Humboldt's Hog-nosed Skunk

Conepatus humboldtii

Least Concern

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

The Patagonian hog-nosed skunk is the skunk of the southern cone of the Americas, recognisable by two broad white stripes running along its black back. It has a toughened snout and long front claws with which it turns over the soil in search of beetles, grubs, earthworms and small vertebrates, as well as fruit. It is nocturnal and solitary, and spends the day in burrows it digs itself or takes over from other animals. It is common across the Patagonian steppe and tolerates extensive grazing well.

Weight

1.5 kg – 3 kg

Size

30 cm – 49 cm

Lifespan

8 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

DesertMountainGrasslandOmnivore Nocturnal Solitary Desert Mountain Grassland Mammal

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Fun facts

It gives warning before spraying: it stamps the ground with its front feet, arches its back, raises its tail and shows the white stripes; only if the intruder persists does it fire an oily fluid from its anal glands that carries several metres.
Its white stripes on a black ground are a classic example of aposematic colouring: they are not for concealment but for precisely the opposite, to be recognised from a distance and avoided.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Patagonian steppe, arid scrub and mountain grassland of southern South America
Gestation / incubation: 2 months
Litter / clutch size: 3

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