Conepatus humboldtii Gray 1837
Creators: name: Don E. Wilson
name: Russell A. Mittermeier
Publisher: name: Lynx Edicions
Year: 2009
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Mammalia
Carnivora
Mephitidae
Conepatus
Conepatus humboldtii

description: 6.
Humboldt’s Hog-nosed Skunk
Conepatus humboldtii
French: Moufette de Humboldt / German: Patagonischer Skunk / Spanish: Zorrino patagénico
Taxonomy. Conepatus humboldtii Gray, 1837,
Magellan Straits, Chile.
Two of the subspecies have been regarded as distinct species, but morphology and color pattern have been used to relegate them to subspecies of C. humboldtii. Three subspecies are recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution.
C. h. humboldtii Gray, 1837 — Patagonia (Chile and Argentina) to the Strait of Magellan.
C. h. castaneus d’Orbigny & Gervais, 1847 — C Argentina (S provinces of Buenos Aires & La Pampa to N Rio Negro;it also follows along the Colorado and Black Rivers to Neuquen and S Mendoza).
C. h. proteus Thomas, 1902 — subandean C Argentina (Catamarca, La Rioja, San Juan, San Luis & N Mendoza).
Descriptive notes. Head-body 22-32 cm (males), 20-30 cm (females), tail 16.5-20.2 cm (males) and 18-18.5 cm (females); weight 0.5-2.5 kg. Males on average are about 4-6% heavier than females. Humboldt’s Hog-nosed Skunks tend to be the smallest of the hog-nosed skunks. These skunks, like all South American skunks, have a double stripe similar to that seen in North American Striped Skunks. Typically, they are black and white, but they can range in color from black to dark brown or reddish brown. It has been suggested that the brownish color appears as the result of age. There is considerable variation in the striping pattern. Humboldt’s Hog-nosed Skunks do not have any white markings between the eyes. The tail generally is shorter in proportion to the body than in other skunks. The forelimbs and claws are well adapted for digging. Like other skunks in the genus the nose is long and flexible and used for rooting for burrowing insects. The post carnassial molars have large grinding areas relative to the cutting edge of their carnassial teeth.
Habitat. Humboldt’s Hog-nosed Skunks use a variety of habitats. They prefer to den in flat or rolling topography. These skunks will den in shallow caves, below tree roots, in hollow trees, under rocks and cracks between stones, and in abandoned tunnels of other animals. They will use habitat from desert areas to forests. In addition to being found in shrub or forest cover, they use man-made structures, denning under buildings and woodpiles. They use areas with natural herbaceous vegetation, except where poisons are used to control the Culpeo (Pseudalopex culpaeus). They are susceptible to poisoning although not targeted. They do however, prefer more open, grassy areas compared to the drier shrubby environments.
Food and Feeding. These skunks are opportunistic feeders and usually capture their prey easily. They generally find their prey by sniffing and digging, using their flexible noses and long claws, primarily in grassy habitats. Like other skunks in the genus they eat a variety of insects, including ground beetles and their larvae, grasshoppers, crickets, and spiders. They will consume fruit when it is available. These skunks also eat a variety of vertebrates, such as lizards and rodents. Carrion is eaten in larger quantities than expected based on relative abundance, when compared with other food items. This would suggest that this species is more carnivorous than insectivorous, but still opportunistic. They also are known to frequent urban garbage sites and vegetable gardens.
Activity patterns. This species is generally nocturnal or crepuscular in nature. Humboldt’s Hog-nosed Skunks become more active during the day as winter approaches, and are less active when there is snow cover. They use a variety of den sites during the day and normally do not use the same den site for more than a couple of days at a time. They will however, reuse dens that they occupied previously. They are active for about 50% of the day. Their activity period starts between 20:00-22:00 h and continues until 07:00 h the next morning. Some skunks will remain active until 09:00 h and even until 12:00 h. They rarely are seen between 12:00-19:00 h. During periods of activity they have been observed digging or foraging, walking, and even playing. Young animals will venture as far as 1-3 km from their natal dens to survey new territory before returning home. They may eventually relocate to the areas they investigated.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. Humboldt’s Hog-nosed Skunks tend to be solitary for most of their lives. However,in stable areas where shelters are secure, small groups of young individuals may den together. These individuals usually are related and will stay together until they become adults. The home range ofjuvenile skunks increases in the fall and winter as they explore new areas away from the natal home range. Home rangesizesare relatively small and are about 7-16 ha. Home ranges of different individuals can overlap. These skunks usually are not found in high numbers. Density estimates of 0-04 to 0-16 km * have been reported in Chile.
Breeding. Little is known about the reproductive biology of these skunks. The young are born in the spring and disperse in late summer. Gestation has been recorded as short as 42 days, but probably is closer to 60 days. Females generally have only one litter per year and the litters range from 2-5 offspring.
Status and Conservation. Currently, Humboldt’s Hog-nosed Skunks is listed with CI'TIES as Appendix II. They are considered Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The pelt of this species has been used for blankets, and as a result they were hunted and over 100,000 skins were exported. In several areas in Chile it has been suggested that hunt ing pressures be reduced or stopped in order to conserve this species. Humboldt’s Hog-nosed Skunks are preyed upon by various raptors as well as Puma. Grazing pressures potentially could decrease populations of this skunk. Additionally, they have been eliminated in some areas as a result of poisoning of other species.
Bibliography. Arias et al. (2006), Cabrera (1958), Canevari & Ambrosini (1988), Dragoo et al. (2003), Fuller, T.K. et al. (1987), Gray (1837), Johnson, W.E. et al. (1988), Kipp (1965), Osgood (1943), Thomas (1902a), Wozencraft (2005), Zapata et al. (2001).
description: Published as part of Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2009, Mephitidae, pp. 532-562 in Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 1 Carnivores, Barcelona :Lynx Edicions on pages 557-558, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5684751