Have you ever seen a skunk? They are mammals from the Mephitidae family.
I've never seen one in real life! This is so interesting, I don't know much about them.
They are mostly known for their ability to spray a liquid with a bad smell to scare away predators.
Yeah that's something really unique about them. I wonder where they can be found, in which places.
There are different species across much of the world. Most are black and white but some are brown and cream colored.
I've never heard of brown and cream colored ones. I wish I could see one! They are fascinating animals.
of white spots and broken stripes (in the case of the spotted skunk). Some also have stripes on their legs.
Diet.
Skunks are omnivorous, eating both plant and animal material and changing their diets as the seasons change. They eat insects, larvae, earthworms, grubs, rodents, lizards, salamanders, frogs, snakes, birds, moles, and eggs. They also commonly eat berries, roots, leaves, grasses, fungi and nuts.
In settled areas, skunks also seek garbage left
Skunk
Skunks are North and South American mammals in the family Mephitidae. While related to polecats and other members of the weasel family, skunks have as their closest Old World relatives the stink badgers. The animals are known for their ability to spray a liquid with a strong, unpleasant smell. Different species of skunk vary in appearance from black-and-white to brown, cream or ginger colored, but all have warning coloration.
Etymology.
The word "skunk" is an Americanism from the 1630s, the