Roadless Areas
Home/Species/ Hooded Skunk

Mephitis macroura

Lichtenstein, 1832

Hooded Skunk

G5Secure Found in 7 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.103207
Element CodeAMAJF06020
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassMammalia
OrderCarnivora
FamilyMephitidae
GenusMephitis
Other Common Names
Zorillo (ES)
Concept Reference
Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder (editors). 1993. Mammal species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference. Second edition. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC. xviii + 1206 pp. Available online at: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/msw/.
Taxonomic Comments
Based on patterns of mtDNA variation in Mustelidae, Dragoo and Honeycut (1997) recommended that skunks (Mephitis, Conepatus, Spilogale) and the Oriental stink badger (Mydaus) be separated as a distinct family (Mephitidae). Wozencraft (in Wilson and Reeder 2005) recognized the family Mephitidae.
Conservation Status
Review Date2005-02-28
Change Date1996-11-18
Edition Date2005-02-28
Range Extent Comments
Southern North America; from southwestern U.S. (southeastern and south-central Arizona, southern New Mexico, and western Texas) south to Costa Rica (Wozencraft, in Wilson and Reeder 1993; Hwang and Lariviere 2001).
Threat Impact Comments
Not threatened.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Inhabits rocky ledges or canyons and areas adjacent to streams. In Arizona, apparently prefers intermediate elevations, above deserts but not in highest mountains (Hoffmeister 1986).

Reproduction

Breeds in late winter. Gestation is estimated to last 8 weeks. Litter size is estimated at 3-8 young (Leopold 1959).
Terrestrial Habitats
Woodland - MixedShrubland/chaparralGrassland/herbaceousDesertBare rock/talus/scree
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN4
ProvinceRankNative
TexasS1Yes
ArizonaS4Yes
New MexicoS2Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
5 - Biological resource use——High (continuing)
5.1 - Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals——High (continuing)

—

Roadless Areas (7)
Arizona (6)
AreaForestAcres
Black CrossTonto National Forest5,966
Cdo WsaCoronado National Forest1,955
GaliuroCoronado National Forest28,333
Oracle RoadlessCoronado National Forest22,365
TumacacoriCoronado National Forest44,594
WhetstoneCoronado National Forest20,728
New Mexico (1)
AreaForestAcres
Peloncillo (NM)Coronado National Forest43,339
References (14)
  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. 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
  3. Crabb, W. D. 1948. The ecology and management of the prairie spotted skunk in Iowa. Ecological Monographs 18:201-232.
  4. Dragoo, J. W., and R. L. Honeycutt. 1997. Systematics of mustelid-like carnivores. Journal of Mammalogy 78:426-443.
  5. Findley, J. S., A. H. Harris, D. E. Wilson, and C. Jones. 1975. Mammals of New Mexico. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque. 360 pp.
  6. Hall, E. R. 1981a. The Mammals of North America, second edition. Vols. I & II. John Wiley & Sons, New York, New York. 1181 pp.
  7. Hoffmeister, D. F. 1986. Mammals of Arizona. University of Arizona Press and Arizona Game and Fish Department. 602 pp.
  8. Hwang, Y. T., and S. Lariviere. 2001. <i>Mephitis macroura</i>. Mammalian Species 686:1-3.
  9. Jones, J. K., Jr., R. S. Hoffman, D. W. Rice, C. Jones, R. J. Baker, and M. D. Engstrom. 1992a. Revised checklist of North American mammals north of Mexico, 1991. Occasional Papers, The Museum, Texas Tech University, 146:1-23.
  10. Leopold, A. S. 1959. Wildlife of Mexico. University of California Press, Berkeley.
  11. 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.
  12. Storm, G. L. 1972. Daytime retreats and movements of skunks on farmlands in Illinois. Journal of Wildlife Management 36:31-45.
  13. Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder (editors). 1993. Mammal species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference. Second edition. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC. xviii + 1206 pp. Available online at: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/msw/.
  14. 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]