Species: Spilogale gracilis
Western Spotted Skunk
Species
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Encyclopedia of Puget Sound
Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Craniata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Carnivora
Family
Mephitidae
Genus
Spilogale
NatureServe
Classification
Other Global Common Names
mouffette tachetée occidentale
Informal Taxonomy
Animals, Vertebrates - Mammals - Carnivores
Formal Taxonomy
Animalia - Craniata - Mammalia - Carnivora - Mephitidae - Spilogale - ) be separated as a distinct family (Mephitidae). Wozencraft (in Wilson and Reder 2005) recognized Mephitidae.
Ecology and Life History
Migration
true - false - false
Non-migrant
true
Locally Migrant
false
Food Comments
Insects, rodents, small birds, and possibly bird eggs constitute most of diet (Ingles 1965). Reptiles and amphibian s also taken (Leopold 1959), as are many types of fruits and berries.
Reproduction Comments
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.
Ecology Comments
Adults are essentially solitary.
Length
450
Weight
630
Conservation Status
NatureServe Global Status Rank
G5
Global Status Last Reviewed
1996-11-18
Global Status Last Changed
1996-11-18
Other Status
LC - Least concern
Distribution
Conservation Status Map
<img src="http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/GetMapGif?CA.BC=SU&US.AZ=S5&US.CA=SNR&US.CO=S4&US.ID=S5&US.MT=S2&US.NN=S4&US.NV=S4&US.NM=S4&US.OK=S1&US.OR=S4&US.TX=S5&US.UT=S4&US.WA=S4&US.WY=S2" alt="Conservation Status Map" style="width: 475px; height: auto;" />
Global Range
Range extends from southern British Columbia, Montana, and northern Wyoming southward through most of the western United States and into Mexico and Central America (south to Costa Rica). Range barely enters the Great Plains.