View source for Skunk

[[Image:Striped skunk.jpg|thumb|A skunk]]
 {{Paraphyletic group
| auto = yes
| name = Skunks
| image = Striped Skunk.jpg
| image_caption = [[Striped skunk]]s
| parent = Mephitidae
| includes = ''[[Conepatus]]''<br>
''[[Mephitis (genus)|Mephitis]]''<br>
''[[Spilogale]]''<br>
†''[[Brachyprotoma]]''
| excludes = ''[[Mydaus]]''<br>
†''[[Palaeomephitis]]''<br>
†''[[Promephitis]]''
| range_map         = skunk genera ranges.png
| range_map_caption = Skunk genera ranges
}}

A '''skunk''' is a [[mammal]], usually black with a white stripe on its back and a fluffy [[tail]], but some skunks can be brown or gray. Its most special part is that it can shoot out a bad-[[Olfaction|smelling spray]] from under its tail; it does this to scare away things that could hurt it. Some people keep skunks as [[pets]].

It can eat both [[plant]]s and small [[animal]]s like [[earthworms]], [[frogs]], [[snakes]], [[birds]] and [[egg (biology)|egg]]s. It usually eats [[berries]], [[leaves]], [[grasses]] and [[Nut (fruit)|nuts]]. In places where humans live, skunks often steal food from garbage or pet bowls.

The striped skunk is the most well-known kind of skunk. It weighs 2.5 to 14 pounds (1.2–6.3&nbsp;kg) with a body length (without the tail) of 13 to 18&nbsp;inches (33–46&nbsp;cm). The tail is 7 to 10&nbsp;inches long (18–25&nbsp;cm), and sometimes has a white tip.

Most types of skunk live in the [[United States]] and [[Canada]], but there are also types that live in [[Indonesia]] and the [[Philippines]]. 

There are ten living species of skunks in four genera: ''Conepatus'' (hog-nosed skunks, four species); ''Mephitis'' (the hooded and striped skunks, two species) and ''Spilogale'' (spotted skunks, four species). All wild skunks inhabit the Americas, ranging from Canada to central South America. 

{{wikispecies|Mephitidae}}{{commonscat|Mephitidae}}


{{North-America-stub}}

[[Category:Mammals of North America]]
[[Category:Omnivores]]
[[Category:Caniformia]]