified as a separate species within the genus of the White Skunks trunk ( Conepatus ), which consists of four types. The first scientific description comes from Juan Ignacio Molina from 1782 on the basis of an individual from the area of Valparaíso. Within the species are with the nominate Conepatus chinga chinga chinga and Conepatus Budini, Conepatus chinga gibsoni, Conepatus inca chinga, chinga Conepatus mendosus, Conepatus chinga chinga rex and Conepatus suffocans seven subspecies distinguished. Conepatus chinga rex was doing at times considered as synonymous to Conepatus chinga chinga.

Inside the White Skunks trunk, the Andean Skunk, the sister species of piglets Skunks ( Conepatus leuconotus ) that these two are the remaining species Patagonian Skunk ( Conepatus humboldtii ) and Amazon Skunk ( Conepatus semistriatus ) are compared as a common taxon. In their entirety, the White Elephant trunk Skunks are the sister group to spread in North and Central America genera of Streifenskunks ( Mephitis ) and stain Skunks ( Spilogale ) represents the radiation of species within the trunk White Skunks took place in front of about 11.2 million years ago. This was a migration to the South American continent long before the formation of the Central American land bridge about 3 million years ago.

Threats and conservation

The Andean Skunk is classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN ) due to the relatively large area of ​​distribution and the expected stable stocks and comparatively little altered habitats as not at risk ( " least concern "). Both the decrease of the animals by hunting or by habitat loss is currently constitute such a strong risk that a classification is needed in a risk category.

Threats to the species arise mainly from the strong hunting, especially for the production of skunk fur. This reached its peak in the 1970s and 1980s in Argentina. There is also a partially strong degradation especially the extensively usable steppes of Patagonia by overgrazing and soil erosion.

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