HOG-NOSED SKUNK 



Species and Subspecies of the Genus Conepatus 

 Subgenus Oryctogale 



This genus is southern in its distribution, ranging from the 

 southern end of South America up through Central America 

 and reaching its northern Hmit just north of the Mexican 

 boundary. 



Meams Hog-nosed Skunk. — Conepatus mesoleucus mearnsi 

 Merriam. 

 As described above. Found in western Texas and south 

 beyond the Rio Grande, east as far as Austin. 



Swamp Hog-nosed Skunk; White-backed Skunk. — Conepatus 

 mesoleucus telmalesies Bailey. 

 Resembling meamsi but with lighter dentition and more 

 slender skull. "Whole upperparts and tail white, the white 

 extending forward on forehead nearly to eyes; lower parts, 

 sides, legs, and face black." (Bailey) Total length, males, 

 25 inches; tail vertebrae, 10.3 inches; hind foot, 3.1 inches. 

 Found in a small section of Texas included in the counties 

 of Liberty, Hardin, San Jacinto, Montgomery, and Harris. 



Arizona Hog-nosed Skunk. — Conepatus mesoleucus venaticus 

 Goldman. 

 Resembling mearnsi in size and color but differing in cranial 

 characters. Found in "Southeastern Arizona and adjacent 

 parts of New Mexico. ..." (Goldman) 



Texas Hog-nosed Skunk. — Co7iepatus leiiconotus texensis 

 Merriam. 

 Size large; white dorsal area more restricted than in mearnsi, 

 generally only a narrow stripe on rump and sometimes 

 completely cut off to leave rump black. Underside of tail 

 with much black. Total length, males, 33 inches, females, 

 28 inches; tail vertebras, males, 14.5 inches, females, 11.8 

 inches; hind foot, males, 3.4 inches, females, 3 inches. 

 Found in the "Coast strip of Texas from Rockport, Aransas 

 County, to mouth of Rio Grande." (Merriam.) 



The Hog-nosed Skunk is about the same size as the Large 

 Striped Skunk and more or less similarly colored, but differs 

 in having a hog-like muzzle, a smaller tail, and a single, broad 

 band of white down the back instead of a pair of lateral bands 

 separated by a black dorsal strip. In general behavior and 

 skunk-like attributes the two genera are much alike, except 

 that the Hog-nose is more of a digger, as would be indicated 

 by the special development of a rooting muzzle. 



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