Home/Species/ Western Spotted Skunk

Spilogale gracilis

Merriam, 1890

Western Spotted Skunk

GNRUnranked Found in 12 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →

GNRUnrankedGlobal Rank

Identity

Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.1369472

Element CodeAMAJF05070

Record TypeSPECIES

ClassificationSpecies

Classification StatusStandard

Name CategoryVertebrate Animal

KingdomAnimalia

PhylumCraniata

ClassMammalia

OrderCarnivora

FamilyMephitidae

GenusSpilogale

Concept Reference

McDonough, M. M., A. W. Ferguson, R. C. Dowler, M. E. Gompper, and J. E. Maldonado. 2022 [2021]. Phylogenomic systematics of the spotted skunks (Carnivora, Mephitidae, Spilogale): additional species diversity and Pleistocene climate change as a major driver of diversification. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 167:107266.

Taxonomic Comments

Spilogale gracilis has been split into two distinct species by McDonough et al. (2022), the western spotted skunk, S. gracilis, and the desert spotted skunk, S. leucoparia. Recognized subspecies include S. g. gracilis, S. g. amphialus, S. g. latifrons, S. g. lucasana, S. g. martirensis, and S. phenax.

Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Brushy canyons, rocky outcrops (rimrock) on hillsides and walls of canyons. In semi-arid brushlands in U.S., in wet tropical forests in Mexico. When inactive or bearing young, occupies den in rocks, burrow, hollow log, brush pile, or under building.

Ecology

Adults are essentially solitary.

Reproduction

Females breed during late September-October. Implantation is delayed, total gestation period lasts 210-230 days. Litter size is 4-6. Young leave nest about 1 month after birth, follow mother until almost full grown. Sexually mature in 4-5 months.

Terrestrial Habitats

Woodland - HardwoodWoodland - ConiferWoodland - MixedShrubland/chaparralGrassland/herbaceousDesertBare rock/talus/screeCropland/hedgerowSuburban/orchard

Palustrine Habitats

Riparian

Other Nations (2)

CanadaNU

Province	Rank	Native
British Columbia	S2	Yes

United StatesNNR

Province	Rank	Native
Colorado	S4	Yes
California	SNR	Yes
Oklahoma	S1	Yes
Nevada	S4	Yes
Wyoming	S3	Yes
Oregon	S4	Yes
Montana	SU	Yes
Washington	S4	Yes
Arizona	SNR	Yes
Utah	S3	Yes
Idaho	S4	Yes

Roadless Areas (12)

California (5)

Area	Forest	Acres
Barker Valley	Cleveland National Forest	11,940
Cypress	Lassen National Forest	3,380
Dry Lakes	Los Padres National Forest	17,043
Eagle Peak	Cleveland National Forest	6,481
Weaver Bally	Shasta-Trinity National Forest	829

Nevada (1)

Area	Forest	Acres
Moriah - Silver Creek	Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest	1,582

Oregon (3)

Area	Forest	Acres
Cougar Bluff	Umpqua National Forest	5,574
North Kalmiopsis	Siskiyou National Forests	91,560
Shasta Costa	Siskiyou National Forests	14,420

Utah (3)

Area	Forest	Acres
418012	Uinta National Forest	25,758
418013	Uinta National Forest	14,643
418025	Uinta National Forest	32,698

References (2)

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/
McDonough, M. M., A. W. Ferguson, R. C. Dowler, M. E. Gompper, and J. E. Maldonado. 2022 [2021]. Phylogenomic systematics of the spotted skunks (Carnivora, Mephitidae, <i>Spilogale</i>): additional species diversity and Pleistocene climate change as a major driver of diversification. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 167:107266.