The Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis) is a small North American musteloid featured in the Twilight Pack DLC for Planet Zoo.
Zoopedia Description
General[]
Population In Wild: Unknown
The striped skunk (or Mephitis mephitis) is a small mammal found throughout North America, including southern Canada, the US and northern Mexico. It is a stocky animal with short legs, a broad build and bushy tail. Its narrow face has a pointed snout, and small round ears. Striped skunks are covered in thick and coarse black and white fur and are named for their distinctive pattern: black fur with a white scalp that leads into two stripes along their back and onto their tall. Male skunks are 15.2 inches to 18.4 inches long with a 13.2 inches to 16.4 inches long tail, and weigh 4.4 lb to 12.1 lb. Females are slightly smaller at 13.6 inches to 16.4 inches head-body length, a 12 inches to 14.8 inches long tail, and a weight of 4 lb to 10.8 lb.
Striped Skunks are considered a species of least concern and are not endangered. Humans have tamed and kept striped skunks for fur farming, as pest control and pets for centuries.
Social[]
The striped skunk is a solitary animal, although male and female skunks may form temporary pairings or harems during the mating season.
Reproduction[]
During the mating season from February to April, males will roam far and track females by the scent of their urine. A female in oestrus will act submissively towards an approaching male and allow him to mount her. He will stay with her and defend her from competitors for about 35 days. During a breeding season, he may accumulate and guard a harem of multiple females.
When the male stops guarding her, the female retreats to her den. Following a pregnancy of 59 to 77 days, she will give birth to a litter of 1 to 10 cubs, on average 4 or 5. The infants remain in the den until 6 weeks old, at which age they begin eating solid food and accompanying their mother on foraging trips. They are fully weaned by 10 weeks old, and become independent soon after.
Striped skunks reach sexual maturity between 10 and 12 months old.
Animal Care[]
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Dry Kibble · Insects · Fruit and Vegetables | |
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Trivia[]
Zoopedia Facts[]
- Striped skunks do not hibernate, although those living in colder climates may enter a state of torpor during the winter in which they may lose up to 50% of their body weight.
- The striped skunk can project foul-smelling liquid up to 9.9 feet, and the smell can linger for over 2 weeks.
- Striped skunk spray contains sulphur compounds that give it its unpleasant rotten egg smell.
- The striped skunk is immune to snake venom and is known to eat rattlesnakes.
- The Latin name for the skunk is 'Mephitis', which comes from the name of Mefitis, the Samnite goddess of volcanoes and poisonous gases.
Gallery[]
