Hog-nosed skunk
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Family:	Mephitidae
Genus:	Conepatus
Species
C. chinga C. humboldtii C. leuconotus C. semistriatus
File:Conepatus areas.png
Conepatus ranges

The hog-nosed skunks belong to the genus Conepatus and are members of the family Mephitidae (skunks). They are native to the Americas. They have white backs and tails and black underparts.^[1]

Species[link]

• Conepatus chinga - Molina's hog-nosed skunk
• Conepatus humboldtii - Humboldt's hog-nosed skunk
• Conepatus leuconotus - American hog-nosed skunk

  Conepatus leuconotus - Eastern hog-nosed skunk

  Conepatus mesoleucus - Western hog-nosed skunk

• Conepatus semistriatus - Striped hog-nosed skunk

Recent work has concluded that the western hog-nosed skunk or common hog-nosed skunk (formerly Conepatus mesoleucus) is the same species as the American hog-nosed skunk, and that Conepatus leuconotus is the correct name of the merged populations.^[2][3]

Description[link]

Conepatus humboldtii

The individual hog-nosed skunk species vary in size, but among them is included the largest of all skunks. All are characterized by comparatively short hair, especially on the tail, and this appendage lacks the plumelike appearance observed in other skunks. The nose is prolonged into a distinct "snout", naked on the top and sides and evidently used for rooting in the earth after the manner of a pig. In addition, the front feet are armed with long, heavy claws. The claws are well developed for digging up insect prey.^[4] and the front legs and shoulders are provided with a strong muscular development for digging, as in a badger. This likeness has led to the use in some places of the appropriate name "badger skunk" for these animals. The extent of the stripe on the hind of the skunk, and the color of the tail underside suggests a distinction between Eastern and Western species. The Eastern species is a narrow stripe, with black under the base of the tail. The Western distinction is a wide stripe, with a predominantly white tail. The hair on these skunks is coarse and harsh, lacking the qualities which render the coats of their northern relatives so valuable. They are nocturnal.^[4]

Before the merge of the American hog-nosed skunks, the Eastern hog-nosed skunk, Conepatus leuconotus is typically larger than the Western hog-nosed skunk, Conepatus mesoleucus. Female Eastern hog-nosed skunks range from 58–74 cm in length and 19–34 cm in height. They weigh between 2.0-4.0 kg. Male hog-nosed skunks range from 56–92 cm in length and 22–41 cm in height. They weigh on average between 3.0-4.5 kg. The Western Hog-nosed Skunk ranged from 40–84 cm in length, 13–35 cm in height, and 1.1-2.7 kg. Males are larger than females and can occasionally reach 4.5 kg.^[4] The teeth are smaller in C. mesoleucus than in C. leuconotus.^[5]

Range[link]

The Eastern Hog-nosed Skunk is only found in southern Texas and Veracruz Mexico.^[4][5] The Molina hog-nosed Skunk, also known as Andes Skunk, (C. chinga) is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay.^[6] Humboldt's hog-nosed Skunk, also known as Patagonian hog-nosed skunk (C. humboldtii) finds its habitat in the open grassy areas in the Patagonian regions of Chile and Argentina.^[7] The The Western Hog-nosed Skunk (C. mesoleucus) is found in Colorado, Southern Washington, Texas, Arizona, Sierra Guadalupe Cohuila, New Mexico, Chicago, Colima, Honduras, Sonora, and Nicaragua.^[5] The Striped Hog-nosed Skunk, C. semistriatus is found in Veracruz, Costa Rica, Guatemala.^[5]

Habitat[link]

Where their range coincides with that of the common skunks, the local distribution of the two is practically the same. They live along the bottom-lands of watercourses, where vegetation is abundant and the supply of food most plentiful, or in canyons and on rocky mountain slopes.

For their protection hog-nosed skunks create their own burrows, generally within a bank, or beneath a rock, or the roots of a tree, but do not hesitate to take possession of the deserted burrows of other animals, or of natural cavities among the rocks. Owing to their strictly nocturnal habits, they are generally much less frequently seen than the common skunks, even in localities where they are numerous. Sightings are recorded from brush habitat and semiopen grasslands. Habitats may also include rocky terrain and stream beds in desert-scrub and mesquite grassland.

Infrequent sightings of the American Hog-nosed Skunks raise concerns over the conservation status.^[4]

Feeding habits[link]

Although both the spotted skunk and common skunks live mainly on insects, the hog-nosed skunks are even more insectivorous in their feeding habits. The bare snout appears to be used constantly for the purpose of rooting out beetles, grubs, and larvae of various kinds from the ground.

Wikispecies has information related to: Conepatus

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Conepatus

References[link]

This article incorporates text from the publication Wild Animals of North America, copyright 1918 by the National Geographic Society. This book is in the public domain.

Little Red is a rock band from Melbourne, Australia consisting of Adrian Beltrame (guitar, vocals), Dominic Byrne (guitar, vocals), Quang Dinh (bass, vocals), and Taka Honda (drums).

Biography[link]

The band was formed in 2005 and were featured on Triple J Unearthed.^[1] The band won the 2008 Australia-wide 'Garage to V' competition held by Virgin Mobile to win a slot at all shows of the Australian V Festival in 2008,^[2] while the band has also performed at the Falls Festival, Meredith Music Festival, the Big Day Out, the Pyramid Rock Festival and the Laneway Festival.

Little Red's songs "Waiting", "Coca-Cola" and "Witch Doctor" have all received regular play on Australian nation-wide radio station Triple J,^[3] while "Coca-Cola" was also included on the official soundtrack of Australian TV series Underbelly, and was voted #47 on the 2008 Triple J Hottest 100.

The band independently released in Australia an album entitled Listen to Little Red on 28 June 2008,^[4] which debuted at number 29 on the ARIA Charts.^[5] The album was licensed for release outside of Australia by the UK independent Lucky Number Music^[6] and was released on 16 November 2009 in the UK and early 2010 internationally.

In September, 2010, the band released a second album, Midnight Remember, featuring their latest single, "Rock It" which gained a gold accreditation^[7] and second place in Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2010, with the album's second single "Slow Motion" securing 79th position.^[8]

On 21 April 2011 they released a music video to "All Mine," also from Midnight Remember on youtube, through the Liberation Music record label's account.

Touring[link]

• Headlined their 'All Mine' National Tour featuring Worlds End Press & Passport For Amy 2011
• Toured with Blondie and The Pretenders, Evening On The Green 2010
• Big Day Out 2011
• Pyramid Rock 2010/2011
• Splendour in the Grass July/August 2010
• Toured with Kasabian in July 2010
• Headline tour of Australia supported by Ground Components in April/May 2009
• Headline tour of Australia - University Tour - in October 2008
• Toured with Vampire Weekend on their national Australian tour in August 2008
• Headline tour of Australia - album tour - in August/September 2008 supported by The Holidays and Andy Bull
• Toured with The Panics on their national album tour in May 2008
• Toured with Spoon in January 2008
• Toured with Operator Please on their national Australian tour in April 2008
• Toured with Art of Fighting in September 2007

Discography[link]

Albums[link]

• Listen to Little Red — Hooch Hound/Shock (28 June 2008) AUS #29^[9] — Lucky Number/Lucky Number Music (2009)
• Midnight Remember — Liberation (September 2010) AUS #5^[9]

EPs[link]

• Get Ready! EP

Singles[link]

• "Coca Cola"/"It's Alright" — Neon Gold/Lucky Number/Lucky Number Music (2009)
• "Waiting"/"Wait Is Over" — Neon Gold/Lucky Number/Lucky Number Music (2009)
• "Rock It" (2010) AUS #19^[9]
• "Slow Motion" (2010)
• "All Mine" (2011)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Little Red on Myspace
• Little Red video interview @ VFestival