Table Of Contents
- Description
- Behavior
- Reproduction and Life History
- Morphology
- Trophic Strategy
- Ecology and Distribution
- Distribution
- Habitat
- Associations
- Conservation
- Relevance
- Uses
- Biodiversity Heritage Library
- References and More Information
- Literature References
- Specialist Projects
- Common Names
Behavior
Striped skunks are nocturnal, sleeping during the day in underground burrows and emerging around dusk to search for food. They prefer to use burrows made by other animals of equal size or natural burrows under tree stumps or buildings. They use their long front claws to build their own den if necessary.
Both males and females undergo periods of inactivity from November until March. Females often remain in their winter dens for the entire winter, but males usually emerge during mild temperature periods to feed. Winter dens usually consist of six females and their young. One male sometimes occupies a den with females, but usually lives alone in its own den.
Communication and Perception
Striped skunks use scent marking to communicate presence and reproductive state to other skunks. They also communicate visually, by raising their fur and changing posture. Skunks have a good sense of hearing, but their vision is poor. They are mostly silent, but do make a variety of sounds such as churring, hisses, and screams.
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Pereulixia kosiensis (Regan, 1908)
Kosi rockskipper |
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Haplochromis paludinosus (Greenwood, 1980) |
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Pomacentrus agassizii Bliss, 1883
Creole damsel |
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Hypoponera foreli (Mayr, 1887) |
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Gymnothorax nasuta de Buen, 1961
Easter island moray |