Mephitidae
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 ; 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 and Procyonidae.
There are sixteen extant species of mephitids in four genera: Conepatus ; Mephitis ; Mydaus ; and Spilogale. 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.
In taxonomic order, the living species of Mephitidae are:
Genera
| Image | Genus | Living species |
| Mydaus Cuvier, 1821 | Mydaus javanensis – Indonesian or Sunda stink badger Mydaus marchei – Palawan stink badger | |
| Conepatus Gray, 1837 | Conepatus chinga – Molina's hog-nosed skunkConepatus humboldtii – Humboldt's hog-nosed skunkConepatus leuconotus – American hog-nosed skunkConepatus semistriatus – striped hog-nosed skunk | |
| Spilogale Gray, 1865 | Spilogale amphiala - island spotted skunkSpilogale angustifrons – southern spotted skunkSpilogale gracilis – western spotted skunkSpilogale interrupta -plains spotted skunkSpilogale leucoparia -desert spotted skunkSpilogale putorius – eastern spotted skunkSpilogale pygmaea – pygmy spotted skunkSpilogale yucatanensis -yucatan spotted skunk | |
| Mephitis É. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire and Cuvier, 1795 | Mephitis macroura – hooded skunkMephitis mephitis – striped skunk |