Striped skunk

Striped skunk
Conservation status
	; Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Family:	Mephitidae
Genus:	Mephitis
Species:	M. mephitis
Binomial name
	Mephitis mephitis; (Schreber, 1776)
	Striped skunk range
Synonyms
	Viverra mephitis Schreber, 1776

The striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) is a skunk of the genus Mephitis that occurs across much of North America, including southern Canada, the United States, and northern Mexico.^[3] It is currently listed as least concern by the IUCN on account of its wide range and ability to adapt to human-modified environments.^[1]

Striped skunks are polygamous omnivores with few natural predators, save for birds of prey.^[2] Like all skunks, they possess highly developed musk-filled scent glands to ward off predators. They have a long history of association with humans, having been trapped and captively bred for their fur^[4] and kept as pets.^[5] The striped skunk is one of the most recognizable of North America's animals, and is a popular figure in cartoons and children's books.^[6]

^ ^a ^b Cite error: The named reference iucn was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ ^a ^b Cite error: The named reference verts1982 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M., eds. (2005). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
^ Cite error: The named reference lantz1923 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference cipriani2011 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Feinstein, J. (2011). Field Guide to Urban Wildlife. Stackpole Books. p. 67. ISBN 0811705854

[iucn-1] Cite error: The named reference iucn was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[verts1982-2] Cite error: The named reference verts1982 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[msw3-3] Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M., eds. (2005). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.

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[cipriani2011-5] Cite error: The named reference cipriani2011 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[6] Feinstein, J. (2011). Field Guide to Urban Wildlife. Stackpole Books. p. 67. ISBN 0811705854

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Striped skunk

Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)^[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Family:	Mephitidae
Genus:	Mephitis
Species:	M. mephitis
Binomial name
*Mephitis mephitis* (Schreber, 1776)

Striped skunk range
Synonyms^[2]
Viverra mephitis Schreber, 1776