About Conepatus semistriatus (Boddaert, 1785)
Morphology: The striped hog-nosed skunk, Conepatus semistriatus, measures approximately 35–50 cm (14–20 in) from head to tail, with females being slightly smaller than males. It weighs between 1.4–3.5 kg (3.1–7.7 lb), and has a short tail covered in black hair. Its small snout is typically black. Its fur varies in color, and features two narrow white stripes that run from the head to the rump. This species has long claws and forelimbs adapted for digging, and also has specialized skunk glands that it uses to spray a defensive fluid. Distribution and habitat: The range of the striped hog-nosed skunk extends from southern Mexico in Central America to northern Peru in South America, with an isolated population pocket in extreme eastern Brazil. It occupies a wide range of habitats, including arboreal caatingas, orchards, dry forest scrubs, grasslands, and occasionally rainforests. During the wet season, it prefers higher ground in deciduous forests. It usually lives in small dens made from fallen tree logs, or in burrows dug below the surface that are about 1–2 m (3 ft 3 in – 6 ft 7 in) long; it will also use burrows dug by other animals. It is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
