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Mephitidae
Mephitidae is a family of mammals comprising the skunks and stink badgers. They are noted for the great development of their anal scent glands, which they use to deter predators. Skunks were formerly classified as a subfamily of the Mustelidae (the weasel family); however, in the 1990s, genetic evidence caused skunks to be treated as a separate family. Similarly, the stink badgers had been classified with badgers, but genetic evidence shows they share a more recent common ancestor with skunks, so they are now included in the skunk family. A 2017 study using retroposon markers indicated that they are most closely related to the Ailuridae ( red pandas and allies) and Procyonidae (raccoons and allies). There are twelve extant species of mephitids in four genera: ''Conepatus'' ( hog-nosed skunks, four species); '' Mephitis'' (the hooded and striped skunks, two species); ''Mydaus'' (stink badgers, two species); and ''Spilogale'' (spotted skunks, four species). The two stink badgers ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Skunk
Skunks are mammals in the family Mephitidae. They are known for their ability to spray a liquid with a strong, unpleasant scent from their anal glands. Different species of skunk vary in appearance from black-and-white to brown, cream or ginger colored, but all have warning coloration. While related to polecats and other members of the weasel family, skunks have as their closest relatives the Old World stink badgers. Taxonomy In alphabetical order, the living species of skunks are: * Family Mephitidae ** Genus: '' Conepatus'' *** ''Conepatus chinga'' – Molina's hog-nosed skunk *** ''Conepatus humboldtii'' – Humboldt's hog-nosed skunk *** ''Conepatus leuconotus'' – American hog-nosed skunk *** ''Conepatus semistriatus'' – striped hog-nosed skunk ** Genus: '' Mephitis'' *** ''Mephitis macroura'' – hooded skunk *** ''Mephitis mephitis'' – striped skunk ** Genus: '' Spilogale'' *** ''Spilogale angustifrons'' – southern spotted skunk *** ''Spilogale gr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Promephitis
''Promephitis'' is an extinct genus of mephitid, of which several species have been described from the Miocene and early Pliocene of Europe and Asia. Characteristics The fossil remains of the ''Promephitis'' species, like all members of the skunk family (Mephitidae), have a significant extension of epitympanic recess, a chamber of the middle ear, into the region of mastoid and squamous parts of the temporal bones. This extension is recognizable as an inflated bulge on the lateral wall of the skull over the mastoid. In addition, skunks have specific characteristics of the teeth, especially the molars, which distinguish them from other carnivora. The genus ''Promephitis'' also shows a distinctive structure of the premolar tooth P4 as well as a very small P2, through which they are distinguishable from other genera. Distribution and temporal classification Species of ''Promephitis'' ranged widely in Eurasia, and fossils have been found both in Europe and in Asia. They are clas ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Palaeomephitis
''Palaeomephitis steinheimensis'' is an extinct species of musteloid, possibly a mephitid (skunk), from the Miocene epoch of Europe. Description ''Palaeomephitis steinheimensis'' was described by Jäger in 1839 from a well-preserved cranium found in Steinheim am Albuch in Baden-Württemberg, southern Germany. Subsequently, different authors considered it to represent a viverrid or a leptarctine mustelid. It was placed in the Mephitinae (now considered to be a distinct family) by Wolsan in 1999, on the evidence of its having an extended epitympanic recess to the middle ear. However, Geraads and Spassov (2016) were uncertain it in fact had this expanded recess, since that area of the skull is imperfectly preserved. Due to this and other factors, such as it differing from Mephitidae in some characters, these authors considered the mephitid affinities of ''Palaeomephitis'' doubtful. Taxonomy In its traditional skunk classification, ''Palaeomephitis'' is considered to stand close ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Red Pandas
The red panda (''Ailurus fulgens''), also known as the lesser panda, is a small mammal native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China. It has dense reddish-brown fur with a black belly and legs, white-lined ears, a mostly white muzzle and a ringed tail. Its head-to-body length is with a tail, and it weighs between . It is well adapted to climbing due to its flexible joints and curved semi-retractile claws. The red panda was formally described in 1825. The two currently recognised subspecies, the Himalayan and the Chinese red panda, genetically diverged about 250,000 years ago. The red panda's place on the evolutionary tree has been debated, but modern genetic evidence places it in close affinity with raccoons, weasels, and skunks. It is not closely related to the giant panda, which is a bear, though both possess elongated wrist bones or " false thumbs" used for grasping bamboo. The evolutionary lineage of the red panda ( Ailuridae) stretches back around , as ind ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mydaus
Stink badgers or false badgers are the species of the genus ''Mydaus'' of the skunk family of carnivorans, the Mephitidae. They resemble the better-known members of the family Mustelidae also termed 'badgers' (which are themselves a polyphyletic group). There are only two extant species – the Palawan stink badger or ''pantot'' (''M. marchei''), and the Sunda stink badger or ''teledu'' (''M. javanensis''). They live west of the Wallace Line; the Sunda species on islands of the Greater Sunda Islands, being Sumatra, Java, and Borneo; in Borneo the badger is found in Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. The Palawan species lives in the Philippine island of Palawan as well as the islands surrounding it. Stink badgers are named for their resemblance to other badgers and for the foul-smelling secretions that they expel from anal glands in self-defense (which is stronger in the Sunda species). [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Stink Badger
Stink badgers or false badgers are the species of the genus ''Mydaus'' of the skunk family of carnivorans, the Mephitidae. They resemble the better-known members of the family Mustelidae also termed 'badgers' (which are themselves a polyphyletic group). There are only two extant species – the Palawan stink badger or ''pantot'' (''M. marchei''), and the Sunda stink badger or ''teledu'' (''M. javanensis''). They live west of the Wallace Line; the Sunda species on islands of the Greater Sunda Islands, being Sumatra, Java, and Borneo; in Borneo the badger is found in Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. The Palawan species lives in the Philippines, Philippine island of Palawan (island), Palawan as well as the islands surrounding it. Stink badgers are named for their resemblance to other badgers and for the foul-smelling secretions that they expel from anal glands in self-defense (which is stronger in the Sunda species). [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Brachyprotoma
''Brachyprotoma'', also known as the short-faced skunks, is an extinct genus of large skunk that inhabited Pleistocene North America, with specimens having been found from Yukon to West Virginia. There currently exists only one accepted species, ''Brachyprotoma obtusata''. Description ''Brachyprotoma obtusata'' is known solely from its jaws and teeth, thus postcraneal elements are deduced based on the relatively similar hog-nosed skunks, but as a more robust form. The holotype, USNM 12045, is a damaged lower jaw that meassures 3 cm (1.2 in) long. ''Brachyprotoma obtusata'''s jaw is considered to possess several primitive characteristics, such as the large size of Premolar ^4 and Molar^1 , the large size of the anterior premolars, the smaller protocone in P^4 , the weaker metaconid in M^1 and the transverse elongation of M^1 ; and some more derived traits, ''B. obtusata'' has two upper and three lower premolars, having gotten rid of the anterior-most premolars. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ailuridae
Ailuridae is a family in the mammal order Carnivora. The family consists of the red panda (the sole living representative) and its extinct relatives. Georges Cuvier first described ''Ailurus'' as belonging to the raccoon family in 1825; this classification has been controversial ever since. It was classified in the raccoon family because of morphological similarities of the head, colored ringed tail, and other morphological and ecological characteristics. Somewhat later, it was assigned to the bear family. Molecular phylogenetic studies had shown that, as an ancient species in the order Carnivora, the red panda is relatively close to the American raccoon and may be either a monotypic family or a subfamily within the procyonid family. An in-depth mitochondrial DNA population analysis study stated: "According to the fossil record, the Red Panda diverged from its common ancestor with bears about 40 million years ago." With this divergence, by comparing the sequence difference ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sunda Stink Badger
The Sunda stink badger (''Mydaus javanensis''), also called the Javan stink badger, teledu, Malay stink badger, Malay badger, Indonesian stink badger and Sunda skunk, is a mammal native to Indonesia and Malaysia. Despite the common name, stink badgers are not closely related to true badgers, and are, instead, Old World relatives of the skunks. Coincidentally, its local name ''sigung'' in Sundanese is a false cognate to ''skunk'' which is of Algonquian origin. Description Sunda stink badgers have a similar body shape to badgers, but are significantly smaller, being in total length, and weighing from . Their fur is coarse, and black or very dark brown over most of the body, with a white stripe running from the top of the head to the tail. The tail is short, measuring about , and is covered in pure white fur. The width of the stripe varies considerably between individuals, but is usually narrow, and may be discontinuous. As the name indicates, stink badgers have an anal scent g ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mustelidae
The Mustelidae (; from Latin , weasel) are a diverse family of carnivora, carnivoran mammals, including weasels, badgers, otters, polecats, martens, grisons, and wolverines. Otherwise known as mustelids (), they form the largest family in the suborder Caniformia of the order (biology), order Carnivora with about 66 to 70 species in nine subfamilies. Variety Mustelids vary greatly in size and behaviour. The smaller variants of the least weasel can be under in length, while the giant otter of Amazon rainforest, Amazonian South America can measure up to and sea otters can exceed in weight. Wolverines can crush bones as thick as the femur of a moose to get at the Bone marrow, marrow, and have been seen attempting to drive bears away from their kills. The sea otter uses rocks to break open shellfish to eat. Martens are largely arboreal, while European badgers dig extensive tunnel networks, called setts. Only one mustelid has been domesticated; the ferret. Tayra are also kept ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Molina's Hog-nosed Skunk
Molina's hog-nosed skunk, also called the Andes skunk (''Conepatus chinga''), is a skunk species from South America. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Paraguay, and Uruguay, at elevations up to 5000 m. Habitat The Molina's hog-nosed skunk's native range is throughout mid to southern South America, Chile, Peru, northern Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and southern Brazil. The mammal is therefore associated with temperate regions and open areas, mainly described as the Pampas biome and preferring to live in open vegetation, shrub forest and rocky sloped areas. Population and distribution Typically they will live alone in an average home range size of about 1.66 individuals/km2 with some overlapping and about six skunks per 3.5 km2. Although living in mostly solitary areas, the skunks will come together temporarily for mating purposes. Diet Foraging mainly at night, the skunk is omnivorous, eating birds, small mammals, eggs, insects, leaves, and fr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Conepatus
The hog-nosed skunks belong to the genus ''Conepatus'' and are members of the family Mephitidae (skunks). They are native to the Americas. They have white backs and tails and black underparts. Species Extinct species †'' Conepatus robustus'' †'' Conepatus sanmiguelensis'' †'' Conepatus suffocans'' Work in 2003 concluded that the western hog-nosed skunk or common hog-nosed skunk (formerly ''Conepatus mesoleucus'') is the same species as the American hog-nosed skunk, and that ''Conepatus leuconotus'' is the correct name of the merged populations. Description The individual hog-nosed skunk species vary in size, but among them is included the largest of all skunks. All are characterized by comparatively short hair, especially on the tail, and this appendage lacks the plumelike appearance observed in other skunks. The nose is prolonged into a distinct "snout", naked on the top and sides and evidently used for rooting in the earth after the manner of a pig as their name imp ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
