40 
JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY 
TWO NEW SKUNKS OF THE GENUS CONEPATUS 
By E. a. Goldman 
Skunks of the genus Conepatus are as a rule far less numerous than 
are those of the genera Mephitis and Spilogale which over a wide area, 
embracing most of Mexico and sections of the southwestern United 
States, may occur at the same localities. Study of slowly accumulated 
material assignable to this unrevised genus has resulted in the dis- 
covery of two hitherto unrecognized geographic races which are 
described below. 
Conepatus mesoleucus venaticus subsp. nov. 
ARIZONA HOG-NOSED SKUNK 
Type from Blue River (Cosper Ranch), 12 miles south of Blue, Arizona (alti- 
tude 5000 feet). No. 205376, cT old adult, U. S. National Museum (Biological 
Survey Collection), collected by E. A. Goldman, September 1, 1914. Original 
number 22459. 
Distribution. — Southeastern Arizona and adjacent parts of New Mexico, 
Sonora and Chihuahua, mainly in Upper and Lower Sonoran Zones. 
General characters. — A rather small form most closely allied to C. m. mearnsi; 
general size and color similar; skull decidedly narrower and differing in detail. 
Color (type). — Top of head, upper surface of neck, back, and tail above and 
below, white, the tail with a thin admixture of dark hairs along median portion; 
face, sides of neck, flanks, fore and hind legs and underparts black as usual in 
the group. 
Skull. — Closely resembling that of C. m. mearnsi, but narrower throughout; 
braincase smaller, less expanded; zygomata less widely spreading; interorbital 
region more constricted; interpterygoid fossa narrower; nasals narrower; audital 
bullas variable, but usually slightly smaller, less inflated; sagittal crest in adult 
males very prominent; dentition about as in mearnsi (less heavy than in C. m. 
mesoleucus). 
Measurements (type). — ^Total length, 630; tail vertebrae, 230; hind foot, 76. 
An adult female topotype, 585, 255, 70. Average and extremes of 2 adult males 
from Graham Mountains, Arizona, 640 (640-640); 255 (250-260); 73.5 (73-74). 
Skull (type). — Greatest length, 72.9 (median line); condylobasal length, 70.2; 
zygomatic breadth, 49.4; interorbital breadth, 18.6; width of braincase at con- 
striction behind zygomata, 37.4; mastoidal breadth, 42.7; median width of inter- 
pterygoid fossa, 6.6; front of canine to back of large upper molar, 22.4; length 
of upper incisor series at cingula, 11. 
Remarks. — Specimens from Diamond Greek and head of Mimbres River, 
New Mexico, assigned to C. m. mearnsi are very variable and indicate inter- 
gradation with C. m. venaticus. From its geographic neighbor on the south, 
C. sonoriensis, the Arizona form differs markedly in the smaller size of the skull, 
with relatively longer, narrower nasals and narrower interpterygoid space. The 
extension of white of upper parts is variable as usual in the species. It usually 
