![]() ![]() ![]() Any photo is a good one – whether it be an incidental encounter, as roadkill, from game cameras, or inadvertent catch from fur trapping ( more of that below). Because their current status isn’t well known, state biologists encourage any Alabamians that may encounter them to submit their observations to assist with their research. Although they likely occur across the entire state, they’re rarely seen. Spotted skunks are uncommon, too, and researchers do not know a lot about their biology. An adult spotted skunk is only about the size of a squirrel. Spotted skunks are significantly smaller than their striped relatives. An arguably bigger difference between the two skunk species, however, is size. Unsurprisingly, the eastern spotted skunk often has a spotted appearance. They’re by far the more abundant and easily observed of Alabama’s two species. If drivers see a dead skunk in the middle of the road, it’s likely the striped skunk. As their name properly implies, this species is striped. Striped skunks are the larger of the two with adults being about the size of a full-grown house cat. Both species have white and black aposematic (don’t eat me or you’ll regret it) coloration, but there are some noticeable differences. Most Alabamians are familiar with the former. The researchers offered to come pick up the skunk specimens and store them in a designated “skunk freezer.Striped skunks are the larger and more common of the two native skunk species.Īlabama is home to two species of skunk – the striped skunk and the eastern spotted skunk. The posters described the need for any spotted skunks that may have been trapped or found as roadkill and showed photos of the creatures. “We call it the smell of success because it means we’ve actually encountered one, which is the goal ultimate goal,” Ferguson said.įerguson was inspired to make “wanted” posters and distribute them across central Texas in feed stores and areas where ranchers and trappers operate. And if you do trap one, you’re bound to be sprayed. Trapping skunks isn’t the easiest job – Ferguson and his colleagues made six trips to Mexico while researching spotted skunks and never caught one. But first, Ferguson needed specimens to study. Making the determination that there are seven species came down to analyzing genetic data from spotted skunks. Over the years, the differences observed between some spotted skunks led researchers to believe there were as few as two species and as many as 14. Since the discovery of the first spotted skunk in 1758, scientists have questioned just how many species exist. The fact that spotted skunks are so good at keeping a low profile makes them harder to study. ![]() ![]() Great horned owls are their main predator. Given their agility, spotted skunks are great climbers, and they are a lot more carnivorous than other skunks, feasting on bird eggs, lizards, snakes and rodents. These “ecologically cryptic” creatures live in dense environments and remote areas and seem less adaptable to urbanization than their larger, striped counterparts, Ferguson said. While the common striped skunk has made its presence known in urban areas, as well as its natural habitats, striped skunks haven’t made the same inroads and so largely remain out of sight. It’s just another example of their boldness, something he admires about skunks in general, Ferguson said. For reference, spotted skunks typically weigh less than 2 pounds (0.9 kilogram). When Maine's seals are in trouble, she gets the callĪ study released in 2013 included a video of a Western spotted skunk handstanding and facing off with a mountain lion over a deer carcass. And when the time comes to scare off a predator, these little guys perform a handstand and kick out their back legs. About the size of a squirrel, these elusive carnivores live across North America. Spotted skunks are the smaller relatives of the common striped skunk. “Everyone thinks we know everything about mammalian carnivore systematics, so being able to redraw the skunk family tree is very exciting.” “North America is one of the most-studied continents in terms of mammals, and carnivores are one of the most-studied groups,” said study author Adam Ferguson, Negaunee collections manager of mammals at the Field Museum in Chicago. But a new study published Wednesday in Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution said there are seven spotted skunk species. More recently, the agreed-upon number was four. Meet spotted skunks, “the acrobats of the skunk world.” Scientists have discovered that there are more of these species than they thought, according to new research. At first whiff, you might think all skunks are the same. ![]()
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