American hog-nosed skunk | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Carnivora |
Family: | Mephitidae |
Genus: | Conepatus |
Species: | C. leuconotus
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Binomial name | |
Conepatus leuconotus (Lichtenstein, 1832)
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Conepatus leuconotus range |
The American hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus leuconotus) is a species of hog-nosed skunk from Central and North America, and is one of the largest skunks in the world, growing to lengths of up to 2.7 feet (82 cm).[2] Recent work has concluded the western hog-nosed skunk (formerly Conepatus mesoleucus) is the same species, and Conepatus leuconotus is the correct name of the merged populations.[3]
In Texas, it is commonly known as the rooter skunk for its habit of rooting and overturning rocks and debris in search of food.