Skunk

Skunks are mammals in the family Mephitidae, which includes the striped, spotted, hog-nosed, hooded skunks, and stink badgers, among other species.

Within skunk species and subspecies, fur may vary in appearance from black-and-white to brown, cream, ginger-colored, and white (non-albino) colors, but they all display aposematism (or warning coloration), with the stereotypical white-on-black counter-shaded appearance being highly visible. Their fur patterns range from stripes to hoods, and complex spots.

Skunks are crepuscular and solitary omnivores, primarily eating insects and roots.

While many millions of years ago skunks were once native to various parts of the world they are currently only located naturally in the Americas continents, as well as islands in the Philippines and Indonesia. Some of their oldest range included Europe, with the oldest identified skunk fossil found in Germany, dated to 11–12 million years ago.

The most unique aspect of skunks is their ability to spray a foul-smelling fluid. The fluid is produced in specialized anal sacs evolved from sacs that all mammals possess. Muscles surrounding these sacs allow for skunks to accurately spray the fluid over 1 meter (3 feet), with some species able to spray upwards of 6 meters (20 feet). Skunks are also able to aerosolize the fluid into a mist if they cannot aim.

Their prior noted striking appearance serves as a warning to potential predators of the small animal. When frightened they may also move to alert and scare the target before spraying, these movements may include running towards the target aggressively, stomping, snarling, and even performing handstands with the tail held high.

Classification
Mephitids were once classified as mustelids (polecats, badgers, ferrets, etc), under the family Mustelidae. Recent genetic evidence shows that skunks are more distantly related to mustelids than once thought. The most distantly related mephitids are the old world stink badgers (Genus Mydaus), native to the Philippines and Indonesia.

Mephitidae is part of the superfamily Musteloidea, itself a part of the order Carnivora. Mephitidae shares this superfamily with Ailuridae (red pandas), Procyonidae (raccoons), and Mustelidae. Within this superfamily Mephitidae is closest related to Ailuridae and Procyonidae.

The living species of skunks include:


 * Family: Mephitidae
 * Genus: Conepatus (hog-nosed skunks)
 * Conepatus chinga – Molina's hog-nosed skunk
 * Conepatus humboldtii – Humboldt's hog-nosed skunk
 * Conepatus leuconotus – American hog-nosed skunk
 * Conepatus semistriatus – striped hog-nosed skunk
 * Genus: Mephitis (skunks)
 * Mephitis macroura - hooded skunk
 * Mephitis mephitis – striped skunk
 * Genus: Mydaus (stink badgers)
 * Mydaus marchei – palawan stink badger
 * Mydaus javanensis – sunda stink badger
 * Genus: Spilogale (spotted skunks)
 * Spilogale angustifrons – southern spotted skunk
 * Spilogale gracilis – western spotted skunk
 * Spilogale putorius – eastern spotted skunk
 * Spilogale pygmaea – pygmy spotted skunk

Skunks in mainstream
Skunks are popular characters in (especially children's) media, with examples including Pepé Le Pew from Warner Bros.' Looney Tunes, Fifi La Fume from Warner Bros.' Tiny Toon Adventures, Kicks from Animal Crossing, Flower from The Walt Disney Company's Bambi, and many others. In these depictions, they are often seen as cute and lovable.

But the most common trope involving skunks is of them having a foul odor. This stems, as noted before, from their self-defense spray mechanism. This trope is often pushed to them having an unbearable odor at all times (Pepé Le Pew, Johnny Appleseed, Stella the skunk, Open Season ' s Rosie and Maria, Cory "Cilantro" the skunk, etc), which is generally false. Typical skunks will smell musty, like ferrets or other mustelids, but will not smell like they have been sprayed on.

Skunks have a negative perception among the general populous. They are seen as vermin that eat trash and die as roadkill. Dogs and other pets are commonly sprayed by skunks.

The relative frequency of being sprayed by a skunk (being skunked) has led to numerous home remedies to rid the smell from clothing, skin, hair, etc. The most famous of such remedies is the (ineffective) tomato juice bath, with other ineffective remedies including beer. A widely agreed upon working remedy is a solution of hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and soap used to clean important things like skin and hair.

Pets
Some people keep skunks as an uncommon pet, especially for their fur pattern. While they are native, pet skunks are seen as exotic in North America. The most commonly kept species is Mephitis mephitis, which is the most social and familiar. Pet skunks often have their scent glands surgically removed, except in the UK where it is illegal (as per the Animal Welfare Act 2006). Pet skunks are trained to use litter boxes, which they may have trouble finding when first trained or when the box is moved.

Mainstream skunk characters

 * Pepé Le Pew (Warner Bros.' Looney Tunes)
 * Fifi La Fume (Warner Bros.' Tiny Toon Adventures)
 * Bimbette Skunk (Warner Bros.' Tiny Toon Adventures)
 * Kicks (Nintendo's Animal Crossing)
 * Flower (The Walt Disney Company's Bambi)
 * Stella the skunk (Over the Hedge)
 * Rosie (Open Season)
 * Maria (Open Season)
 * Miss Mam'selle Hepzibah (Pogo)
 * Petunia (Mondo Media's Happy Tree Friends)
 * Skunk (ABC Monsters's Skunk Fu!)
 * Geoffrey St. John (Sonic the Hedgehog (Archie Comics))
 * Cyrille Le Paradox (Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time)

Skunks and furry
Skunks are a commonly chosen species for furry characters/OCs, fursonas and/or fursuits in the furry fandom, with polls and references listing this preference in the top 20 of all species for several decades.

Anthropomorphic female skunks are sometimes referred to affectionately as skunkettes. Its creation is attributed to furry artists Taral Wayne and Steve Martin (of Mauvette fame).

There are a variety of fictional furry skunk species, with the most prominent of them being the skunktaur.

Skunks are often associated with the flatuence fetish, eproctophilia, in media and play (i.e. fursuiting).

Furry skunk characters

 * Sabrina (Sabrina Conrad, née Sabrina Skunk. Sabrina Online)
 * Tabitha Skunk (Sabrina Online)
 * Zig Zag (Max Black Rabbit)
 * Meredith Skunk (The World of Vicki Fox)
 * Sue-chan (Andorozon)
 * Passion (Extinctioners)
 * Frenchie (Steve Martin)
 * Gwenneth (Kevin & Kell)
 * Martin "Marty" Miller (Cycles)