臭鼬科科

分类

• 本科现存4属12种：
• 臭鼬属 Mephitis
• 臭鼬 Mephitis mephitis
• 大尾臭鼬 Mephitis macroura
• 斑臭鼬属 Spilogale
• 西部斑臭鼬 Spilogale gracilis
• 东部斑臭鼬 Spilogale putorius
• 南部斑臭鼬 Spilogale angudtifrons
• 侏斑臭鼬 Spilogale pygmaea
• 獾臭鼬属 Conepatus
• 智利獾臭鼬 Conepatus chinga
• 巴塔戈尼亚獾臭鼬 Conepatus humboldtii
• 獾臭鼬 Conepatus leuconotus
• 墨西哥獾臭鼬 Conepatus semistriatus
• 臭獾属 Mydaus
• 巽他臭獾 Mydaus javanensis
• 臭獾 Mydaus marchei

Mephitidae is a family of mammals comprising the skunks and stink badgers. They are noted for the great development of their anal scent glands, which they use to deter predators. Skunks were formerly classified as a subfamily of the Mustelidae (the weasel family); however, in the 1990s, genetic evidence caused skunks to be treated as a separate family. Similarly, the stink badgers had been classified with badgers, but genetic evidence shows they share a more recent common ancestor with skunks, so they are now included in the skunk family. A 2017 study using retroposon markers indicated that they are most closely related to the Ailuridae (red pandas and allies) and Procyonidae (raccoons and allies).

There are sixteen extant species of mephitids in four genera: Conepatus (hog-nosed skunks, four species); Mephitis (the hooded and striped skunks, two species); Mydaus (stink badgers, two species); and Spilogale (spotted skunks, eight species). The two stink badgers in the genus Mydaus inhabit Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines; the other members of the family inhabit the Americas, ranging from Canada to central South America. All other mephitids are extinct, known through fossils, including those from Eurasia.