Mephitis macroura, Lichtenstein, 1832
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.5684751 |
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DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5700797 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03CC87EC-9122-FB50-FF56-F9E7F5DBDE43 |
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treatment provided by |
Conny |
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scientific name |
Mephitis macroura |
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Hooded Skunk
French: Moufette a capuchon / German: Haubenskunk / Spanish: Mofeta encapuchada
Taxonomy. Mephitis macroura Lichtenstein, 1832 View in CoL ,
Gebirgs-Gegenden nord-westlich von der Stadt Mexico ” ( Mexico, mountains north-west of Mexico City).
Four subspecies are recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution.
M. m. macroura Lichtenstein, 1832 — C & W Mexico (Nayarit E to Tamaulipas) and S to Honduras, but not including the Yucatan Peninsula.
M. m. eximius Hall & Dalquest, 1950 — E Mexico (S Veracruz).
M. m. milleri Mearns, 1897 — N Mexico (Sonora and Sinaloa to Coahuila N) to S USA (S Arizona, New Mexico & Texas).
M. m. richardsoni Goodwin, 1957 — Nicaragua and Costa Rica. View Figure
Descriptive notes. Head—body averages about 31 cm (males) and 28 cm (females), tail 27-43 cm; weight averages 957 g (males) 882 g (females). Individuals achieve their greatest weight by late summer. Hooded Skunks in the more southern part of their range are smaller than animals in the northern part of the range. Hooded Skunks have three typical color patterns, but there is considerable variation. These patterns are: two thin stripes running down the side of the body from the shoulder to midabdomen; a single band running down the back from the forehead to the tail (this single white stripe is interspersed with black hair giving a gray appearance), and a combination of both. These skunks also have a white bar between the eyes. The skull is similar to that of the Striped Skunk, but the auditory bullae are larger. Hooded Skunk can be differentiated externally from Striped Skunk by the long hairs on the back of the neck and head,its relatively longer tail, and larger ears. The anal secretions of the Hooded Skunk have seven major components, which comprise 99% of the volatiles. These components are (E)-2-butene-1-thiol, 3-methyl-1-butanethiol, S-(E)-2-butenyl thioacetate, S-3-methylbutenyl thioacetate, 2-phenylethanethiol, 2-methylquinoline, and 2-quinolinemethanethiol. There are several minor components as well, including phenylmethanethiol, S-phenylmethyl thioacetate, S-2-phenylethyl thioacetate, bis[(E)-2-butenyl] disulfide, (E)-2-butenyl 3-methylbutyl disulfide, bis(3-methylbutyl) disulfide, and S-2-quinolinemethyl thioacetate. The Hooded Skunk’s secretion contains four compounds not reported from the Striped Skunk: phenylmethanethiol, Sphenylmethyl thioacetate, 2-phenylethanethiol, and S-2-phenylethyl thioacetate.
Habitat. This skunk occurs in a wide variety of temperate and tropical habitats. It is most common in arid lowlands, but also occurs in deciduous or ponderosa forest, forest edges, pastures, rocky canyons, and riparian habitats. Hooded Skunks use similar habitats to Striped Skunks, but are found more often in scrub and urban habitats. Hooded Skunks occur from sea level to 3110 m, in low elevation desert areas (below 2500 m), in rocky canyons, or in heavily vegetated streamsides and valleys, often in association with mesquite, pine—oak, and other shrubs and grasses. Hooded Skunks appearto prefer intermediate elevationsin rockyslopes,at the bases ofcliffs, or on the rocky sides of arroyos, but are also encountered in heavy growth of weeds and shrubs in riparian areas. Dense, brushy cover of stream sides may be important for this species. Hooded Skunks den in holes dug in the ground, rock crevices, and holes in logs. They have even been observed denning more than 1 m above ground in trees, but they are more likely to den on rocky hillsides. They prefer woodland habitats more than do Striped Skunks. In agricultural areas Hooded Skunks den along fencerows, beneath irrigation canals, and in heavily vegetated areas along streams. Hooded Skunks are less likely than Striped Skunks to den around human dwellings. However, radio-collared individuals were frequently located under buildings and sheds and in culverts.
Food and Feeding. The diet of this species consists primarily of insects (including beetles and grasshoppers), fruits, small vertebrates, and birds’ eggs. Hooded Skunks break chicken eggs by throwing them between their back legs rather than biting them. Vertebrates are taken opportunistically. When foraging, Hooded Skunk moves slowly, snuffling among leaves and pouncing on grasshoppers and beetles.
Activity patterns. Hooded Skunks remain active all year and have been trapped in the winter. The anal glands are used in self defense. One animal was observed spraying nine times in eleven seconds and again three more times 90 minutes later. The defensive behavior of Hooded Skunk is similar to that of Striped Skunk. Hooded Skunks are active after dusk and travel along rock walls, streambeds, and in weedy fields. They tend to be solitary except when females are raising young, although several may dine together at a feeding station. Females normally do not den together during the winter months.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. Home ranges of Hooded Skunks can occupy from 2:8-5-0 km? Densities of 1:3-3-9 up to 25 Hooded Skunks/km?* have been reported. Females, when not nursing, tend to stay at a den site longer than males before moving to a different den within the home range. Males will move greater distances from one densite to the next compared to females. The skunks’ home ranges are smaller in urban areas. Urban skunks share mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplotypes with non-urban skunks, which suggests that gene flow occurs between urban and non-urban skunk populations. Genetic data suggest that Hooded Skunks in urban areas represent newer, expanding populations (lower genetic diversity) compared to urban Striped Skunks, which have higher genetic diversity and more stable populations. They are more common in urbanized areas than previously thought, and in some places are more numerous than Striped Skunks. Their numbers are often underreported because it can be difficult to distinguish the two species.
Skunks can actually be beneficial because they eat insect pests and rodents.
Breeding. The reproductive biology of the Hooded Skunk is poorly known. Breeding likely takes place from mid-February to the end of March. Males have a baculum, and females have two pairs of inguinal, one pair of abdominal, and two pairs of pectoral mammae. Litter size ranges from 3-8. Females may nurse young through August.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern in The IUCN Red List. Little is known about the status of this species, but they may not be uncommon in some parts of their range in the SW USA. However, in Texas, there is concern about population levels and that the species may no longer occur in that state. In Mexico, they are very abundant and survive in human-altered habitats such as cultivated fields, pastures, and suburban areas. There is a need for more research on Hooded Skunks. During a four year study period in Arizona, survival rates of adult skunks were low (24-56%). Predation accounted for most of the mortality, but disease and parasites were contributing factors. Great horned owls (Bubo virginianus), mountain lions, bobcats, jaguars, and coyotes may kill Hooded Skunks. Captive Hooded Skunks have lived for at least eight years. Historically, the pelt has not been considered to be of great value,so this skunk has not been hunted to the extent that other species have. Its fur is very long, light, and of low economic value. The flesh has been used for food in some areas, and the fat and scent glands have been used for medicinal purposes. Roundworms (Physaloptera maxillaries), fleas ( Pulicidae ), and the nematode Skrjabingylus chitwoodorum occur in Hooded Skunks in Trans Pecos, Texas. A new species of Skrjabingylus (S. santaceciliae) was recently described in this skunk species. Rabies rarely is reported in Hooded Skunks; however, a case of rabies in this species has been documented. There is no reason to suspect that they do not contract the virus; more likely they go unnoticed or are misidentified as Striped Skunks. Hooded Skunks also are susceptible to feline distemper. Hooded Skunks have been found with numerous fleas,ticks, lice, and mites.
Bibliography. Aranda & Lopez-de Buen (1999), Armstrong et al. (1972), Bailey (1931), Baker (1956), Carreno et al. (2005), Ceballos & Miranda (1986), Dalquest (1953), Davis (1944), Davis & Lukens (1958), Davis & Russell (1954), Dragoo et al. (2004), Findley et al. (1975), Goodwin (1957), Hall & Dalquest (1950), Hass (2002a, 2003), Hass & Dragoo (2006), Hoffmeister (1986), Hubbard (1972), Janzen & Hallwachs (1982), Lichtenstein (1827-1834), Mearns (1897b), Patton (1974), Reid (1997), Schmidly (1977, 2004), Wood et al. (2002).
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