:: Professor Paul's Guide to Mammals : Carnivora;Carnivores : Living mammals,family Mephitidae;skunks & stink badgers : Eastern Spotted Skunk;Spilogale putorius

Professor Paul's Guide to Mammals

Professor Paul's Guide to Birds

Professor Paul's Guide to Reptiles

Professor Paul's Guide to Amphibians

Professor Paul's Guide to Fish

Professor Paul's Guide to Insects and other hexapods

Professor Paul's Guide to Arachnids

Professor Paul's Guide to Centipedes & Millipedes

Professor Paul's Guide to Crustaceans

Professor Paul's Guide to Horseshoe Crabs and their relatives

Professor Paul's Guide to Trilobites

Professor Paul's Guide to Sea Spiders

Professor Paul's Guide to Tardigrades

Professor Paul's Guide to Dinocaridids

Professor Paul's Guide to Echinoderms

Professor Paul's Guide to Molluscs

Professor Paul's Guide to Segmented Worms

Professor Paul's Guide to Hemichordates

Professor Paul's Guide to Gnathostomulids

Professor Paul's Guide to Arrow Worms

Professor Paul's Guide to Brachiopods

Professor Paul's Guide to Entoprocts

Professor Paul's Guide to Priapulids

Professor Paul's Guide to Gastrotrichs

Professor Paul's Guide to Bryozoans

Professor Paul's Guide to Phoronids

Professor Paul's Guide to Proboscis Worms

Professor Paul's Guide to Rotifers

Professor Paul's Guide to Platyhelminthes

Professor Paul's Guide to Sipunculan Worms

Professor Paul's Guide to Anthropology

Professor Paul's Guide to Astronomy

Professor Paul's Guide to Botany

Professor Paul's Guide to Geology

Professor Paul's Guide to the Weather

Professor Paul's Guide to Cryptids

Professor Paul's Lives of the Great Naturalists

Natural Processes

Special Articles

Add to favorite

Edit this article

Delete this article

Mail this article

Printable version

Discuss this article

Home Professor Paul's Guide to Mammals Carnivora;Carnivores Living mammals,family Mephitidae;skunks & stink badgers

Eastern Spotted Skunk;Spilogale putorius

Last update: 31-12-69

Submitted by Administrator

Range and Habitat

The eastern spotted skunk ranges from southern British Columbia in Canada through the eastern half of the United States, into northeastern Mexico. They are found in most of the eastern and midwestern states in the United States, being absent from the New England states and Great lakes area. S. putorius inhabits the prairies and woodlands, and sometimes the rocky areas, of its range.

Physical Appearance

Spilogale are the smallest of all the skunk species. They are considered to be the most "weasel-like" of the three skunk genera, due to their slender body set on relatively thin legs, and their small, conical-shaped head with a short muzzle. The short, round ears set low on the sides of the head, and the small, round eyes are located relatively wide apart, and low on the face. They have five toes on each foot, and the claws on the front paws are twice the length of those on the back paws. Females have 10 mammae. They have 34 teeth in the dental formula: (I 3/3, C 1/1, P 3/3, M 1/2) X 2 = 34. Like all skunk species, this species possesses a well-developed anal scent gland that excretes a powerful, noxious fluid at its attackers. This gland contains a "nipple" that allows the skunk to direct its spray.

Spotted skunks are distinctive from other skunk species because, instead of having stripes along their backs, they have a unique pattern of spots and abbreviated stripes over their entire body. Their medium-length coat is the finest of all skunk species. They are black on the undersides and legs, with the basic pattern of six white stripes, often broken into spots near the rump, and a white spot on the forehead. No two skunks have the exact same pattern.

This species is easily distinguished from the closely related S. gracilis by their markings; the white markings on S. gracilis are thicker and bolder than on S. putorius. The tail of S. putorius has a mostly black tail with a white tip, whereas S. gracilis is mostly white with a small area of black at the base. The tail of S. gracilis is bushier than S. putorius. Also, in areas where the two species overlap, S. putorius is larger.

Male eastern spotted skunks are slightly longer than females; however males tend to be significantly heavier in weight (based on data). External measurement ranges, from Wilson 1999, are as follows: Total length (includes tail): Male 310 - 610 mm, Female 270 - 544 mm; Tail length: Male 80 - 280 mm, Female 85 - 210 mm; Weight: Male 276 - 885 g, Female 207 - 475 g. Spotted skunks from the northern parts of the range tend to be larger, on average, than those from the southern areas of their range.

Diet

Eastern spotted skunks are omnivorous. Their diet changes with the seasons, depending on the availability of food. In the spring they feed on field mice and insects; in summer they feed on mostly insects, with some fruit, birds and bird eggs; in the fall they feed predominantly on insects; and in the winter they feed on cottontail rabbits and corn. They will also catch and eat rats and other rodents in barns. Though they are mostly beneficial to agricultural areas by feeding on pest species, they can sometimes develop a taste for poultry. They have been reported to crack open an egg shell by grabbing it with their paws and tossing it backwards between their hind legs.

Reproduction and Life Cycle

The breeding season is March to April, although if a female has lost her first litter, she may come into estrus again in July to August. In rare instances, a female may have two successful litters in one year. Testosterone levels and sperm production peak in the spring, but will remain high in the presence of females in a second hear in late summer. Courtship is very short, including a chase ending with the male grabbing the female by the nape. Copulation lasts approximately one minute, and can occur 10-20 times. Gestation is estimated to be 50-65 days, and some sources cite a shortened delayed implantation period of 2 weeks. A litter of 5-6 kits are born in a den, with their ears and eyes closed. At birth, their bodies are covered with a fine hair that already has the distinctive black and white markings present. The kits' eyes open at 30-32 days, and they begin to become ambulatory and play at 36 days. They are capable of emitting musk from their anal glands at 46 days old. They are weaned at 54 days old. They are almost adult size at 3 months old, and reach sexual maturity between 10-11 months.

The eastern spotted skunk is primarily nocturnal, spending the day in a den consisting of a hollow tree, rock crevice, or even in the attics of buildings. Dens are usually lined with dried grasses. They are agile climbers, and will climb trees to escape predation. Spotted skunks are somewhat gregarious in nature, more so than the hog-nosed skunks but not as social as the striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis). Home range is about 64 ha. The population density can reach 5 animals per km² in good agricultural areas. As many as 8 individuals sometimes share a den. S. putorius does not apparently have a period of dormancy in winter.

Skunks are aposematic, meaning they possess warning markings and coloration. These warning colors are not a bluff, and most predators and other animals know this, and know to leave a skunk alone. The skunk's slow, deliberate gait emphasize this fact, as most animals will not knowingly attack a skunk. However, if the skunk receives unwanted attention from a predator or potential predator, and is not in immediate danger, they will further emphasize their potential by giving clear warning. Though all skunks have warning signals before they spray, the spotted skunk is unique in its behavior. To ward off potential attackers, first the skunk stamps with its front feet to get the attention of the attacker. It this fails, Spilogale will do a handstand facing its attacker, with its tail draped down directly above its head. This draws attention to the stark white underside of the tail, advertising its anal glands. If the warnings fail, the skunk will spray a noxious liquid from its anal glands at the attacker, which can reach a distance of up to 4 m. Skunk spray is a yellowish colored liquid that contains butyl mercaptan. Mercaptan, also known as thiol, is an organic compound containing sulfur, which gives skunk spray its unique and powerful odor. Skunks will not spray near their den site or other skunks when they fight.

Threats

This species is relatively common throughout its range. However, they are secretive, and rarely found out in the open, so exact numbers are unknown. They are listed in Category II by US-FWS (needs more information to evaluate status). This small skunk species has several natural predators, including owls, foxes, coyotes, bobcats, and domesticated dogs and cats. They used to be hunted for their fur, but trade has ceased in skunk fur for the most part. Many skunks are killed on the roadways and highways.

Skunks are one of the primary vectors for rabies in North America; however, only an infected animal can transmit rabies. Skunks are also prone to infection from the nematode worm Skrjabingylus chitwoodorum. This worm causes deformities and lesions in the sinus area of the skull, and as many as 50-100% of all spotted and striped skunks may be affected, depending on area (Whitaker, 1998). They are also affected by other internal and external parasites, such as the intestinal parasites Acanthocephala (thorn-headed worm), tapeworms, and the coccidian parasite Isospora. Skunks are also prone to canine distemper virus and leptospirosis infection.

Spotted skunks are beneficial to agriculture because they feed on pests like rodents and grasshoppers, which can destroy crops. Likewise, they are rarely hunted, although they may be killed for being a pest animal that feeds on turkey eggs.

S. p. ambarvalis -- peninsular Florida
S. p. interrupta -- from the Canadian border in Minnesota south through central North Dakota, eastern Wyoming, eastern Colorado, western Oklahoma, northwestern Texas into northeastern Mexico; eastward to the Mississippi River and Wisconsin.
S. p. putorius -- southeastern United States from Alabama, Mississippi and northern Florida; north into western-central Georgia, South Carolina, through the Appalachian Mountains and into southern-central Pennsylvania.

Related Article(s):

Pygmy Spotted Skunk;Spilogale pygmaea 12/31/69
Palawan Stink Badger;Mydaus marchei 12/31/69
Indonesian Stink Badger; Mydaus javanensis 12/31/69
Striped Skunk; Mephitis mephitis 12/31/69
Hooded Skunk; Mephitis macroura 12/31/69
Amazonian Hog Nosed Skunk;Conepatus semistriatus 12/31/69
Common Hog Nosed Skunk;Conepatus mesoleucus 12/31/69

Designed and Programmed by Kenny Ngo.