Skunk

Skunks
Striped skunks
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Superfamily:	Musteloidea
Family:	Mephitidae
Groups included
Conepatus Mephitis Spilogale †Brachyprotoma
Skunk genera ranges
Cladistically included but traditionally excluded taxa
Mydaus †Palaeomephitis †Promephitis

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.^[1]