{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Taxon",
  "slug": "skunk",
  "name": "Skunk",
  "scientificName": "Mephitis mephitis",
  "category": "Mammal",
  "summary": "The striped skunk is a cat-sized North American mammal best known for the foul-smelling spray it fires from glands under its tail to deter predators. Its bold black-and-white pattern is a warning to leave it alone. Skunks are omnivores active mainly at night, weigh up to about 6 kg (13 lb), and usually live 2 to 3 years in the wild.",
  "conservationStatus": "Least Concern",
  "taxonomy": {
    "kingdom": "Animalia",
    "phylum": "Chordata",
    "class": "Mammalia",
    "order": "Carnivora",
    "family": "Mephitidae",
    "genus": "Mephitis"
  },
  "stats": {
    "weightKg": 6,
    "lengthM": 0.8,
    "topSpeedKmh": 16,
    "lifespanYears": 7
  },
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Scientific name",
      "value": "Mephitis mephitis"
    },
    {
      "label": "Diet",
      "value": "Omnivore (insects, small animals, fruit)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Habitat",
      "value": "Woodland, grassland, farmland, suburbs"
    },
    {
      "label": "Lifespan",
      "value": "2–3 years wild (up to 7)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Weight",
      "value": "1.2–6 kg (2.6–13 lb)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Top speed",
      "value": "16 km/h (10 mph)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Conservation status",
      "value": "Least Concern (IUCN)"
    }
  ],
  "range": {
    "nativeRange": "From southern Canada through the United States to northern Mexico, in woodland, grassland, farmland, and towns.",
    "continents": [
      "North America"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "citation": "IUCN Red List — Mephitis mephitis.",
      "url": "https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Mephitis%20mephitis&searchType=species"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Animal Diversity Web — Mephitis mephitis. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.",
      "url": "https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Mephitis_mephitis/"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Wikipedia — Skunk.",
      "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Striped_skunk"
    }
  ],
  "lastReviewed": "2026-07-16",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/skunk/",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
    "attribution": "Global Animal Guide — https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/skunk/",
    "note": "Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with attribution and a link back to the canonical page."
  }
}