Striped Skunk Skull Replica

Description

Striped Skunk Skull Replica measures 3.3 inches or 8cm. Striped Skunk Skull Replica is museum quality polyurethane cast. Made in USA. Cast from original specimen. 2-part skull (separate cranium and jaw). Our precise skull can be used as a teaching tool, museum skull exhibit, home décor skull, or office décor skull.

The Striped Skunk, Black Tailed Skunk, Hudsonian Skunk, Northern Skunk or Mephitis mephitis is a stoutly-built, short-limbed animal with a small, conical head and a long, heavily furred tail. The forefeet are armed with five long, curved claws adapted for digging, while those on the hind feet are shorter and straighter.

The color consist of a black base with a white stripe extending from the head along the flanks to the rump and tail. Some Striped skunks or Mephitis mephitis have a white patch on the chest.

The Striped skunk possess highly developed, musk-filled scent glands to ward off predators, containing about 15 milliliters of musk each used for protection, which can be sprayed at a distance of several meters. Found north of Mexico, Canada and the United States.

The Striped skunk or Mephitis mephitis may dig its own dens, though it will appropriate those abandoned by other animals should the opportunity present itself. These dens are normally used only in late fall, winter, and early spring, while females with unweaned kits make use of them in late spring and summer.

While primarily an insectivore, the Striped skunk or Mephitis mephitis is adaptable enough to incorporate other animals and even vegetable matter into its diet. The most frequently consumed insects include grasshoppers, beetles, crickets, and caterpillars.

In the winter and spring months, the Striped skunk or Mephitis mephitis will supplement its diet with vertebrates such as white-footed mice, voles, eggs and the chicks of ground nesting birds.

Striped skunks inhabiting California’s coastal areas will feed on crabs and beached fish. While not adapted for chasing fleet-footed prey, at least one specimen was observed pursuing gray cottontails into their burrows.

When in season, the skunk will also consume vegetable matter, such as apples, blueberries, black cherries, ground cherries, corn and nightshade.

Striped Skunk Facts:

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Mephitidae
Genus: Mephitis
Species: M. mephitis
Binomial name: Mephitis mephitis
Scientific name: viverra-mephitis-schreberm
Conservation status: Least concern

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