Striped skunk
Strip Skunk ( Mephitis mephitis )
The strip Skunk ( Mephitis mephitis ) is a species of the same genus of the family known as " skunks " Skunks ( Mephitidae ). It is spread over large parts of North America.
Features
The strip Skunk is about cats in size with a total length of 57.5 to 80 centimeters and a tail length of 18 to 40 centimeters. The animals can weigh 1.2 to 5.3 kg, where they can lose up to 55 % of their body weight in winter. They are black in color with a distinctive marking on the back, which consists of a dividing wide white stripe that runs from the head down the spine. On the nose to the forehead a further white stripe is formed. The head is triangular with small, round ears and black eyes without eyelids. The tail is long and bushy.
Dissemination
The distribution area of Streifenskunks extends over almost the entire North American continent and includes the central and southern Canada from British Columbia, Hudson Bay, and Nova Scotia, south then almost the entire United States and northern Mexico.
System
Stinkdachse ( Mydaus )
Strip Skunk ( Mephitis mephitis )
Hood Skunk ( Mephitis macroura )
Spot Skunks ( Spilogale )
White trunk Skunks ( Conepatus )
The strip Skunk is classified as a separate species within the genus the stripes Skunks ( Mephitis ), which consists of two types. The first scientific description comes from Johann Christian Daniel Schreber from 1776 Within the species are with the nominate Mephitis mephitis total of 13 subspecies distinguished.:
- Mephitis mephitis
- Mephitis mephitis avia
- Mephitis mephitis elongata
- Mephitis mephitis estor
- Mephitis mephitis holzneri
- Mephitis mephitis hudsonica
- Mephitis mephitis major
- Mephitis mephitis mesomelas
- Mephitis mephitis nigra
- Mephitis mephitis notata
- Mephitis mephitis occidentalis
- Mephitis mephitis spissigrada
- Mephitis mephitis varians
As another kind within the Streifenskunks and thus as sister species of Streifenskunks the hood Skunk ( Mephitis macroura ) has been described. The Streifenskunks In their entirety, the sister group to the widespread also in North and Central America stain Skunks ( Spilogale ), where the ancestors of these two genera have separated about 12 million years ago. The more concentrated on South America White Skunks trunk ( Conepatus ) are compared with these. Within the Streifenkunks the radiation took place at the species known today about 3 million to 3.5 million years.
Threats and conservation
The strip Skunk is classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources ( IUCN) due to the large distribution area and the relatively frequent occurrence and the adaptability to different habitats, including anthropogenically altered habitats as not at risk ( " least concern "). The stocks have even increased in some regions.