FIELD BOOK OF MAMMALS 



Chihuahua Spotted Skunk. — Spilogale amhigua (Mearns). 

 Marked like gracilis, but with broad, white lateral stripes 

 and white band on thighs. Total length, males, 16.5 inches; 

 tail vertebras, 5.9 inches; hind foot, 1.7 inches. Found 

 "from central Arizona south over the western edge of the 

 Mexican table-land to Jalisco." (Howell) 



Arizona Spotted Skunk. — Spilogale arizona arizoncB (Mearns). 

 A'larked much as in gracilis and leucoparia; broad, white, 

 lateral stripe; tail white on terminal upper third and lower 

 half. Total length, males, 17.8 inches; tail vertebrae, 6.4 

 inches; hind foot, 2 inches. Found in "Central and southern 

 Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, and adjacent parts of 

 Mexico." (Howell) 



California Spotted Skunk. — Spilogale phenax phenax Mer- 

 riam. 

 Resembling putorius in color pattern and size, but tail 

 shorter; white dorsal stripes extending between ears; large 

 white spots on forehead and in front of ear; white, curved 

 patch on base of tail smaller than in putorius ; white on tail 

 for terminal upper fourth and lower half. Total length, 

 males, 17- 19.4 inches; tail vertebra, 5.7-7.8 inches; hind 

 foot, 1.9-2. 1 inches. Found in "Greater portion of California, 

 excepting extreme northern part and southeastern desert 

 regions. ' ' (Howell) 



Oregon Spotted Skunk. — Spilogale phenax latifrons Merriam. 

 Smaller than typical phenax, with more black; white dorsal 

 stripes narrower, median pair usually very slender; lateral 

 white stripe reduced or absent; white markings on flanks 

 and rump reduced. Total length, males, 15.4- 17.4 inches; 

 tail vertebrae, 4.7-5.8 inches; hind foot, 1.8-2 inches. Found 

 in "Coast region of Oregon and northern California." 

 (Howell) 



Puget Sound Spotted Skunk. — Spilogale phenax olympica 

 (Elliot). 

 Marked as in latifrons, but with shorter tail, and longer, 

 narrower white frontal spot. Total length, males, 16.5 

 inches; tail vertebras, 4.5 inches; hind foot, 1.9 inches. 

 Found in "The Olympic Peninsula and shores of Puget 

 Sound; north (probably) to Howe Sound, British Colum- 

 bia." (Howell) 



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The Spotted Skunk is not only the smallest of the North 

 American Skunks, but it is the handsomest as well. The 

 conspicuous color pattern of broken black and white differs 

 noticeably from the pattern on the larger Skunks which is 

 marked by black and white in broad bands or masses. In 

 addition, the Spotted Skunks are more slender and graceful 

 in build. They are like their larger relatives, however, in 

 their ability to defend tljemselves. 



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