Skunks are heavy bodied with short legs, triangular heads, and long, plume-like tails.
They are plantigrade, walking on the flat of the foot, rather than the toes. Each foot has five toes. The claws on the forefeet are longer and more curved than on the hindfeet. The striped skunk can reach 32 inches in length, including tail, and weigh up to nine pounds. The spotted skunk is much smaller in length, no more than 18 inches, including tail, and is in general more agile and slender than other skunks.