The Eastern hog-nosed skunk is found only in the southeastern part of Texas and eastern Mexico. (Dragoo & Honeycutt, 1999)

occurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

The Eastern hog-nosed skunk is the largest of all skunks in North America. The skunk looks similar to its close relative, the Western hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus leuconotus), with a few exceptions. Conepatus leuconotus is about 25% larger than C. leuconotus. The dorsal white stripe is much narrower or even absent near the end of the top of the tail of C. leuconotus. On the underside of the tail, C. leuconotus is mostly black with a white tip, while the tail of C. leuconotus is mostly white.

In general, Conepatus has the coarsest fur of all skunks. The body is predominantly black with only a single white stripe on the back and tail. Unlike other skunks, hog-nosed skunks do not have a white dot or bar near the eyes. Also unique to hog-nosed skunks is the nose, which resembles that of a little pig in that it is wide, long and protruding, and naked.

Conepatus leuconotus has a larger body and shorter tail than other skunks. Total body length is generally 70 to 80 cm, and tail length is about 20 to 41 cm. The animal usually weighs between 2 and 4.5 kg. The females have three pairs of mammae. The dental formula is the same as C. leuconotus, (I 3/3, C 1/1, P 2/3, M 1/2 =32). As in other skunks, this skunk has an anal scent gland. (Lichtenstein, online; Dragoo & Honeycutt, 1999; Gray, 1837)

Range mass: 2 to 4.5 kg.

Range length: 70 to 80 cm.

Other Physical Features: endothermic ; homoiothermic; bilateral symmetry

Type for Conepatus leuconotus leuconotus
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Division of Mammals
Sex/Stage: Male;
Preparation: Skin; Skull
Collector(s): E. Goldman
Year Collected: 1914
Locality: Blue River, 12 M S, Cosper Ranch, Greenlee County, Arizona, United States, North America
Elevation (m): 1524

Type for Conepatus leuconotus leuconotus
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Division of Mammals
Sex/Stage: Male;
Preparation: Skin; Skull
Collector(s): F. Armstrong
Year Collected: 1892
Locality: Brownsville, Cameron County, Texas, United States, North America

Type for Conepatus leuconotus leuconotus
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Division of Mammals
Sex/Stage: Male;
Preparation: Skin; Skull
Collector(s): E. Nelson & E. Goldman
Year Collected: 1894
Locality: Cerro San Felipe, Oaxaca, Mexico, North America

Type for Conepatus leuconotus leuconotus
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Division of Mammals
Sex/Stage: Male;
Preparation: Skin; Skull
Collector(s): E. Nelson
Year Collected: 1892
Locality: Manzanillo, Near Armeria, Colima, Mexico, North America
Elevation (m): 61

Type for Conepatus leuconotus leuconotus
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Division of Mammals
Sex/Stage: Male;
Preparation: Skin; Skull
Collector(s): E. Nelson & E. Goldman
Year Collected: 1902
Locality: Sierra Guadalupe, Coahuila, Mexico, North America

Type for Conepatus leuconotus leuconotus
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Division of Mammals
Sex/Stage: Female;
Preparation: Skin; Skull
Collector(s): E. Goldman
Year Collected: 1898
Locality: Camoa, Rio Mayo, Sonora, Mexico, North America

Type for Conepatus leuconotus leuconotus
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Division of Mammals
Sex/Stage: Female;
Preparation: Skin; Skull
Collector(s): I. Henry
Year Collected: 1886
Locality: Mason, Mason County, Texas, United States, North America

This skunk has been found in a wide range of habitats including forests, grasslands, mountainsides, coastal plains, tropical areas, cacti and thorny brush areas, and even cornfields. The animal lives in a den located in a hollow log, among rocks, or in a burrow made by another animal. (Dragoo & Honeycutt, 1999; Gray, 1837)

Range elevation: 0 to 4100 m.

Habitat Regions: temperate

Terrestrial Biomes: desert or dune ; forest ; scrub forest

This skunk eats primarily insects. It pounces on bugs on the surface or it may dig for larvae and beetles with its claws. If insects are not plentiful, these skunks are able find and eat fruits and small vertebrates. (Dragoo & Honeycutt, 1999)

Animal Foods: birds; mammals; amphibians; eggs; insects; terrestrial non-insect arthropods

Plant Foods: seeds, grains, and nuts; fruit

Primary Diet: carnivore (Insectivore )

The skunks overturn earth while digging for food and mix up the soil. Also, since they eat a lot of insects, especially harmful crop-eating insects, they help keep insect levels low. (Dragoo & Honeycutt, 1999)

Ecosystem Impact: soil aeration

These animals mainly fend off predators by temporarily blinding their attacker with powerfully scented musk from their anal glands. Many animals learn to stay away from the black and white warning colors of the skunk's fur. (Kruska, 1990)

Known Predators:

• Predatory birds
• Large carnivores
• Some snakes

In captivity the animal has been known to live seven to eight years. (Lichtenstein, online; Kruska, 1990)

Average lifespan

Status: captivity: 7-8 years.

The animals are known to be rather solitary and may only come together during the mating season. (Dragoo & Honeycutt, 1999)

Mating System: polygynandrous (promiscuous)

The breeding season is in February and March. The gestation period is about two months long and between two and four kits are born. After about two months the young are weaned and leave the den. Sexual maturity is reached in about ten months to one year. (Kruska, 1990; Dragoo & Honeycutt, 1999)

Breeding season: February and March

Range number of offspring: 2 to 4.

Average gestation period: 2 months.

Average weaning age: 2 months.

Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 10 to 12 months.

Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 10 to 12 months.

Key Reproductive Features: gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); viviparous

The mother has her young in her den so that they are sheltered and protected. The young are altricial at birth but can crawl and emit a few drops of musk from the anal gland before their eyes open. (Lichtenstein, online)

Parental Investment: altricial

This species is being watched by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. There is talk of putting this skunk on the endangered species list. (Dragoo & Honeycutt, 1999)

US Federal List: no special status

CITES: no special status

Rounded Global Status Rank: T4 - Apparently Secure

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N3 - Vulnerable

These skunks carry rabies that can be transmitted to humans or their pets. Also, if a human does get sprayed, the smell can be a lingering nuisance. (Aranda & Lopez-de Buen, 1999)

Negative Impacts: causes or carries domestic animal disease

The skunk eats crop-eating bugs to save agricultural products. Hog-nosed skunks try to avoid human contact so there is less a threat of being sprayed. Although their fur is coarse, some animals are trapped for fur in Texas. Also, the skunks turn up lots of new earth. (Gray, 1837; Dragoo & Honeycutt, 1999)

Positive Impacts: controls pest population

Comments: Conepatus leuconotus and C. mesoleucus formerly were regarded as distinct species (Jones et al. 1992; Wozencraft, in Wilson and Reeder 1993). Dragoo and Honeycut (1995) examined morphological and molecular characters of Conepatus skunks and determined that (1) C. mesoleucus is not a species distinct from C. leuconotus, (2) Conepatus subspecies texensis, mearnsi, mesoleucus, nelsoni, venaticus, nicaraguae, sonoriensis, and filipensis should be lumped as C. leuconotus leuconotus, (3) subspecies figginsi and fremonti should be lumped as C. l. figginsi, and (4) C. mesoleucus telmalestes should be regarded as C. leuconotus telmalestes (though they suggested that further genetic research may indicate that telmalestes is not a valid taxon).