The Skunk

[Guest]

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Skunk
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Adult

Baby

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General Information;

Type: Mammal
Diet: Omnivore
Size: 8 to 19 in (20 to 48 cm (body and head); 5 to 15 in (13 to 38 cm (tail))
Weight: 198 g to 6 kg
Conservation status:
Not applicable
Scientific Classification: Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Chordata, Class: Mammalia, Order: Carnivora, Suborder: Caniformia, Superfamily: Musteloidea, Family: Mephitidae
Size relative to a 6-ft (2-m) man:

Skunk Range


Skunks are very well known for their powerful and horrible-smelling spray. A skunk's spray is an oily liquid that it produced by the glands underneath the tail. The spray is able to travel as far as ten feet. Generally speaking the spray does not real damage to victims, however, it does make them uncomfortable and it is able to linger for a numerous amount of days. There are a variety of different kinds of skunks and they are able to vary in size, however, their colouration (black and white markings) is what makes skunks identifiable. Skunks tend t live within burrows that have been constructed by other animals, however they may also live within hollow logs or abandoned buildings in cold climates.
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Physical Features;
In terms of physical aspects, Skunk have a moderately enlongated bodies with relatively short, well-muscled legs along with long front claws which are specifically used for digging. The most common fur color for skunks is obviously black and white, however some skunks can be brown or grey, rarely few are cream-colored. All skunks consist of stripes, even when they are born. They may have a single thick stripe across back and tail, two thinner stripes, a series of white spots and broken stripes (in the case of the spotted skunk), stipes on their legs, etc.
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Mental Features;
Typically, skunks are solitary and crepuscular animals when it comes to being in the wild. During the day, as stated previously they will attempt to shelter within burrows. Skunks are not really hivernators within the winter such as bears, however, they do den up for an extended periods of time. They remain generally inactive and rarely feed, going through a somewhat dormant stage. Skunks also have excellent smell and hearing, which makes up for the poor vision they have.
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Diet;
Skunks are typically opportunistic consumers which have a varied diet. They usually will forage for food at night. Their diet mainly consists of fruit, plants, insects, larvae, worms, eggs, reptiles, nuts, small mammals, and sometimes even fish when they are given the opportunity. Skunks highly rely on their good sense of smell and hearing, as well as their claws in order to have a successful hunt.
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Threats towards this animal;
Other threats towards this animal excluding wolves consists of the following:

Coyotes, dogs, great horned owls, foxes, eagles, bobcats, and hawks.
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Credits (c);

Images:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gamppart/7391225230/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ndomer73/4548287441/

Information:
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/skunk/?source=A-to-Z
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skunk
http://eduscapes.com/nature/skunk/index2.htm
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