Striped Hog-nosed Skunk

The striped hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus semistriatus) is a skunk species that is found in Central and South America. It is distributed from southern Mexico to northern Peru, and in a pocket in the extreme east of Brazil. They live in a wide range of habitats such as dry forests, orchards, and occasionally in rainforests. It is classified as least concern in the IUCN Red List. == Taxonomy == The striped hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus semistriatus) belongs to the genus Conepatus. It comes under the family Mephitidae, which includes skunks and stink badgers. It was first described by Pieter Boddaert in 1785. == Distribution and habitat == The range of striped hog-nosed skunk extends from southern Mexico in Central America to northern Peru in South America, and in a pocket in the extreme east of Brazil. They live in a wide range of habitats, including arboreal caatingas, orchards, and dry forest scrubs, grasslands, and occasionally, in rainforests. In the wet season, they prefer higher grounds in deciduous forests. They usually reside in small dens made from fallen tree logs or burrows of about 1–2 m (3 ft 3 in – 6 ft 7 in) length dug below the surface. They also use…