Molina's Hog-nosed Skunk

Conepatus chinga

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

Molina's hog-nosed skunk — known in Spanish as zorrino común or chingue — is the most widespread skunk in South America, occurring from Peru to Patagonia. Its coat is black with two white bands that start on the head and run along the back. It is nocturnal, solitary and omnivorous, with a preference for beetles and grubs that it digs up with its front claws and hardened snout. It is common in farmland and on the edges of towns, and its habit of scratching up lawns in search of grubs has earned it a bad name among householders.

Weight

1 kg – 3 kg

Size

30 cm – 50 cm

Lifespan

10 years

Diet

Omnivore

Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.

Activity

Nocturnal

Active mainly at night.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

Temperate forestMountainGrasslandOmnivore Nocturnal Solitary Temperate forest Mountain Grassland Mammal

7countries 39parks3same family

Fun facts

GeneralIt sprays a foul-smelling fluid from its anal glands as far as 3 metres.
Its anal secretion contains sulphur compounds so persistent that the smell can last for weeks in clothing and be detected more than a kilometre away with a favourable wind.
It is practically immune to the venom of South American rattlesnakes and has been documented killing and eating them, a resistance it shares with other American skunks.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Grassland, scrub, open woodland and farmland of central and southern South America
Sexual maturity: 10 months
Gestation / incubation: 2 months
Litter / clutch size: 3

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conepatus_chinga