the genus spilogale includes all skunks commonly known as spotted skunks and is composed of four different species : s. gracilis , s. putorius , s. pygmaea , s. angustifrons .

spotted skunk

not all skunk spray is the same . the striped skunk , spotted skunk and hog nosed skunk all have different compounds present in their defensive secretion .
“most people think a skunk is a skunk is a skunk , ” dowler says .
entryway to a male eastern spotted skunk’s den . photo courtesy of virginia tech .
© copyright roger barbour . all rights reserved . spilogale putorius - - eastern spotted skunk
morphological changes in the blastocyst of the western spotted skunk during activation from delayed implantation .
eastern spotted skunk being fitted with a radio collar . photo courtesy of virginia tech .
they found another spotted skunk two days later , on the survey ' s last day .
island spotted skunk - channel islands national park ( u . s . national park service )
island spotted skunks on the two islands differ only slightly , with those on santa rosa spotted skunk being slightly longer than those on santa cruz .
expression of epidermal growth factor receptor in the preimplantation uterus and blastocyst of the western spotted skunk .
frostburg state university conducted meso - carnivore surveys within the believed range of the eastern spotted skunk .
the eastern spotted skunk is a very small skunk , which ( for comparison sake ) is no larger than a good - sized tree squirrel .
inhabits the western half of the united states . some taxonomists call the western spotted skunk a subspecies of
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morphological changes in the blastocyst of the western spotted skunk during activation from delayed implantation . - pubmed - ncbi
the spotted skunk is not found in new england or the north - central states . spotted skunks are less common and occur most frequently in the highlands of the state .
the eastern spotted skunk ( spilogale putorius ) is a small , relatively slender skunk found throughout the eastern united states and in small areas of canada and mexico .
information on the western spotted skunk ( spilogale gracilis ) is being researched and written and will appear here shortly .
the western spotted skunk is classified as least concern ( lc ) on the iucn red list ( 1 ) .
expression of epidermal growth factor receptor in the preimplantation uterus and blastocyst of the western spotted skunk . - pubmed - ncbi
a western spotted skunk stands on its hands to deliver a smelly attack . ( credit : jerry w . dragoo )
northeastern state university and dickinson state university are currently studying “fringe mammals” in western north dakota . this includes eastern spotted skunk .
jellison , w . l . 1945 . spotted skunk and feral nutria in montana . j . mammal . 26 . 432 pp .
• determine presence of eastern spotted skunk in the state . • develop a protocol to monitor the eastern spotted skunk in the state . • develop research to define ecology , resource needs , and population dynamics of this species in the state if found to be present .
since insects are the spotted skunk ' s primary source of food , spotted skunks play an important role in insect control . they may also affect predator populations ( great horned owls ) , as items of prey .
flath , d . 1978 . written communication of western spotted skunk observation and specimen collection to montana natural heritage program , helena , mt .
kaplan , j . , r . mead . 1994 . seasonal changes in testicular function and seminal characteristics of the male eastern spotted skunk .
the eastern spotted skunk ranges from northeastern mexico through the great plains to the canadian border and throughout the southeastern united states north to pennsylvania .
i first spotted this plant last year while out picking . . . read more
eastern spotted skunk ready to be fitted with a radio collar for the dgif - funded virginia tech research study . photo courtesy of virginia tech .
if you see a spotted skunk , especially in the eastern half of the state or the panhandle , robert dowler would like to know about it . report your sighting to him at skunk . project @ urltoken .
click to enlarge this image . ( 25kb ) spilogale putorius ( eastern spotted skunk ) , appalachian trail click to enlarge this image . ( 326kb )
the species of greatest conservation concern is the eastern spotted skunk , or plains spotted skunk , which is found in the eastern half of texas and the panhandle and in the eastern united states . the u . s . fish and wildlife service is considering listing it as a threatened or endangered species .
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: the spotted skunk is the smaller and less common of the two skunks inhabiting the park and has been recorded up to 2 , 900 feet elevation .
loss of riparian areas is a major concern for eastern spotted skunk . it uses these areas to hunt , and also dens in logs and brush piles .
average size spotted skunks , weighing 1 to 4 pounds , are smaller than striped skunks .
the eastern spotted skunk is often confused with the more common striped skunk which is a different species . as you can see from the diagram above , compared to spotted skunks , striped skunks are larger in size ( although young striped skunks are often confused with spotteds ) and lack the distinctive spots compared to stripes along their body . more information on the natural history of eastern spotted skunks can be found here .
jellison , w . c . 1931 . little spotted skunk ( spilogale gracilis saxatilis ) , recorded for montana . journal of mammalogy . v12 . page 314 .
mead , r . a . 1968 . reproduction in western forms of the spotted skunk ( genus spilogale ) . journal of mammalogy 49 : 373 - 390 .
recently described as a separate species from the eastern spotted skunk because of differences in color pattern , cranial features , reproductive physiology , and breeding season ; the western spotted skunk is neither endangered nor threatened . it is adapting readily to the new sources of food and habitats provided by civilization ( davis and schmidley 1994 ) .
the eastern spotted skunk was once a widespread species across the midwestern and southeastern states , with harvests exceeding 100 , 000 animals a year for pelts . in the 1940s , populations seemed to crash across the animal’s range . texas put the plains spotted skunk on its watch list and awarded dowler a contract to assess its status .
a year later , he finally got rid of the skunk , though the use of the freezer never quite returned to pre - skunk levels .
island spotted skunks are only about a third as large as their competitor , the island fox .
jellison , w . l . 1945 . general notes : spotted skunk and feral nutria in montana . journal of mammalogy . 26 ( 4 ) : 432 - 443 .
we are all familiar with the striped skunk . bambi ' s friend flower and pepe le pew were striped skunks . in southern oregon we have another , less commonly seen skunk ; spilogale putorius , the spotted skunk , civet , or polecat . spilogale is the greek word for spotted polecat : putorius is latin for stench . some mammalogists consider our more slender western version , s . gracilis , a separate species . gracilis means slender .
eastern spotted skunks are mostly nocturnal . spotted skunks are much more alert and active than most skunks . when threatened , a foul - smelling oily secretion from the skunk ' s anal glands can be projected up to 4 m and is usually directed at the face of the threatening animal . the spotted skunk is noted for its characteristic
handstand
stance that it takes when threatened . before spraying its opponent , this skunk raises up on its front legs and turns its head to watch as it sprays . it is also the only member of the skunk family that can climb . ( davis and schmidley 1994 , grzmek 1972 )
( common skunk ) , with remarks on the physiological properties of this secretion .
1990 . new components in defensive secretion of the striped skunk , mephitis mephitis .
eastern spotted skunk is widely distributed and was once common but no overall population estimate is available . currently this species is classified as vulnerable ( vu ) and its numbers today are decreasing .
range channel islands spotted skunks currently occur only on santa cruz and santa rosaislands where they are widely distributed . spotted skunks occurred on san miguel island , probably until the late nineteenth century . fossil material has been collected on san miguel island and a spotted skunk was reportedly collected from san miguel island sometime during the 1870s . however , there have been no records of skunks on san miguel since then .
the spraying of the extremely foul - smelling fluid from the tail end of a skunk is something that predators , and spouses of skunk researchers , don’t soon forget .
hooded skunk : the hooded skunk looks much like the striped , but has a ruff of fur around the neck , and a very long , lush white plume for a tail . hog - nosed skunk : this is the least common skunk ; it is all white on the top of head , back , and tail . the underparts are black . there is a bare patch of skin on this skunk’s long nose .
nowhere in its range is the spotted skunk as common as the striped skunk , and in recent years it has declined drastically due to loss of habitat . formerly , the plains spotted skunk subspecies ( spilogale putorius interrupta ) was most common in the western half of the state , but it is now extremely rare and is listed as endangered in missouri . the decline is due to “clean” farming , which eliminates cover this species requires . pesticides have hastened the decline of these insectivores .
the average spotted skunk litter size is 3 to 5 . the young of both species are born blind and are not weaned until 8 to 9 weeks of age . family units stay together until fall
the spotted skunk has a range that covers most of the us and mexico , although the species is a bit less populous than the striped skunk . even less common are the hooded and hog - nosed species , which are only native to parts of the midwest , southwest and mexico .
when texas parks and wildlife department mammalogist jonah evans came across a road - killed spotted skunk and decided to save the specimen in the freezer at work , his co - workers were less than enthusiastic .
it is distinguished from spotted skunk subspecies on the mainland by its shorter tail and less white abdominal coloration , slightly larger size , broader skull , and proportionately less white and blacker in the fur . like the mainland subspecies , the island spotted skunks exhibit sexual size differences , with males averaging 28 % larger than females . this skunk is considerably smaller than striped skunks on the mainland and has softer , glossier fur .
= 0 . 034 ) . a posteriori tests revealed nonsignificant effects of overall predator abundance on the likelihood of pausing and scan length . there was a significant interaction between shape and skunk abundance with animals more likely to pause at skunk - shaped models with increasing skunk abundance (
the most well - known skunk characteristic is , of course , its ability to spray .
, 1982 . chemical constituents of the defensive secretion of the striped skunk ( mephitis mephitis ) .
evans’ sticky note that said “do not eat” on the skunk’s ziploc bag wasn’t too funny either .
dowler and evans both want to know more about how the different skunk species divide up habitat .
ooooh , that smell . . . must be skunk : the humane society of the united states
dowler’s team is in the process of surveying 10 sites to find where the eastern spotted skunk is , and isn’t . at each site , his team uses 120 traps or detection devices , checked daily during a weeklong survey .
reproduction the breeding season for spotted skunks on the islands is probably similar to spotted skunks on the mainland . western spotted skunks mate in september and october , and following delayed implantation and a 210 - 310 day gestation , give birth in april and may to 2 - 6 . counts of three and five uterine scars were recorded from two skunks collected at santa cruz island in september .
as north america ' s smallest skunk , these nocturnal mammals weigh two pounds or less and are under 20 inches long . the weasel - like spotted skunk differs from other skunks by its extremely silky fur and an arrangement of irregular elongated white patches the length of its body . spotty ' s tail is tipped in white .
striped skunks are native to north america , and can be found in northern mexico , throughout the united states , and as far north as central canada . other species of skunks , such as the spotted skunk and the hog - nosed skunk , can be found further south , ranging from canada to central and south america . stink badgers , which resemble the hog - nosed skunk , are strictly found in the philippines , malaysia , and indonesia . the striped skunk can be found throughout florida , except for in the keys .
image source : photo taken by the skunk stripe at the san bernardino county museum , with permission .
i had an encounter with a skunk a few years back which ended very quickly . the reason ?
a striped skunk skull description : similar to a mink skull but larger . photo credits : dallas virchow
their markings are different , too . spotted skunks have multiple , broken white stripes , plus spots on the rump and the head .
conservation status according to the iucn red list ( 2008 ) , the western spotted skunk is listed as least concern as they are widely distributed in a variety of habitats including human altered habitats . the species may be declining in parts of the united states but not at a rate fast enough to be threatened . in contrast , prior to the recent upswing in skunk numbers on the islands , the island spotted skunk was thought to be rare , and was listed as a species of special concern by the state of california . when the island spotted skunk had a small population and was not well - studied , the skunk that time was designated as a species of concern . however , recent surveys now show a remarkable recovery in the species . on santa rosa island , skunks are marked and counted during annual population monitoring for island foxes , and as of 2011 there were approximately 3 , 000 skunks on santa rosa island .
the most common and recognized skunk species in north america is the striped skunk , whose range extends from the southern half of canada to the northernmost parts of mexico , covering most of the continental united states .
the western spotted skunk is as cute as a button , and pretty nifty too . before spraying predators in the face with pungent chemicals , the little creature hops up onto its forelimbs and charges forward . this behavior is meant to intimidate foes , but if you aren’t on the receiving end of the skunk’s stinky ire , it’s delightful to watch .
the hooded skunk ( mephitis macroura ) is primarily a mexican species that has been known to inhabit the big bend region of texas . it is more secretive than the striped skunk , with which it is often confused . the hooded skunk has longer , softer fur and a hood of longer hair on the neck and head . it has two color patterns : a white back similar to the hog - nosed skunk , and a black back with white stripes similar to the striped skunk . hooded skunks eat mice , insects and occasionally prickly pear cactus . it is the rarest skunk in texas , though it is abundant in mexico .
badger : the badger is a wide - bodied , short - legged creature of about 22 pounds . it has a distinctive white stripe running over its forehead and down its nose . its coat is shaggy , with a yellowish brown color . spotted skunk : the spotted skunk is easy to identify . smaller than the other skunks at about 2 pounds , its bold black and white pattern resembles spots instead of stripes . the tail is black at the base and white at the tip .
striped skunks , hog - nosed , and hooded skunks breed in february and march and the babies are born in may and june . spotted skunks breed either later in the spring , in early summer , or in the fall — as is the case with western spotted skunks .
eastern spotted skunks are very good at catching rodents . they sometimes knock down beehives to get the honeycomb , despite being stung many times .
image source ( skunk only ) : robert barber / painet inc . , illinois department of natural resources .
from the back of a pickup , they patrol properties at night , when the skunks are out , and scan the countryside with spotlights and flashlights . when they see one , they’ll bang on the roof of the pickup , yell “skunk ! skunk ! ” and jump out in a mad dash to capture the skunk .
these methods worked to remove the skunk odor from my home and they should work for you , too .
skunk plasti - catch cage trap manufactured by minnesota plasti - catch provides a safer way to capture skunks .
western spotted skunks are a bit smaller than the more common striped skunk , and their coat patterns are much more complex . they also seem to have something of an exhibitionist streak : when spraying their trademark noxious musk , western spotted skunks will occasionally flip themselves into a handstand , legs and bushy tail akimbo , as a jet of foul - smelling chemicals shoots from glands on their posteriors .
did you know that it is estimated that spotted skunks have undergone a > 99 % decline range - wide since the 1940 ' s . unfortunately , because we know so little about the eastern spotted skunk , we still don ' t completely understand the reason for this decline or even where the species still persists . more information on the conservation status of the species can be found here .
habitat spotted skunks on the channel islands show habitat preferences similar to those reportedfor the mainland subspecies . based on radio telemetry studies , spotted skunks on santa cruz island showed a preference for chaparral - grassland , open grassland , fennel - grassland , and ravines . on santa rosa island , spotted skunks were found to be associated with rocky canyon slopes , cactus patches , chaparral , coastal sage scrub , open woodland , other scrub - grassland communities , and riparian habitat along streams . on both islands , the species has also been recorded in or under human dwellings and ranch outbuildings . the elevational range of the channel islands spotted skunk extends from sea level to approximately 2000 feet .
i was surprised to learn there are four types of skunks in north america : striped , spotted , hog nose and hooded . photos of each are shown below . a wild skunk ' s lifespan is only a few years , but a domesticated pet skunk can - - with proper medical care and a good diet - - live more than a decade .
sadly , texas is not one of the states that allows pet skunks , so i will probably never have one of my own . however , if i could have a pet skunk , i think my choice would be the spotted skunk . not only are they unique looking , they are also the smallest - - about the same size as a squirrel .
the spotted skunk has various areas of white on the body that mix with the black . they don’t feature the famous white stripe that goes down the middle of the back . the spots can be varied through the four species and even by individuals .
when a skunk is ready to spray , nozzles emerge from either side of the skunk’s anus . each nozzle is surrounded by muscle tissue that can contract to direct the discharge 15 feet or more with highly coordinated control .
eastern spotted skunks breed mostly in the later winter months and give birth in late spring to early summer . on average the female skunk will give birth to 4–5 baby skunks ( kits ) at a time . it takes twelve weeks before newborn skunks will become fully developed into adult skunks and two months before they develop skunk musk to use as self - defense .
spotted skunks may inhabit forested and brushy areas as well as agricultural regions . they are often found in crevices in cliffs and in rock slides .
joyce b . kaplan , rodney a . mead ; seasonal changes in testicular function and seminal characteristics of the male eastern spotted skunk ( spilogale putorius ambarvilus ) , journal of mammalogy , volume 75 , issue 4 , 18 november 1994 , pages 1013–1020 , urltoken
it is extremely difficult to get skunk spray out of fabric , carpet and furniture because it is naturally oily .
i personally know how difficult it is to remove skunk odor from my home , so do not give up .
please note that it’s illegal to trap or shoot spotted skunks in virginia ( unless they are causing damage ) and their pelts may not be sold .
the eastern spotted skunk is omnivorous . it feeds primarily on small mammals , fruits , insects , birds , lizards , snakes , and carrion . the stomach of a specimen found near park headquarters in november , 1950 , contained the remains of a northern spring peeper (
a skunk ' s spray is an oily liquid produced by glands under its large tail . to employ this scent bomb , a skunk turns around and blasts its foe with a foul mist that can travel as far as ten feet .
want more natural history and wildlife videos ? visit the official bbc earth channel : urltoken bbc earth the bbc earth youtube channel is home to over 50 years - worth of the best animal videos from the bbc archive . with three new videos released every week there’s something for all nature loves from astounding animal behaviour to beautiful imagery . click here to find our more : urltoken enter the amazing world of the spotted skunk with this brilliant clip from bbc wildlife show ' weird nature ' . a chance to see skunk defences at first hand , this short video includes images of a spotted skunk performing foot stomping , hand stands , and predatory spraying to ward off potential attackers .
spotted skunks are often found near or within forests . their ability to climb trees and move agilely amongst branches in a squirrel - like fashion is most likely the cause of this habitat preference . spotted skunks are also notorious for digging underground burrows on private properties , residing within barns , and constructing burrows near trash receptacles .
in january , planes dropped doses of oral rabies vaccine across parts of 17 counties in an attempt to fight skunk rabies .
lead author adam ferguson protects himself from the smell as he works with a skunk . ( credit : the field museum )
eastern spotted skunks seem to prefer forest edges and upland prairie grasslands , especially where rock outcrops and shrub clumps are present . in western counties , it relies heavily on riparian corridors where woody shrubs and woodland edges are present . woody fencerows , odd areas , and abandoned farm buildings are also important habitat for eastern spotted skunks .
the western spotted skunk prefers rocky bluffs and brush - bordered canyon stream beds . they make dens in rocky outcrops or hollow logs in the wild ; however , they often live in close association with people , frequently nesting in rock fences or even attics ( davis and schmidley 1994 ) .
crabb , w . d . 1944 . growth , development , and seasonal weights of spotted skunks . journal of mammalogy 25 ( 3 ) : 213 - 221 .
a final note of advice to new skunk owners : be diligent and don ' t allow your skunk to wander away from the safe confines of your house . unlike dogs and cats , skunks do not have a homing instinct , so a skunk that gets loose probably will not return home on its own . in the wild , a pet skunk no longer has the ability to defend itself , and is at greater risk of being killed by a dog or fearful human , or hit by an automobile .
“the grass was pretty thick , and we couldn’t see into the trap , ” perkins says . “we could just see that the trap was closed . and we could see that the animal had pulled grass into the trap to make a little nest . we gently lifted the cover and saw that a skunk had wrapped itself in the grass . alex was the first one to tell that we had a spotted skunk . ”
option 3 . ( professionals only ) use cat grasping tongs to grab hold of skunk and rescue him from the window well .
appearance the island spotted skunk can be identified by its complex pattern of white markings on a blackbackground consisting of four to six broken white stripes , a triangular white forehead patch , a series of shorter white stripes resembling spots , and white on part of the abdominal surface and tip of the tail .
though they are closely related to striped skunks , spotted skunks are smaller in size and more agile that their cousins . they are omnivores and gladly take advantage of any available food source , like berries , carrion , rodents , and snakes . spotted skunks are mostly known for the pungent and foul - smelling odor they produce to repel predators .
dowler and his students have been systematically collecting such information , especially on western spotted and hog - nosed skunks , since those species have been studied less than striped skunks . in one three - year study funded by tpwd , dowler monitored the comings and goings of striped , western spotted and hog - nosed skunks at san angelo state park .
spotted skunks , like their striped cousins , are members of the skunk family and will spray an odorous secretion in self - defense as suggested by their latin scientific name , which translates to “stinking spotted weasel . ” however , at just 1–2½ pounds , spotted skunks are noticeably more slender and smaller than striped skunks and are not much bigger than a large squirrel . their glossy black fur has 4–6 broken white stripes along the back and sides that resemble “spots , ” versus the two solid white bands that extends down the back of striped skunks . the feet of spotted skunks are more specialized for climbing ( they are adept tree climbers ) , compared to the powerful feet of striped skunks that are adapted for digging . spotted skunks are more carnivorous than striped skunks , primarily feeding on small mammals , insects , eggs , and even carrion . they typically breed in the later winter or early spring , giving birth to a single litter of 1 – 6 young born in may or june .
the hog - nosed skunk presents a particular risk , mostly because of its method of capture . the other skunk species can be trapped , but the hog - nosed typically won’t go into a trap . that means the researchers basically have to chase them down .
robert dowler is one of the world’s leading skunk researchers , and he oversees one of the world’s biggest skunk specimen collections . he is a professor at angelo state university in san angelo , which , it turns out , is practically the epicenter of skunkdom in texas .
avoid getting skunk spray in your eyes . wash your hands as soon as you touch the musk with the strongest soap you have .
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multiple states have ongoing research and monitoring efforts for spotted skunks . a list of current research projects can be found here , and biologists are always eager to hear about new sightings .
when frightened or angered , the eastern spotted skunk may engage in several unique behaviors that may serve as either a bluff or a warning prior to the discharge of the scent . it may stomp or pat its front feet in rapid succession on the floor or ground . it can also do a
handstand
on its front feet . the skunk upends itself , holds its tail in the air , and may walk up to several yards in this manner .
skunks are known to release a powerful smell through their anal glands when threatened . skunks will usually only attack when cornered or defending their young , and spraying is not the first method of defense . a skunk will growl , spit , fluff its fur , shake its tail , and stamp the ground . if the intruder does not leave , the skunk will then lift its tail and spray its famous skunk odor .
for the skunk , there’s no better time to spray than when a handful of angelo state students are chasing you with nets and buckets .
if a skunk has sprayed on any wood or concrete items in your home , you can use this bleach solution to clear the smell .
skunks follow their noses , so if a garage door is open , a skunk will likely amble in . if the skunk enters the garage , the hsus recommends leaving a garage door open at night and sprinkling flour along the bottom of it so you can see exiting tracks .
van gelder , r . g . 1959 . a taxonomic revision of the spotted skunks ( genus spilogale ) . bulletin of the american museum of natural history 117 : 229 - 392 .
verts , b . j . 1967 . the biology of the striped skunk . univ . illinois press , urbana . vii + 218 pp .
the habitat of the western spotted skunk in montana is not well known , but they have been found in arid , rocky and brushy canyons and hillsides . information from other portions of its range suggest that when they are inactive or bearing young they occupy a den in rocks , burrows , hollow logs , brush piles , or under buildings .
a skunk ' s sulfuric spray has a range of up to 10 feet , and its odor can be detected up to 1 . 5 miles .
) . there was no effect of skunk abundance on mean pause length , total pause length , or time to contact the models . the likelihood of approaching near enough to make contact was unrelated to skunk abundance , although more time was spent in contact with models in areas of higher fox abundance (
skunks live in a variety of habitats from riparian canyons and wooded areas to arizona uplands and suburbs . they prefer thick , brushy areas . the spotted skunk is most common in rocky , riparian canyons , while the hog - nose is usually found in the middle to higher elevations . none of the skunks are common in the low , dry flats .
with the study now in its third year , researchers at virginia tech are beginning to report some interesting preliminary results . using trail cameras stationed at 128 sites in 10 counties , the researchers have documented spotted skunks at 23 different locations . habitat data collected at the surveyed sites suggest that spotted skunks prefer forests with thick understory vegetation , most likely to avoid detection from predators , particularly great horned owls .
efforts are currently underway to radio - collar spotted skunks , monitor their movements and locate den sites . initial data from 11 radio - collared spotted skunks has tracked them to multiple den sites in underground burrows , hollow logs , and tree cavities . their night time movements have generally been within close range of their den sites . radio tracking data will continue being collected throughout the spring and summer months .
“most other skunks are kind of heavy - bodied and not very aware , ” evans says . “they lumber around , and if a predator shows up , they have their defenses , and that’s their game . spotted skunks are more like a skunk crossed with a squirrel . they bound all over the place , and they can climb trees pretty well . ”
relationship between the relative abundance of striped skunks and the proportion of pauses during approaches to skunk - shaped mounts . two sites ( deer creek hills and sagehen creek field station ) had no visits to skunk - shaped mounts and were thereby excluded from this figure , although all sites were included in statistical analyses .
open all windows and doors . turn on a fan . fresh air is the most effective remedy when it comes to removing skunk odor from your home .
they often fight over food and location , but they don’t spray each other with their oils . instead , they will bite and scratch until one of them runs away from the battle . many people worry about being bitten by a spotted skunk due to the risk of rabies . it is possible so any human or any pet that gets bit should be tested .
they are much more active than any other type of skunk . they have mostly the same predators as any other skunk ( big cats , bobcats , owls , humans , etc . ) . up to eight skunks may share an underground den in the winter . they can also climb and take shelter in trees .
overall , given the lack of knowledge regarding primary threats ( see threats ) and causes of decline , research is urgently needed to guide conservation action . fortunately , researchers from multiple states and universities currently have ongoing research projects on the species , and in 2015 the eastern spotted skunk cooperative study group was formed to help inform managers of research priorities and potential conservation actions .
the coloration scheme isn’t the only difference for the spotted skunk . they have a body that seems very similar in style to that of the weasel . they have short feet and they are very slow moving . they have scent glands that enable them to release powerful scents that are very strong and foul . this is able to help them to defend themselves from predators .
if your rags reek of skunk afterwards , then then just mix together the same solution as stated above and throw it in the washer with your smelly laundry .
option 1 . carefully place an 8
wide board , with cleats to allow skunk to climb out . it is critical that the board not be too steep or a skunk won ' t be able to climb it . endeavor to make the slope less than a 45 degree angle . photo by : dallas virchow .
the spotted skunk survey project is not a statewide project in the vmn volunteer management system . virginia master naturalist volunteers who want to participate should make sure that it is an approved project within their chapter . a project proposal form is provided below to aid in that process . chapters may adapt this form by adding a local contact person or other details pertinent to their areas .
skunks often issue warnings before spraying . striped and hooded skunks stomp their feet . hog - nosed skunks may rear up on their hind legs . spotted skunks get acrobatic and perform a handstand with their tail aloft .
the musk is stored in two large scent glands near the anus . each scent glad has an associated nipple that the musk is sprayed from . there is one on the left side of the anus , and the other on the right side . muscles around the scent glands allow the skunk to aim its spray with a great degree of accuracy . in fact , a skunk can hit a target up to fifteen feet away ! normally , a skunk will aim for the eyes of whatever animal is threatening it , but if the threat is not within sight , a skunk will instead spray a cloud of musk that the pursuing animal will have to run through .
i found the tracks of spotted , hog - nosed and striped skunks all within a few feet of each other . that’s three skunks cohabitating in the exact same area . but they all have their own approach . ”
striped skunks are considered fur - bearing animals throughout their range . typically , they are abundant enough to permit unlimited taking . spotted and hog - nose skunks are less plentiful and may have harvest restrictions in your area .
when a skunk is being chased , it can emit an atomized cloud that the pursuing predator must run through . when a skunk is under a bush or cornered , it can aim a direct stream of yellow discharge at a predator’s face . both are effective methods of deterring an intruder . the active ingredient of the foul - smelling discharge is a sulphide known as n - butyl mercaptan , which can sting the skin , cause temporary blindness and produce a pungent , gagging odor that is unmistakably skunk .
there are no major threats to this species . the main cause of current mortality of this species is represented by automobile roadkills ( rosatte , 1987 ) . the pelts of both eastern and western spotted skunks represent an insignificant fraction of the modern fur trade . in the 1983 - 1984 trapping season , 5 , 588 pelts described as spotted skunk were harvested in the united states ( novak et al . , 1987 ) . the species is declining in the midwest and portions of the east , but common in southern florida ( reid 2006 ) . pesticides present a threat to the species in areas with intensive agriculture .
average home range is around 1 / 4 sq mi ( schwartz and schwartz 1981 ) . not as abundant as striped skunk ( mephitis mephitis ) in most of range .
striped skunk : there is variation in patterning among the skunks , but the striped usually has a black back with a white stripe along its sides . the tail is black with a white tip . the striped is a medium - to large - sized skunk at about 6 to 10 pounds ( 2 . 7 - 4 . 5 kg ) .
which are broken in pattern , giving it a
spotted
appearance . they have a white spot on their forehead . they are found in canada ( southeast manitoba and northwestern ontario ) , the united states and northeastern mexico .
since the animal is being considered for endangered species status , that means finding one can be akin to searching for bigfoot . dowler and his students surveyed a site in fort worth for a week and found no spotted skunks , despite a trail camera having shown one there earlier in the year . at lake somerville state park , a week’s worth of trapping and camera surveillance turned up no spotted skunks either . they were getting — you guessed it — skunked .
despite this potent defense , the skunk isn ' t without preditors . occasionally a wolf , fox , or bobcat will kill a skunk , but the main danger is from birds of prey . hawks , falcons , and owls have excellent vision and hunt mainly by sight . one thing they don ' t have is a good sense of smell . lacking this , they have never learned to fear skunks . the great horned owl , in particular , makes the skunk a mainstay of its diet , and is the single greatest predator of skunks .
what all skunk species have in common is that their oily , yellow secretion contains sulfur compounds ( namely , thiols and their acetate derivatives ) which gives it the infamously repulsive odor .
skunk spray is a bit like glitter or poison oak ; it gets on anything you touch . so don ' t touch furniture or other people because they will stink , too .
the eastern spotted skunk remains a level iii species of conservation priority . efforts to document the species in swg t - 12 - r evaluating the distribution and abundance of river otters and other meso - carnivores in eastern north dakota drainage : applications of gis , genetic and digital technologies for conservation planning were unsuccessful . it has recently been petitioned for protection under the endangered species act and north dakota is considered within its range .
if you have trail camera photos or other verifiable evidence regarding occurrences of spotted skunks in virginia , please contact dgif’s furbearer biologist , mike fies , at 540 - 248 - 9390 or by e - mail at mike . fies @ urltoken .
the spotted skunk is the only one able to climb trees , which expands its foraging opportunities . this small skunk breeds in september and october , but delayed implantation results in the young being born in may . the other skunks all breed in the spring , with most babies born in may . the 3 to 7 kits stay with the mother through the summer , accompanying her on nocturnal hunting forays , before dispersing in the fall . evidence of skunks in an area includes many divots in the earth and other signs of rooting , as well as scat containing berries , insect parts , and bits of fur .
“all the people at work were frustrated because they wanted to use the freezer , and i just took a long time to hand the skunk off to bob dowler , ” evans says .
well , the smell ( eventually ) dissipated from my body . . . but now i was left with a putrid skunk smell inside from everything i ' d touched or passed by .
eastern spotted skunks are omnivores . in winter they eat corn and cottontails ; in spring , insects and native field mice ; in summer , insects and small amounts of fruit , birds , and birds ' eggs ; in fall , mostly insects .
in general , spotted skunks grow between one to two feet in length and weigh around a pound and a half . they have black fur with erratic white striping , and many individuals also bear a single white spot on their foreheads . their loud and striking coloration is thought to function as a warning for predators . animals and humans who fail to recognize the threat are sprayed with the odor that emanates from the skunk ' s anal glands .
the western spotted skunk looks much like the eastern spotted skunk except that the white areas are more extensive . both are relatively small and slender . they are black with a white spot on their forehead and in front of each ear . they have a pair of dorsolateral white stripes on the anterior portion of their bodies beginning at the back of their head , a pair of lateral stripes confluent with the spots in front of the skunk ' s ears , and a ventrolateral pair which begins just behind the forelegs . these cut off at mid - body and the posterior portion of the skunk ' s body has two interrupted white bands , a white spot on each side of the rump and two more at the base of the tail . the underside of the tail is white for nearly half its length and the tip is extensively white . the ears are short and low on the sides of the head . they have five toes on each foot but the claws on the front feet are more than twice as long as those on the back feet , sharp , and recurved . males average 423mm in length ( 134 of that being tail ) and 565 g in weight . females average 360 mm ( 129 tail ) and 368 g ( davis and schmidley 1994 ) .
only great horned owls—with built - in protective “goggles” and very little sense of smell—seem to prey on skunks regularly . many big owls smell skunky and have skunk - bitten feet . as far as the oddsmakers of natural selection are concerned , skunk defenses are superlative . but like porcupines , skunks seem to be as vulnerable to tiny parasites as they are well - defended against big predators .
the eastern spotted skunks is a small , relatively slender skunk with a body shape like a weasel . its black - and - white color is a warning against harming this small creature , as its defense mechanism is the emission of noxious odors from its well - developed scent glands . this mammal is also known as the civet cat , but this is incorrect and misleading because it is neither closely related to old world true civets nor to cats .
gc - ms analysis of the anal sac secretion from the spotted skunk , spilogale putorius , showed three major volatile components : ( e ) - 2 - butene - 1 - thiol , 3 - methyl - 1 - butanethiol , and 2 - phenylethanethiol . minor volatile components identified from this secretion were : phenylmethanethiol , 2 - methylquinoline , 2 - quinolinemethanethiol , bis [ ( e ) - 2 - butenyl ] disulfide , ( e ) - 2 - butenyl 3 - methylbufyl disulfide , bis ( 3 - methylbutyl ) disulfide . all of these compounds except 2 - phenylethanethioi have been identified previously from the striped skunk , mephitis mephitis . the thioacetate derivatives s - ( e ) - 2 - butenyl thioacetate , s - 3 - methylbutanyl thioacetate , and s - 2 - quinolinemethyl thioacetate found in the striped skunk were not seen in this species .
texas has five species of skunk — more than any other state — and that makes texas a darn good place to study skunks , if you’re into that kind of thing . bob dowler is .
a skunk may send its musk flying into the air if it feels threatened in any way whatsoever , or if it is startled ( a word of advice : skunks are startled very easily ) .
until just a few years ago , very little was known about the distribution and ecology of spotted skunks in the central and southern appalachian region . to help address this knowledge gap , the virginia department of game and inland fisheries ( dgif ) recently funded a 3 - year research project conducted by virginia tech’s department of fish and wildlife conservation . the project seeks to determine the population status of spotted skunks in virginia , investigate forest and landscape conditions that influence their distribution , and study their movement patterns and habitat selection .
in addition to performing a handstand before spraying a potential predator , the skunk also performs what foot stamping , which involves the skunk stamping its feet on the ground in order to warn an approaching predator . the stamping can be heard for several meters away and is usually followed by the skunk spraying its odorous solution . when these skunks encounter an egg that they want to eat they will straddle the egg with their front legs and bite the egg open . if this fails they will then proceed to use their front legs to push the egg back and kick it with one of their hind legs .
i couldn ' t wait to see what had been going on at the site . while no spotted skunks were discovered in my area , many other species and interesting behaviors were documented . i look forward to the opportunity to participate in this study again .
skunk coloration is the opposite of camouflage ; it’s to a skunk’s advantage to be conspicuous and recognized , since its defenses are so good . the rare animal that fails to stay clear may receive additional warnings such as forefoot stamping , tail raising , or a handstand with tail displayed forward like a big white pom - pom . spotteds can spray from the handstand , but usually return to all fours .


pseudaelurus is a prehistoric cat that lived in europe , asia and north america in the miocene between approximately 20 to 8 million years ago .

it is an ancestor of today 's felines and pantherines as well as the extinct machairodont saber-tooths , and is a successor to proailurus .

it originated from eurasia and was the first felid to reach north america , when it entered the continent at about 18.5 ma ending a ' cat-gap ' of 7 million years .

the slender proportions of the animal , together with its short , viverrid-like legs , suggest that it may have been an agile climber of trees .

pseudaelurus

' felis ( pseudaelurus ) intrepidus is recombined as pseudaelurus intrepidus ' according to t . rothwell 2004 ' felis quadridentata is recombined as pseudaelurus quadridentatus ' according to gervais 1850 ' felis quadridentata is recombined as pseudaelurus quadridentatus ' according to t . rothwell 2004 ' lynx stouti is recombined as pseudaelurus stouti ' according to t . rothwell 2004 ' pseudaelurus aeluroides belongs to pseudaelurus ' according to t . rothwell 2004 ' pseudaelurus cuspidatus belongs to pseudaelurus ' according to x . wang et al . 1998 ' pseudaelurus cuspidatus belongs to pseudaelurus ' according to t . rothwell 2004 ' pseudaelurus guangheensis belongs to pseudaelurus ' according to z . cao et al . 1990 ' pseudaelurus guangheensis belongs to pseudaelurus ' according to t . rothwell 2004 ' pseudaelurus lorteti belongs to pseudaelurus ' according to t . rothwell 2004 ' pseudaelurus marshi belongs to pseudaelurus ' according to t . rothwell 2004 ' pseudaelurus romieviensis belongs to pseudaelurus ' according to roman and viret 1934 ' pseudaelurus romieviensis belongs to pseudaelurus ' according to t . rothwell 2004 ' pseudaelurus skinneri belongs to pseudaelurus ' according to t . rothwell 2003 ' pseudaelurus skinneri belongs to pseudaelurus ' according to t . rothwell 2004 ' pseudaelurus turnauensis belongs to pseudaelurus ' according to hoernes 1882 ' pseudaelurus turnauensis belongs to pseudaelurus ' according to t . rothwell 2004 ' pseudaelurus validus belongs to pseudaelurus ' according to t . rothwell 2004 ' pseudaelurus belongs to felidae ' according to t . rothwell 2004
phylogenetic systematics of north american pseudaelurus ( carnivora , felidae ) . american museum novitates ; no . 3403
data table results : there are arguments for and against sexual dimorphism being the explanation for some character differences between species of fossil felids . arguments for include : ( 1 ) sexual dimorphism is seen in modern felid species , at the very least in body size and skull length in small felids . ( 2 ) the fossil felids pseudaelurus skinneri and pseudaelurus stouti display differences in c - - p3 length that could also be interpreted as sexual dimorphism . ( 3 ) the fossil felids pseudaelurus intrepidus and pseudaelurus marshi are size and temporally equivalent . specimens of the two species are sometimes found in the same paleontological localities ( quarries ) . arguments against include : ( 1 ) a similar range in c - - p3 length and dentary height and width is not seen in the fossil felid pseudaelurus validus . pseudaelurus validus and some modern species do not exhibit sexual dimorphism in the lower jaw . ( 2 )
rothwell , t . 2002 . phylogenetic systematics of north american pseudaelurus ( carnivora : felidae ) . bulletin of the american museum of natural history ( in press )
modern assemblages of felids sometimes contain at least two species that are indistinguishable in jaw length . ( 3 ) the p error for the hypothetical pseudaelurus intrepidus - - pseudaelurus marshi ( male - female ) species that i created in this tab le ( 0 . 0001 ) is far outside the range of p error seen in the four modern species studied ( 0 . 28 - - 0 . 008 ) . the results appear inconclusive , due primarily to the variability of the sexual dimorphism displayed by different species of living felids . however , if pseudaelurus intrepidus and pseudaelurus marshi were indeed sexually dimorphic members of the same species , the males and females differed far more than any of the four living felids that i studied .
all modern day cats in the americas are descended from the pseudaelurus , which crossed over to north america using the bering land bridge that once connected alaska with asia 18 . 5 million years ago .
rothwell , t . 2001 . a partial skeleton of pseudaelurus ( carnivora : felidae ) from the nambé member of the tesuque formation , española basin , new mexico . american museum novitates 3342 : 1 - 31 .
the oldest known true felid ( proailurus ) lived in the oligocene and miocene eras . during the miocene , it gave way to pseudaelurus . pseudaelurus is believed to be the latest common ancestor of the two extant subfamilies , pantherinae and felinae , and the extinct subfamily , machairodontinae . this group , better known as the sabertooth cats , became extinct in the late pleistocene era . it includes the genera smilodon , machairodus , dinofelis , and homotherium .
pseudaelurus (
false cat
) was named by french zoologist paul gervais in 1850 , who based the designation on a single mandible that had been described over a decade earlier by another frenchman , edouard lartet , who thought it resembled that of the modern hyena .
the first cat to immigrate into the americas ( which it did via the land bridge across the bering sea during the early miocene ) , pseudaelurus gave rise to the saber - toothed cats known as smilodon . it is also believed to be the ancestor of all modern cats , including the domestic house cat .
i review the fossil felid literature , researching the early history of the genus pseudaelurus in europe . i examine type pseudaelurus specimens from europe , asia , and north america and emend the generic diagnosis . a large body of new material from the frick collection of the american museum is described and specimens are assigned to one of six species . one species is new and one is transferred from lynx . new material includes two partial skeletons assigned to two separate species , several skulls , one skull with associated lower jaws and intact basicranium , numerous maxillary and lower jaw specimens , and isolated postcranial items . cranial , basicranial , and postcranial material of the frick specimens is compared to that of european taxa as well as to modern felids . a cladistic analysis of 10 taxa and 23 characters produces hypotheses of felid relationships
- - p . 2 .
approximately twelve species of pseudaelurus once roamed the plains of eurasia , africa , and north america between 20 and 8 million years ago . all of them looked much like modern cats except for having shorter
hand
and
foot
bones , hind limbs longer than forelimbs , and a long , flexible back . the smallest species was about the size of a modern house cat , the largest about the size of a modern cougar ( about 5 feet long and 50 pounds ) .
this is an illustration of the type specimen of pseudaelurus marshi , a fossil lower jaw of a cat who lived in north america in the middle miocene , approximately 13 million years ago . the illustration is featured in the original description of this fossil , written by the paleontologist malcolm rutherford thorpe in 1922 . i scanned this illustration and then added the reference to the distance from c - p3 . early on in my research on the early cats of north america , i realized that the space between the lower canine ( c ) and the third premolar ( p3 ) was a character that could possibly differentiate species in both extinct and modern felid taxa .
this wonderful fossil ( unsm 25490 ) is a partial skull , the type specimen of pseudaelurus stouti , a small cat who lived in north america approximately 14 million years ago . it is housed in the university of nebraska state museum . we are looking at the upper dentition . this cat was similar in size as our domestic cats of today . however , notice that this cat has four upper premolars . the cat in your house or barn would have p2 , but no longer has p1 . the modern , domestic cat has evolved without a first upper premolar ( p1 ) . it has lost this anatomical feature or character . photo by tom rothwell
stratigraphic chart : this is a rough estimate of stratigraphic ranges for various fossil felids . as new specimens are discovered , or as fossil localities are dated more precisely , these ranges will change . the first north american felids arrived during a major dispersal from eurasia to north america that began approximately 20 m . y . ago . the early fossil felid record of asia is poor . only a small number of specimens have been recovered from early and middle miocene localities . therefore , the stratigraphic range of pseudaelurus in asia is less certain than europe and north america . my present felid research project is a study of the early north american saber - tooth cats , often referred to as the machairodont felids . nimravides and machairodus are two of the earliest north american saber - tooth cats . na felis refers to the stratigraphic range of fossils of the modern felids .
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full reference : j . leidy . 1858 . notice of remains of extinct vertebrata , from the valley of the niobrara river , collected during the exploring expedition of 1857 , in nebraska , under the command of lieut . g . k . warren , u . s . top . eng . , by dr . f . v . hayden , geologist to the expedition . proceedings of the academy of natural sciences of philadelphia 10 : 15 - 89
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american museum novitates novitates ( latin for
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from the tall grass savanna of kenya to the forested slopes of the rockies , from the steaming jungles of indonesia and the crags of the himalayas to your very own living room , cats prowl our planet . some are large and imposing , celebrated for their predatory power . others are small and elusive , their spots blending into the shadows . not to mention our familiar moggie companions that purr and yowl for a tender back scratch . at whatever size , and whatever form , we seem to have limitless adoration and fascination for the felines that inhabit our planet . our affection for them runs so deep that we’re even transfixed by those that slipped into extinction long ago . there is no more potent symbol of the ice age than smilodon fatalis , the great saber - toothed cat preserved by the hundreds in the thick muck of the la brea asphalt seeps . living or dead , we love cats .
but where did cats come from ? they did not spontaneously burst from the grass to ambush their prey . the world’s cats , both large and small , wild and domestic , have as deep and circuitous an evolutionary history as any other species . and while they’re all consummate predators , the cat family has taken a variety of forms . their remarkable flexibility has allowed them to flourish , whether in the shape of lanky speed demons like cheetahs or the extinct sabercats who stalked baby mastodons , or domestic tabbies that are the scourge of backyard wildlife . cats have always been malleable beasts , changing with the shifts in climate and habitat that the earth has undergone since their origin over 25 million years ago . and while there are various points at which we could start the great cat tale , let’s begin with one of the worst days in the planet’s history .
exactly what the founder of the cat family looked like is unknown . the fossil record , as charles darwin once wrote , is like a stone book for which we only have a few words or sentences in an incomplete array of chapters . this makes it all the more difficult to pin down precise ancestors , especially the further back in time you go . therefore paleontologists look for animals that have what they call transitional features – traits that bridge gaps between groups and act as proxies for those ancestors , tracing the chaotic route of evolution from the present way back into the past . for cats , that search has led fossil experts to a little mammal called proailurus . the naturalist henri filhol named this extinct beast back in 1879 from fossils found in france , and even then he could tell that the mammal had something to do with the origin of felines : proailurus means “first cat . ”
a 20th century reconstruction of smilodon , the great sabertoothed cat . | credit : the prelinger archive
not all sabercats were exactly alike . one of the earliest , the 15 - million - year - old paramachairodus from europe , was about the size of a leopard and had relatively short canines compared to its later relatives . much closer to us in time , from 2 . 5 million years ago to about 10 , 000 years ago , the famous smilodon line had species that exceeded a siberian tiger in size and grappled prey to the ground with burly forelimbs . the much more slender homotherium had shorter canines and a rangier build better suited for running after victims . then there was xenosmilus – the “alien knife” – who mixed short , broad sabers with a muscular build , mixing and matching traits seen in the smilodon and homotherium lines . there were many ways to be a sabercat .
those fearsome teeth have long had a hold on our imagination . so much so that there’s been no shortage of ideas about how sabercats used their fangs . over the years these cats have been cast as stabbers , armor - piercers , and even blood - suckers , but the modern consensus is that smilodon and its relatives used their extended canines to slice through the soft parts of their ancient prey . a sabertoothed bite to the neck or belly of a victim would have caused catastrophic blood loss , if not immediate death .
the last of the sabercats died out about 8 , 000 years ago . why they disappeared is a mystery . while art works , museum displays , and movies have often depicted the cats trying to take down giant sloths and mammoths , recent studies have suggested sabercats preferred mid - sized prey such as camels and baby mastodons . still , it seems that these cats specialized in hunting the megafauna that once flourished during the last ice age , and when many of these creatures died , so did the cats . for the first time in over 20 million years there were no more sabercats , although , given how many times they’ve evolved , it’s likely that something resembling smilodon could eventually evolve again . for now , though , the world belongs to the short - fanged cats .
the felids we know — and love all the cats we know today – from the biggest siberian tiger of the frigid forests to the tiny margay of the american tropics – are felids . they split from the sabercats over 20 million years ago , and today represent about 40 distinct species spread across the americas , europe , africa , and asia . of all the wild cats , though , it’s the big cats that get the lion’s share of our attention . despite sharing a large body size , though , not all “big cats” are close relatives . there are two subdivisions of living cats . one group , the pantherinae , includes tigers , lions , jaguars , leopards , and snow leopards , as well as the smaller clouded leopards ( the most ancient lineage of the pantherine group ) . a second group – the felinae – includes cheetahs and cougars in addition to the comparatively diminutive fishing cats , sand cats , jaguarundis , and their relatives . the cat family tree is a tangle of surprising connections .
in terms of the world’s beloved big cats , though , paleontologists have recently started to zero in on where they came from . in 2013 , paleontologists working in tibet announced the discovery of panthera blytheae . up until the cat’s discovery , the oldest known pantherine cats were thought to be from the 3 . 6 million year old bedrock of tanzania . panthera blytheae moved back the group’s origins to older than 4 . 4 million years , and in a place that wasn’t expected . big cats were thought to have originated in africa , but the recent discovery seems to point to asia , and , more specifically , the tibetan plateau . other mammals – such as woolly rhinos and himalayan blue sheep – seem to have gotten their start in the same place , leading paleontologists to suggest that mammals whoevolved in this chilly place developed adaptations for cooler conditions , which allowed them to spread outward and thrive as the planet started to go through the ebb and flow of ice ages . this doesn’t mean that panthera blytheae was the direct ancestor of today’s lions and tigers , but the cat points to a deeper and more complex story for our favorite carnivores than anyone previously knew .
of course , there’s more to cat evolution than the backstories of fierce sabercats or lions teaming up to take down water buffalo . many of us live with cats . the aspca estimates that there are between 74 and 96 million domestic cats in american households alone . that number even outstrips the count for dogs ‑ our supposed ‘best friends’ . you may even be feeling the rumble of your feline companion’s purr on your lap as you read this . how did this special connection between our species and a fuzzy carnivore with sharp teeth and retractable claws come to be ?
our inadvertent partnership with cats changed them just as they changed our daily lives . biologists have even been able to see this in cat genes . on the surface , the feline that struts around your home doesn’t seem much different from their wild counterparts . ( this is part of what makes feral cats such an ecological nightmare – they’re adept hunters of native species that has led countries like australia from banning outdoor cats . ) but get down into the dna and biologists can see that our favorite pets show at least 13 genetic markers that distinguish domestic breeds from wild ones . some of these differences are associated with behavior , such as changes in when cats feel fear or how they’re able to learn when provided food as a reward , showing how their brains changed as they came in to settle down with us .
looking back at our own history , it may seem a little strange that we keep cats so close to us . the very first humans evolved in africa over six million years ago , and by then there was a wide array of sabertoothed and non - sabertoothed cats on the scene . some human fossils – such as the skull of one of our australopithecine cousins dubbed sk - 54 with two puncture marks matching the tooth width of a leopard – indicate that cats even ate some of our relatives . coming down from the trees meant that we were entering a world ruled by cats ready to pounce from the grass . we evolved alongside cats , undoubtedly fearful as well as fascinated . for while each cat species differs , they all share elements of the same grace and charm we’ve admired for as long as human memory can trace back . through our own history we’ve been cat food , stolen their kills , admired them from afar , treated them as gods , and , unfortunately , brought far too many to the brink of extinction . if we truly love cats as much as our culture professes we do , then the best we can do to honor them is let cats continue their 30 million year evolutionary journey into the future .
brian switek is a freelance science writer and author of the books my beloved brontosaurus , written in stone , and prehistoric predators . he also writes the blog laelaps for scientific american , and when not writing about fossils he can be found helping museum and university crews excavate fossil wonders across the western deserts .
striking out in the love department ? at least you’re not a honey bee . . .
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you may think your dog has an irrational hatred of cats , but their instinct to chase felines out of their territory might be more reasonable than you think .
fossils have revealed the two species have a rocky past after the introduction of cats to the americas had a devastating effect on the continent ' s species of wild dogs .
in fact , it is thought that competition from cats caused up to 40 species of dog to become extinct in the region millions of years ago .
the introduction of cats from asia into the americas 18 . 5 million years ago is thought to have drastically decreased the biodiversity of dogs , according to researchers .
competition for food from ancient felines is said to have played an even more important role than climate change in eliminating dog species on the continent .
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' we usually expect climate changes to play an overwhelming role in the evolution of biodiversity , ' said leading author daniele silvestro at the department of biological and environmental sciences , university of gothenburg .
' instead , competition among different carnivore species proved to be even more important for canids . '
domestic cats and dogs , along with other carnivorous animals like lions and bears , all share lineage with a tree - dwelling mammal whose origins remain a mystery .
yet paleontologists believe there are even earlier ancestors explaining the evolutionary line of these much loved animals .
now scientists in belgium have unearthed fossils of one of the earliest of these mammals which roamed through humid forests 55 million years ago .
the remains of the new species , which also had ankle bones , has been named dormaalocyon latouri after the belgian village of dormaal where it was found .
dormaalocyon latouri was a 1kg ( 2lb ) tree - dweller that is thought to have fed on even smaller mammals and insects .
an international team , including scientists from the universities of gothenburg , sweden , são paulo , brazil and lausanne , switzerland , published the findings in the journal proceedings of the national academy of science .
the dog family , which includes wolves and coyotes , originated in north america about 40 million years ago .
they reached maximum diversity in the continent 22 million years ago when , at their peak , more than 30 species roamed the land mass at the same time .
however , since they were introduced dozens of species have emerged and become extinct over a period of millions of years .
only nine species of canid inhabit the continent today , including the domestic dog .
ancient dogs progressively increased in size , some exceeding 66 pounds ( 33 kg ) , with some examples including the extinct dire wolf and the epicyon reaching about double this size .
the introduction of cats from asia into the americas is thought to have drastically decreased the biodiversity of dogs , according to researchers . pictured , a north american bobcat
the findings suggests that ancient north american cats were more efficient hunters than most extinct species from the dog family .
' we do not know exactly which species of felids had the strongest competitive effects on ancient dogs , ' silvestro told mailonline .
' however an entire subfamily of dogs , known as bone - crushing dogs , started to decline sharply around 15 million years ago , when felids started to be numerous in north america , and was completely extinct around 2 million years ago .
' bone - crushing dogs , which in total included more than 60 species , included some of the largest canids that ever existed and our results show that it was the most affected by competition with felids . '
the survival of any carnivorous species is linked to its ability to effectively hunt prey , and the availability of food .
limited amounts of resources – in this case prey - imposes strong competition among carnivores sharing the same geographic range .
this can be seen today in africa , with wild dogs and hyenas competing with lions and other big cats for food .
north american carnivores in the past may have followed similar dynamics and much of the competition is found among species of the dog family and from ancient felids and dogs .
the dog family , which includes wolves and coyotes ( pictured ) , originated in north america about 40 million years ago . they reached maximum diversity in the continent around 22 million years ago when more than 30 species roamed the land mass at the same time
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while a research associate in the division of paleontology , i focused my research on fossil members of the family felidae ( fossil felids , fossil cats ) . i continue to study primarily the fossil felids of north america , focusing on the specimens present in the frick - amnh collection of fossil mammals .
2004 . rothwell , t . new felid material from the ulaan tologoi locality , loh formation ( early miocene ) of mongolia . in g . c . gould and s . k . bell ( editors ) , tributes to malcolm c . mckenna : his students , his legacy . bulletin of the american museum of natural history 285 : 157 - 165 .
rothwell , t . 2002 . new felid material from the ulaan tologoi locality , loh formation ( early miocene ) of mongolia . bulletin of the american museum of natural history , number 285 ( chapter 12 ) .
rothwell , t . 1982 . aerobic and anaerobic conditioning of the three - day event horse . uscta news june : 6 - 8 .
rothwell , t . 1981 . the ahsa drugs and medications rule - know your facts , avoid needless elimination . uscta news april : 20 - 21 .
rothwell , t . 1980 . re - training the horse with navicular disease . long island horse world 2 : 30 - 31 .
rothwell , t . 1978a , the tragedy of hip dysplasia . in : caras , r . ( ed . ) dog owner ' s bible , pp . 277 - 280 . south hackensack : stoeger publishing company .
rothwell , t . 1978b , the crucial business of immunization . in : caras , r . ( ed . ) dog owner ' s bible , pp . 32 - 38 . south hackensack : stoeger publishing company
cladogram : this is a manually constructed cladogram that i use when teaching . it demonstrates the three major clades , or divisions of living families within the order carnivora . in blue is the large and diverse group known as the arctoids . the canids ( dogs , wolves , coyotes , etc , ) are represented by a single lineage in green . the cats , hyenas , mongoose and viverrids are the red group known as the aeluroids . characters 1 , 2 , and 3 are hypothesized to unite all of carnivora :
character 1 is use of the upper fourth premolar ( p4 ) and lower first molar ( m1 ) by all members of the order carnivora to eat meat . this is called the p4 / m1 carnassial apparatus .
character 2 is near and dear to all veterinarians who practice on dogs and cats . character 2 is the presence of anal sacs . anal sacs are hypothesized to be present in the ancestor of carnivora due to its widespread distribution among all of the living members . anal sacs are lost or reduced only in bears and in the aquatic families ( seals , sea lions , walrus and otters ) .
character 3 is the primitive carnivoran dentition : 4 premolars and 3 molars in both the upper and lower dentition .
character 4 unites all of the living families of carnivora . character 4 is the development of an ossified bulla covering the middle ear , a bony covering for the ear apparatus . the primitive carnivorans ( carnivoran = member of the order carnivora ) had a single - chambered bulla covered by cartilage .
character 6 diagnoses the four closely related families referred to as the aeluroids or the sub - order aeluroidea . character 6 is a modification of the primitive single - chambered bulla : the development of a two - chambered bulla . evidence of character 6 can be seen in the ventral skull and in the basicranial photograph .
from 1932 to 1965 , childs frick sent numerous collecting parties into the fossiliferous terrestrial localities of tertiary north america . the frick laboratory assembled a magnificent collection of fossil mammals as a result of these expeditions . now referred to as the frick collection , this assemblage of fossil mammals is housed in the collections of the division of paleontology of the american museum of natural history . within the frick collection is the world ' s most comprehensive fossil felid collection . fossils of the first felids to arrive in north america , in the late hemingfordian , were collected in localities of the sheep creek formation of nebraska and the tesuque formation of new mexico . the earliest known partial felid skeleton ( fam 62128 ) was recovered from the nambé member of the tesuque formation of new mexico and described by me in 2001 . photo by chester tarka of the amnh .
, i was able to determine how closely it resembled other fossil cats and the cats who are alive today . photo by mick ellison . upper third incisor ( i3 ) , upper canine ( c ) , upper first premolar ( p1 ) , alveolus or socket for upper second premolar ( p2 alv ) , petrosal ( p ) , mastoid ( m ) , paroccipital process ( pp ) .
of fam 62128 . third phalanges ( ph3 ) are the bones of the toes that include the cats ' claws . the ph2 lateral concavity is referring to the place where this cat could retract his claws , just as today ' s cats do . mc5 , mc2 are the fifth and second metacarpal bones . photo by mick ellison
of the new mexico skeleton ( fam 62128 ) in dorsal ( a ) and ventral ( b ) views . ( ses ) = sesamoid bones , nav = navicular , cu = cuboid , ent = entocuneiform , lat conc = lateral concavity of second phalanx . photo by mick ellison
( cp ) or vertical ramus of the lower jaw of felids is another anatomical feature that is variable in fossil felids . a is proailurus lemanensis , the earliest known felid , with a short , wide , and erect coronoid process . this cat lived approximately 23 million years ago . b and c are felids that are approximately 16 million years old . their coronoid processes have become relatively taller , but are still erect . the felid labeled d has a tall coronoid process that is no longer erect . it slopes to the right , to the rear of the cat ' s skull . this cat lived in north america approximately 13 million years ago . e is a modern , extant , or living cat ( panthera leo , the lion ) . this coronoid process is tall , sloping , and has a terminal hook .
fam 61835 , the echo quarry felid skull : this is the basicranium , the left side of the base of the skull of a north american cat who lived approximately 16 million years ago . by comparing this part of the skull with other extinct carnivores and with cats that are alive today , i am able to hypothesize or speculate on the relationships of this cat . photo by tom rothwellectotympanic ( t ) , limit of the caudal entotympanic chamber ( ce ) , paroccipital process ( pp ) , anteromedial process of the auditory bulla ( am ) , petrosal ( p ) , paroccipital process ( pp ) , entotympanic ( e ) , hypoglossal foramen ( hf ) .
if your cat needs a vet , if you are looking for a cat veterinarian in the utica and new hartford , ny area , or an animal hospital in the mohawk valley that specializes in cats , you are in the right place . we are a full - service veterinary hospital dedicated solely to the care of cats and kittens . our well - equipped and stress - free facility is staffed by a friendly and passionate team of veterinary professionals . we are a central new york regional resource for feline health . our goal is to provide you with appropriate , affordable , and effective care for your family cat .