Texas Parks and Wildlife
Animals of Greatest Concern Information Sheet
Scientific Name of Organism: Conepatus leuconotus
Common Name of Organism: Hog-Nosed Skunk
Description of Organism: Large skunk with one wide, white
stripe on its back. It has long, curved claws for digging in
the dirt. Hog-nosed skunks are 16 to 18 inches long (2041cm), 4.5-10 lbs (2-4.5 kg).
Life Expectancy: 7-8 years
http://azstateparks.com/pa
rks/ORAC/feature.html
G
Abundance Ratings: (state and global): G5 S4
Eco-region/s of Texas: CHIH, SWBT, CTRTB, CGPL, EDPT,
GCPM-LWR, STPL
http://www.nsrl.ttu.edu/t
mot1/images/dmap252.jpg
Adaptations of Organism to Its Environment:
Picture of Organism
Skunks have long claws for digging in soil. They have
warning coloration so animals know not to mess with them.
When challenged, they spray their enemy with a strong
smelling chemical that burns their eyes.
Map of Range
Four-item food chain based on your research that includes the organism:
grass
cricket
spider
hog-nosed
skunk
In the table below, please describe the ecology of your organism in as much detail as possible.
Use paragraphs that include complete sentences as well as terms studied in your ecology unit.
Habitat Description:
Hog-nosed skunks like shrub land; areas with lots
of bushes. They also like savanna with open
woodland, barren or sparse vegetation, and rocky
soil. Loose soil helps them dig and root for insects.
Abiotic Factors in Biome:
Some of the abiotic factors in the skunks’
environment are the amount and size of rocks in
the soil, rainfall, temperature, sunlight.
Niche in Ecosystem:
Skunks are omnivores, mostly they root or dig in
the soil for insects, but they are also scavengers.
They eat plants, small reptiles, and small mammals
in addition to insects. They are important in
keeping down the number of insects in their
ecosystem.
Biotic Factors in Biome:
The biotic factors in the ecosystem are the amount
of cover, such as bushes and trees. They also
include the amount of vegetation and how many
insects are available. The parasites, viruses, and
bacteria that affect skunks are also biotic factors.
Common Predators:
Most animals will leave skunks alone, so they are
not often eaten by other animals, but may be
eaten by owls, foxes, coyotes, or eagles.
Most Common Limiting Factors:
Habitat destruction because of human
development is the main issue for this skunk.
Common Prey or typical diet:
Spiders and insects are the main food, making up
around 70-80% of their diet, but they also prey on
small mammals and reptiles.
Human Interactions:
Some skunks have adapted well to neighborhoods.
There have been stories of skunks and domestic
cats dining peacefully together. There have been
cases of skunks entering homes through pet doors,
dining with the family cat and finding a quiet closet
or empty bed in which to spend the night. If you
run into a skunk, walk away quietly. Skunks can
shoot their chemical up to 15 feet, but won’t
unless they are challenged.
Bibliograpy: (List all websites and other resources here.)
http://news.discovery.com/animals/skunks-the-worlds-most-unpalatable-animals.html
http://www.nsrl.ttu.edu/tmot1/conemeso.htm
http://hhia.wordpress.com/living-with-urban-wildlife/
http://www.theanimalfiles.com/mammals/carnivores/skunk_american_hog_nosed.html