條紋臭鼬 (Mephitis mephitis) 是一種小型哺乳類動物，蹤跡遍及北美洲各地，包括加拿大南部、美國與墨西哥北部。牠們有短短的四肢、結實寬大的體格以及毛茸茸的尾巴，細長的臉有著尖尖的口鼻部，上方還有又圓又小的耳朵。條紋臭鼬的身上覆滿了又粗又厚的毛皮，顏色黑白相間，牠們的名稱就是取自這種獨特的花色：以黑色的毛皮為底，頭皮上的白色毛皮向後延伸為背部的兩道條紋，直至尾巴。雄性臭鼬的身長介於 38 至 46 公分，尾巴介於 33 至 41 公分，體重介於 2 至 5.5 公斤。雌性臭鼬的體型略小，頭部加身體的長度介於 34 至 41 公分，尾巴介於 30 至 37 公分，體重介於 1.8 至 4.9 公斤。
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Mephitis mephitis
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striped-skunk
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Animal Facts
Striped skunks do not hibernate, although those living in colder environments may enter a state of torpor during the winter in which they may lose up to 50% of their body weight.
The striped skunk can project foul-smelling liquid up to 3 metres, and the smell can linger for over 2 weeks.
Striped skunk spray contains sulphur compounds that give it its unpleasant rotten egg smell.
The striped skunk is immune to snake venom and is known to eat rattlesnakes.
The Latin name for the skunk is ‘Mephitis’, which comes from the name of Mefitis, the Samnite goddess of volcanoes and poisonous gases.
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