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Home/Species/ American Hog-nosed Skunk

Conepatus leuconotus

(Lichtenstein, 1832)

American Hog-nosed Skunk

G4Apparently Secure Found in 24 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
MediumThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.102633
Element CodeAMAJF07020
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassMammalia
OrderCarnivora
FamilyMephitidae
GenusConepatus
Other Common Names
White-backed Hog-nosed Skunk (EN) Zorillo (ES)
Concept Reference
Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder (editors). 2005. Mammal species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference. Third edition. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore. Two volumes. 2,142 pp. [As modified by ASM the Mammal Diversity Database (MDD) at https://www.mammaldiversity.org/index.html]
Taxonomic Comments
Conepatus leuconotus and C. mesoleucus formerly were regarded as distinct species (Jones et al. 1992, Wilson and Reeder 1993). Wozencraft (in Wilson and Reeder 2005) included mesoleucus in C. leuconotus.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-08-25
Change Date1997-10-06
Edition Date2025-08-25
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G. (2005); rev. R. L. Gundy (2025)
Threat ImpactMedium
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 to >300
Rank Reasons
Relatively large range extending from the southwestern U.S. to Nicaragua; apparently has declined drastically in recent decades in the north and is now very rare in Texas.
Range Extent Comments
This species occurs from the southwestern United States south to northern Nicaragua (Fitzgerald et al. 1994, Dragoo and Honeycut 1995). In the U.S., it is found in southeastern Colorado, extreme northwestern Oklahoma, Arizona, New Mexico, and the western half of Texas (Dragoo and Honeycut 1995, Holbrook et al. 2012, Holton et al. 2022, Castillo and Caruso 2024, Kleeberg et al. 2024). Using Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) (2025) records from 2000-2025, range extent is estimated to be 3.781 million km² (RARECAT 2025).

Subspecies telmalestes of southeastern Texas is presumed extinct as it has not observed since the early 1900s (Dragoo and Honeycut 1995). Subspecies figginsi (encompassing also former subspecies fremonti) of Colorado (and adjacent areas) has not been seen since the 1920s or 1930s, although a 2022 records from Oklahoma could represent this subspecies (Fitzgerald et al. 1994, Dragoo and Honeycut 1995, Kleeberg et al. 2024).
Occurrences Comments
There are many occurrences throughout the range.
Threat Impact Comments
Natural brushland habitat has been lost to agricultural development and habitat fragmentation is likely negatively impacting the population (Espinosa Flores 2014). Mortality from vehicle strikes is a serious threat where roads cut through suitable habitat (Ríos Solís et al. 2025). Pesticide use could be detrimental, either directly or indirectly through impacts on food resources.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Wide variety of habitats: woodlands, grasslands, deserts, brushy areas, and rocky canyons in mountainous regions. Dens are in rock crevices, hollow logs, underground burrows, caves, mine shafts, woodrat houses, or under buildings. Texas: live oak brush, mesquite brushland, improved pasture within semi-open native grassland (Davis and Schmidly 1994), canyons, arroyos.

Reproduction

Texas: mates in late February; gestation lasts about 2 months; litter of 2-4 (average 3) is born in late April or early May; young are weaned and foraging for themselves by August (see Caire et al. 1989). According to Howard and Marsh (1982), gestation lasts about 6 weeks.
Terrestrial Habitats
Woodland - HardwoodWoodland - ConiferWoodland - MixedShrubland/chaparralGrassland/herbaceousDesertBare rock/talus/scree
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN3
ProvinceRankNative
TexasS4Yes
ArizonaS3Yes
OklahomaS1Yes
New MexicoS4Yes
ColoradoS1Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
2 - Agriculture & aquacultureLarge (31-70%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
2.1 - Annual & perennial non-timber cropsLarge (31-70%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
2.3 - Livestock farming & ranchingLarge (31-70%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
4 - Transportation & service corridorsRestricted (11-30%)Serious or 31-70% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
4.1 - Roads & railroadsRestricted (11-30%)Serious or 31-70% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
9 - PollutionRestricted (11-30%)UnknownHigh (continuing)
9.3 - Agricultural & forestry effluentsRestricted (11-30%)UnknownHigh (continuing)

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Roadless Areas (24)
Arizona (13)
AreaForestAcres
Cdo WsaCoronado National Forest1,955
ChiricahuaCoronado National Forest76,876
GaliuroCoronado National Forest28,333
GoldfieldTonto National Forest15,257
Lower San FranciscoApache-Sitgreaves National Forests59,310
Mitchell PeakApache-Sitgreaves National Forests35,398
Painted BluffsApache-Sitgreaves National Forests43,118
PicachoTonto National Forest4,969
Pine Mountain Wilderness ContiguousTonto National Forest6,518
Santa TeresaCoronado National Forest8,929
Sierra Ancha Wilderness ContiguousTonto National Forest7,787
TumacacoriCoronado National Forest44,594
WhetstoneCoronado National Forest20,728
New Mexico (11)
AreaForestAcres
Black CanyonSanta Fe National Forest1,922
Capitan MountainsLincoln National Forest14,069
Contiguous To Gila Wilderness & Primitive AreaGila National Forest79,049
Devils CreekGila National Forest89,916
Gila BoxGila National Forest23,759
Juan de Gabaldon GrantSanta Fe National Forest8,023
Lower San FranciscoGila National Forest26,460
Ortega PeakLincoln National Forest11,545
Sawyers PeakGila National Forest59,743
Tesuque CreekSanta Fe National Forest810
West Face Sacramento MountainsLincoln National Forest41,176
References (29)
  1. American Society of Mammalogists (ASM). 2025. Mammal Diversity Database (Version 1.13) [Data set]. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10595931. Online. Available: https://www.mammaldiversity.org/
  2. Baker, R. J., L. C. Bradley, R. D. Bradley, J. W. Dragoo, M. D. Engstrom, R. S. Hoffman, C. A. Jones, F. Reid, D. W. Rice, and C. Jones. 2003a. Revised checklist of North American mammals north of Mexico, 2003. Museum of Texas Tech University Occasional Papers 229:1-23.
  3. Bradley, R.D., L.K. Ammerman, R.J. Baker, L.C. Bradley, J.A. Cook. R.C. Dowler, C. Jones, D.J. Schmidly, F.B. Stangl Jr., R.A. Van den Bussche and B. Würsig. 2014. Revised checklist of North American mammals north of Mexico, 2014. Museum of Texas Tech University Occasional Papers 327:1-28. Available at: http://www.nsrl.ttu.edu/publications/opapers/ops/OP327.pdf
  4. Caire, W., J. D. Tyler, B. P. Glass, and M. A. Mares. 1989. Mammals of Oklahoma. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman. Oklahoma. 567 pp.
  5. Castillo, D. F., and N. C. Caruso. 2024. Potential distribution and conservation of the hog-nosed skunk (genus <i>Conepatus</i>, Mammalia: Mephitidae). Journal for Nature Conservation 77: 126519. doi: 10.1016/j.jnc.2023.126519
  6. Crabb, W. D. 1948. The ecology and management of the prairie spotted skunk in Iowa. Ecological Monographs 18:201-232.
  7. Davis, W. B., and D. J. Schmidly. 1994. The mammals of Texas. Texas Parks and Wildlife Press, Austin. x + 338 pp.
  8. Dragoo, J. W., and R. L. Honeycutt. 1995. Taxonomic status of hog-nosed skunks (genus <i>Conepatus</i>). Report to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
  9. Dragoo, J. W., and R. L. Honeycutt. 1997. Systematics of mustelid-like carnivores. Journal of Mammalogy 78:426-443.
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  11. Dragoo, J. W., R. L. Honeycut, and D. J. Schmidly. 2003. Taxonomic status of white-backed hog-nosed skunks, genus <i>Conepatus </i>(Carnivora: Mephitidae). Journal of Mammalogy 84:159-176.
  12. Espinosa Flores, M. E. 2014. Efecto de la matriz en un paisaje fragmentado sobre la riqueza de especies de mamíferos terrestres en el estado de Guanajuato, México. M.S. thesis. Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, México. 94 pp.
  13. Fitzgerald, J. P., C. A. Meaney, and D. M. Armstrong. 1994 [1995]. Mammals of Colorado. Denver Museum of Natural History and University Press of Colorado. xiii + 467 pp.
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  18. Holton, B., K. Ironside, and T. Theimer. 2022. Seasonal and circadian activity and spatial extent of white-backed hog-nosed skunk (<i>Conepatus leuconotus</i>) along the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. The Southwestern Naturalist 67(3): 183–191. doi: 10.1894/0038-4909-67.3.183
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  21. Kleeberg, B. A., R. C Lonsinger, and W. S. Fairbanks. 2024. White-backed hog-nosed skunk (<i>Conepatus leuconotus</i>) occurrence in the Oklahoma Panhandle. The Southwestern Naturalist 69(1): 1-5. doi: 10.1894/0038-4909-69.1.9
  22. Leopold, A. S. 1959. Wildlife of Mexico. University of California Press, Berkeley.
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  25. Ríos Solís, J. A., M. C. Lavariega, J. J. Flores Martínez, V. Sánchez Cordero, and J. M. Pech Canché. 2025. Roadkill on medium-sized mammals in a tropical region in southern Mexico. Journal for Nature Conservation 88: 127034. doi: 10.1016/j.jnc.2025.127034
  26. Schmidly, D. J. 1977. The mammals of Trans-Pecos Texas including Big Bend National Park and Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Texas A & M University Press, College Station.
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  29. Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder (editors). 2005. Mammal species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference. Third edition. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore. Two volumes. 2,142 pp. [As modified by ASM the Mammal Diversity Database (MDD) at https://www.mammaldiversity.org/index.html]