Conepatus Research Articles

Spatial Organization and Home Range Patterns of the American Hog-nosed Skunk (Conepatus leuconotus)

Abstract The American hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus leuconotus) is an understudied mesocarnivore for which no extensive ecological studies have been conducted. We radio-collared 29 skunks (15 male, 14 female) at a site in west-central Texas, U.S.A. and used data from 14 (5 male, 9 female) to determine patterns of home range and spatial organization. Home range (95% fixed kernel) of males averaged three times that of females (1.9 km2 vs. 0.64 km2) and extensive intrasexual and intersexual overlap in home ranges was documented. Female home ranges and core areas differed significantly in their topography (changes with which were associated with habitat difference) from those of males. Home range sizes were correlated with body size and gender, but intersexual differences between home range sizes and their topography indicate space-use patterns between male and female American hog-nosed skunks are influenced by factors beyond metabolic requirements alone. Specifically, we believe male home ranges are large to ma...

Detection of Rickettsia bellii and Rickettsia amblyommii in Amblyomma longirostre (Acari: Ixodidae) from Bahia state, Northeast Brazil.

Studies investigating rickettsial infections in ticks parasitizing wild animals in the Northeast region of Brazil have been confined to the detection of Rickettsia amblyommii in immature stages of Amblyomma longirostre collected from birds in the state of Bahia, and in immatures and females of Amblyomma auriculariumcollected from the striped hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus semistriatus) and armadillos (Euphractus sexcinctus) in the state of Pernambuco. The current study extends the distribution of R. amblyommii (strain Aranha), which was detected in A. longirostre collected from the thin-spined porcupine Chaetomys subspinosus and the hairy dwarf porcupine Coendou insidiosus. In addition, we report the first detection of Rickettsia bellii in adults of A. longirostre collected from C. insidiosus in the state of Bahia.

Primeiro registro de um Mephitidae (Mammalia: Carnivora) naturalmente infectado por parasitos do gênero Physaloptera (Rudolphi, 1918) (Spirurida: Physalopteridae)

Os animais silvestres podem ser considerados reservatorios de especies de varios parasitos. A ocorrencia de determinados agentes parasitarios pode fornecer informacoes importantes sobre a ecologia e o comportamento do hospedeiro e suas relacoes troficas. Dessa forma, este estudo teve por objetivo determinar a fauna parasitaria de animais silvestres do sul de Minas Gerais no periodo de janeiro a dezembro de 2011. Foi realizado um estudo transversal com uma amostra de conveniencia constituida por cadaveres de dois animais atropelados, que foram resgatados de rodovias e transportados para o Laboratorio de Anatomia Animal da Universidade Federal de Lavras (UFLA). Os exemplares foram inspecionados para verificacao da presenca de ectoparasitos e, em seguida, dissecados para recuperacao do conteudo gastrintestinal e deteccao de helmintos. Nao foram identificados ectoparasitos nos dois animais, ambos da especie Conepatus semistriatus (jaritataca), mas foi identificada a presenca de helmintos do genero Physaloptera no estomago de um especime.

New data on the distribution and natural history of the lesser grison (Galictis cuja), hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus chinga), and culpeo (Lycalopex culpaeus) in northwestern Argentina

AbstractWe present a total of 190 new distribution records of three little-known mammalian carnivores (

A transitional skunk, Buisnictis metabatos sp. nov. (Mephitidae, Carnivora), from Baja California Sur and the role of southern refugia in skunk evolution

Fossil records for basal New World skunks (subfamily Mephitinae) have been slowly but steadily increasing in recent years. Fossils for both living and extinct genera are now dense enough that actual evolutionary steps leading to living clades are beginning to be resolvable. We document a new species of the extinct, transitional genera Buisnictis, B. metabatos sp. nov., from Early Pliocene San José del Cabo Basin, Baja California Sur, México. B. metabatos possesses a combination of primitive and derived features, including a broadened P4 protocone shelf, a notch anterior to the m1 entoconid, and relatively unexpanded M1 lingual cingulum. It thus fills in yet another morphological gap and it is at a basal position within or just outside of the living skunk clade. Although current records are still far too scattered to resolve detailed zoogeographical patterns, we are in a position to speculate that since the Early Pliocene, southern North America and Central America have acted as a refugium for skunks. As a basal skunk, Buisnictis metabatos probably gave rise to the modern crown clade. There is evidence to suggest that both spotted skunks (Spilogale) and hog-nosed skunks (Conepatus) had their centres of diversification in Mexico or Central America. The only exception may be the striped and hooded skunks (Mephitis), which have a more northerly distribution.http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:4B6D618A-A25D-4855-AAD5-AE93DFE900C7

First Isolation of Leptospira interrogans from Lycalopex griseus (South American Gray Fox) in Argentina Shows New MLVA Genotype

To identify carriers of Leptospira spp. in Argentina, wild animals were trapped in Buenos Aires Province during three nights, capturing 12 Didelphis albiventris (white-eared opossum), six Chaetophractus villosus (big hairy armadillo), five Lycalopex griseus (South American gray fox), and two Conepatus chinga (Molina's hog-nosed skunk). All were tested by microscopic agglutination test, and five (two gray foxes, two armadillos, and one skunk) were positive for Leptospira interrogans serovars Canicola and Icterohaemorrhagiae, L. borgpetersenii serovar Castellonis, and L. kirschneri serovar Grippotyphosa, at titers of 1:50 and 1:100. Kidney tissue from all animals was cultured, and one isolate of L. interrogans from a gray fox was obtained. Hamsters inoculated with the isolate died after 6 days with no macroscopic lesions at necropsy. However, histologic examination revealed glomerulonephritis, interstitial nephritis, and pneumonia. The Leptospira strain from the South American gray fox was analyzed serologically and its pathogenicity was established. Genotyping through multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis showed that the strain was a new genotype related to the L. interrogans serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae.

Abundance of Conepatus chinga (Carnivora, Mephitidae) and other medium-sized mammals in grasslands of southern Brazil

Between January 2007 and December 2010, the abundance of medium-sized mammals was studied, with special focus on the Molina's hog-nosed skunk, Conepatus chinga (Molina, 1782), at four locations in southern Brazil. In this study, transect line methodology was used to obtain data for Distance Analyses. Transects were traveled by car at night, searching with spotlights along the edges of secondary roads in agricultural landscapes. Along 1,811 km, we obtained 620 observations of 20 mammal species. The most common species was the exotic European hare, Lepus europaeus (Pallas, 1778); the highest abundance estimated for South America was observed in one of the study areas, where its density was estimated as 32 individuals/km². Carnivores were the most commonly recorded mammals, represented by 10 species and comprising 51% of all observations. Molina's hog-nosed skunk occurred in all study areas, but occurred in sufficient numbers to obtain density estimates in only two of the areas. We estimated 1.4 to 3.8 individuals/km², in the first density estimate made by the transect method for a member of Conepatus in the Neotropics. These values are similar to those estimated for North American species of Mephitidae. In Brazil, C. chinga is apparently more abundant in the Pampa biome than in the grasslands of the Atlantic Forest. For two other carnivores, Lycalopex gymnocercus (Fisher, 1814) and Cerdocyon thous (Linnaeus, 1766), we estimated preliminary densities that were similar to those previously cited for different regions.

Habitat selection of Molina's hog-nosed skunks in relation to prey abundance in the Pampas grassland of Argentina

Abstract We radiotracked 16 (6 males, 10 females) adult Molina's hog-nosed skunks (Conepatus chinga) to examine habitat selection using compositional analysis at 2 spatial scales in a protected area and a landscape fragmented by agriculture. To aid in understanding the habitat use of skunks, the abundance of invertebrates was estimated in each habitat. Habitat use and selection varied between the 2 study sites. Skunks selected habitat at landscape level but not at home range level in the protected area. In the cropland area skunks showed overall habitat selection at both scales, although at landscape level we did not detect a significant ranking of habitats. In both sites, when we found a significant selection grassland patches ranked first. Although this habitat does not reach 10% of the total area, it presented the highest abundance of Coleoptera. Because Coleoptera are the main prey item of this mephitid, these results support the hypothesis that habitat selection in C. chinga is highly related to food...

Hog-Nosed Skunks (Conepatus leuconotus) Along the Gulf of Mexico: Population Status and Genetic Diversity

We examined 12 hog-nosed skunks (Conepatus leuconotus) from southern Texas and central Tamaulipas, Mexico, during 2004–2009. We amplified the entire mitochondrial-DNA control region (D-loop) from three individuals. Results indicated that these sequences were from distinct maternal lineages with 15 variable sites. However, when reduced and compared to previously published sequences, we observed a low overall pairwise difference of 0.1% (SE = 0.1%). Our results suggest that hog-nosed skunks are persisting along the Gulf Coast region of southern Texas and northern Mexico.Examinamos 12 zorrillos de lomo blanco (Conepatus leuconotus) del sur de Texas y de la región central de Tamaulipas, México, durante 2004–2009. Amplificamos en su totalidad la región control de ADN mitocondrial (D-loop) de tres individuos. Los resultados indicaron que estas secuencias fueron de linajes maternos distintos con 15 sitios variables. Sin embargo, cuando se redujeron y se compararon con las secuencias previamente publicadas, se observó una diferencia general baja de 0.1% (EE = 0.1%). Nuestros resultados sugieren que el zorrillo de lomo blanco persiste en la región costera del golfo de México del sur de Texas y del norte de México.

Differential patterns of home-range, net displacement and resting sites use of Conepatus chinga in southern Brazil

Studies on the spatial ecology of Molina's hog-nosed skunk were conducted in southern Brazil. Between April 2008 and April 2009, 18 individuals were tagged with radio collars and monitored by radio-telemetry (VHF). The average home-range estimated for 12 skunks was 1.63km2±1.17km2. Males had home-ranges 2.5 times larger than females, and also showed significantly larger patterns of displacement. These differences in space probably were related not only to sexual size dimorphism, but also to differential behavior between sexes. We identified six basic types of resting sites, among which holes in the ground were the most common and comprised more than 50% of the total. Reuse of resting sites was high (32%), especially for females, which had a significantly higher rate than males. Although they showed a large proportion of home-range overlap even in the core areas, skunks exhibited a solitary life style, rarely sharing resting sites and maintaining relatively long distances from each other, equivalent to twice the distance of daily movements. The almost strictly nocturnal activity pattern observed in this study is a common characteristic of the family. Among practically all of the ecological features analyzed, males and females showed significant differences, denoting the importance of a sex-specific approach in ecological studies regarding this species.

A New Species of Atriotaenia (Cestoda: Anoplocephalidae) from the Hog-Nosed Skunk Conepatus chinga (Carnivora: Mephitidae) In Peru

Atriotaenia sanmarci n. sp. (Cestoda: Anoplocephalidae) is described as a parasite of the Andean hog-nosed skunk, Conepatus chinga (Carnivora: Mephitidae), from Cusco, Perú. The new species is primarily distinguished from related species by the distribution, and greater number, of testes, i.e., 194-223 versus 40-60 in Atriotaenia sandgroundi (Sandground, 1926) Baer, 1935, 47-73 in Atriotaenia procyonis (Chandler, 1942) Spasskii, 1951, and 21-84 in Atriotaenia incisa Railliet, 1899. Also, there are differences with respect to the larger dimensions of suckers (300-371 µm vs. 140 in A. sandgroundi, 83-134 in A. procyonis, 70-140 in A. incisa, and 155-192 in Atriotaenia hastati Vaucher, 1982) and in the cirrus pouch length (204-732 µm vs. 90 in A. sandgroundi, 200-220 in A. procyonis, 100-180 in A. incisa, and 150-205 in A. hastati). The new species differs from A. sandgroundi and A. hastati in having a larger body size (122-133 mm vs. 10.6 and 10, respectively). This cestode is the fifth species of Atriotaenia Sandground, 1926.

Differences in diet and trophic interactions of Patagonian carnivores between areas with mostly native or exotic prey

The prey base for Patagonian carnivores has been altered greatly over the past 150 years due to widespread overgrazing by livestock, invasions by exotic wildlife, and hunting. On ranches in northern Patagonia carnivores consume mostly exotic species, and native herbivores are ecologically extinct in their role as prey. In this study we compare diets of the culpeo (Lycalopex culpaeus), chilla (L. griseus), puma (Puma concolor), Geoffroy's cat (Leopardus geoffroyi), colocolo (L. colocolo), and hog-nosed skunks (Conepatus chinga and C. humboldtii) in a reserve with a mostly native prey base to their diets on the ranches, and evaluate how differences in prey bases affect trophic interactions among carnivores. Carnivores in the reserve consumed mostly native prey. Dietary overlap among carnivores was not significant on the reserve, but was highly significant on the ranches. This homogenization of diets where densities of native species are reduced could lead to stronger negative interactions among carnivores, altering the composition of the carnivore assemblage to the detriment of the more specialized species. Study of carnivore diets may be a relatively quick way to evaluate the conservation status and ecological functionality of prey assemblages in Patagonia and other areas where these have been altered.

Field Immobilization of Molina’s Hog-nosed Skunk (Conepatus chinga) Using Ketamine and Xylazine

We injected 27 adult Molina's hog-nosed skunks (Conepatus chinga) intramuscularly by hand with ketamine hydrochloride (KH) and xylazine hydrochloride (XH) in the Pampas grassland of Argentina. Skunks were immobilized with a mean (±SD) dosage of 24.9±6.5 mg/kg KH and 1.9±0.6 mg/kg XH. The mean effective dosages of KH (27.6 mg/kg) and XH (1.7 mg/kg) were higher and lower, respectively, than those reported in skunks previously. Mean induction and recovery time were 5.3±1.9 min and 47.7±18.5 min, respectively. Hypothermia was the only problem detected in field immobilization and occurred in winter but did not appear to be associated with to drug doses. We conclude that KH/XH is a safe immobilizing drug combination for Molina's hog-nosed skunk.

Ticks (Acari: Ixodida) parasitizing free-living wild animals in the Caatinga biome in the State of Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil

Abstract Information on ticks from the Caatinga, a semi-arid biome unique to northeastern Brazil, is scarce. The present study reports field data on ticks infesting free-living wild animals in native Caatinga vegetation within the municipalities of Cabrobo, Custodia, Floresta, Ibimirim and Salgueiro, State of Pernambuco, Brazil. During field work from March 2009 to February 2010, a total of 91 ticks were collected from the following animals: Amblyomma rotundatum parasitizing Boa constrictor (tropical American boa); Amblyomma auricularium parasitizing Euphractus sexcintus (yellow armadillo), Galea spixii (Spix yellow-toothed cavy), Thrichomys apereoides (common punare), Monodelphis domestica (gray short-tailed opossum) and Conepatus semistriatus (striped hog-nosed skunk); Amblyomma parvum parasitizing G. spixii and T. apereoides; and Ornithodoros (Alectorobius) sp. parasitizing Wiedomys pyrrhorhinos (red-nosed mouse). We report the first tick infestation in northeastern Brazil on G. spixii and C. semistria...

Feeding habits of Molina's hog-nosed skunk, Conepatus chinga (Carnivora: Mephitidae) in the extreme south of Brazil

Feeding habits of the Molina's hog-nosed skunk, Conepatus chinga (Molina, 1782) in the extreme south of Brazil. We analyzed 60 stomachs of road-kills of C. chinga in the extreme south of Brazil. The contents revealed 808 prey parts, including invertebrates (frequency of occurrence - FO = 96.7% and relative abundance - RA = 94.7%), vertebrates (FO = 18.3% and RA = 2.8%) and plants (FO = 31.7% and RA = 2.3%). We identified 18 kinds of food, including the invertebrate order Coleoptera which showed the highest FO (86.7%) and RA (75.2%). Other important orders were Orthoptera (FO = 35% and RA = 10.4%) and Araneae (FO = 41.7% and RA = 4%). The combination of occurrence and abundance of the preys consumed allowed classifying C. chinga as an omnivorous with a predominance of insects, especially Coleoptera, consuming other invertebrates, vertebrates and plants in smaller numbers. Behavioral and morphological adaptations of C. chinga favor the predation of insects, which are preys that offer low physical resistance and are available in all terrestrial environments.

Climbing as an Escape Behavior in the American Hog-Nosed Skunk,Conepatus leuconotus

Climbing behavior is poorly documented in skunk species, with the exception of the genus Spilogale. Herein we describe 2 cases of climbing behavior in the American hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus leuconotus): one in Colima, Mexico, and another in west central Texas, USA. In both cases, a male climbed over 5 m into oak trees when pursued by humans. Climbing as an escape behavior in hog-nosed skunks has not previously been reported.

Dieta de Conepatus chinga (Carnívora: Mephitidae) en un bosque de Polylepis del departamento de Arequipa, Perú

The Andean hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus chinga) is a mephitine of widely distributed in the Peruvian Andes, Almost nothing is known about the species food habits. The present study documents the diet of the Andean hog-nosed skunk in a Polylepis forest of the western slope of the Andes in southern Peru. We analyzed 226 fecal samples, which were identified by their shape and consistency. Food items are shown based on their frequency of occurrence (FO) and percentage of biomass. Diet is composed of 19 components, mainly insects (94,11%) and other invertebrates (3,27%), with occasional presence of vertebrates (1,18%) and plants (1,43%), which explains the low values of the diversity indexes (1-D= 0,16) and width of trophic niche (B= 1, H´= 0,68).

Conepatus leuconotus (Carnivora: Mephitidae)

Conepatus leuconotus (Lichtenstein, 1832) is a mephitid commonly called the white-backed or American hog-nosed skunk. It is a sexually dimorphic species with a single white stripe along the back, and is 1 of 4 species in the genus Conepatus. It has been reported as far north as Colorado and throughout the southwestern United States including southern Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. The species occurs throughout Mexico and as far south as northern Costa Rica. It has been reported in a variety of habitats from canyons, stream sides, rocky terrain, various grasslands, tropical areas, mountains, and coastal plains. Several populations have been extirpated and others may be declining throughout the range.

The Andean hog-nosed skunk Conepatus chinga Molina, 1782 as a new definitive host for Spirometra erinacei Faust, Campbell & Kellog, 1929

This report describes the finding of Spirometra erinacei Faust, Campbell & Kellog, 1929 (Cestoda, Diphyllobothridae) infecting the small intestine of two Andean hog-nosed skunks ( Conepatus chinga Molina, 1782), collected from the locality “Abra La Raya”, at Cusco, Peru. Four cestodes were studied and identified as S. erinacei. This is the first report showing that the Andean hog-nosed skunk is one of the natural hosts for this parasite.

Chromosome painting shows that skunks (Mephitidae, Carnivora) have highly rearranged karyotypes

The karyotypic relationships of skunks (Mephitidae) with other major clades of carnivores are not yet established. Here, multi-directional chromosome painting was used to reveal the karyological relationships among skunks and between Mephitidae (skunks) and Procyonidae (raccoons). Representative species from three genera of Mephitidae (Mephitis mephitis, 2n = 50; Mephitis macroura, 2n = 50; Conepatus leuconotus, 2n = 46; Spilogale gracilis, 2n = 60) and one species of Procyonidae (Procyon lotor, 2n = 38) were studied. Chromosomal homology was mapped by hybridization of five sets of whole-chromosome paints derived from stone marten (Martes foina, 2n = 38), cat, skunks (M. mephitis; M. macroura) and human. The karyotype of the raccoon is highly conserved and identical to the hypothetical ancestral musteloid karyotype, suggesting that procyonids have a particular importance for establishing the karyological evolution within the caniforms. Ten fission events and five fusion events are necessary to generate the ancestral skunk karyotype from the ancestral carnivore karyotype. Our results show that Mephitidae joins Canidae and Ursidae as the third family of carnivores that are characterized by a high rate of karyotype evolution. Shared derived chromosomal fusion of stone marten chromosomes 6 and 14 phylogenetically links the American hog-nosed skunk and eastern spotted skunk.