Mammals
Molina's Hog-nosed Skunk
Conepatus chinga
Rooting through soil with an elongated, pig-like snout, Molina’s hog-nosed skunk ranges across a far broader stretch of South America than its more southerly Patagonian relative, its bold black-and-white pattern warning of a powerful chemical defence.
Overview
Molina’s hog-nosed skunk, Conepatus chinga, is a Least Concern mammal native to grassland, desert, and mountain habitat across a broad range of central and southern South America. Its distinctive rooting snout, its far larger range compared with the closely related Patagonian hog-nosed skunk, and its potent chemical defence make it one of the more widely distributed skunk species found anywhere in South America.
A wider-ranging relative of the Patagonian skunk
While the Patagonian hog-nosed skunk stays confined to the far south, Molina’s hog-nosed skunk instead extends its range deep into central South America, tolerating a much broader span of grassland, desert, and mountain habitat along the way.
Status
Least Concern, remaining widespread and generally stable across its broad range throughout central and southern South America.
Molina's Hog-nosed Skunk: common questions
How does Molina's hog-nosed skunk find its food?
This species has an elongated, pig-like snout used to root out insects and other food from soil, a feature shared with other hog-nosed skunk species.
How does Molina's hog-nosed skunk compare in range with the Patagonian hog-nosed skunk?
This species ranges across a far broader stretch of South America than the more southerly Patagonian hog-nosed skunk, extending north into Bolivia and Peru.
Who was Molina's hog-nosed skunk named after?
This species is named after the naturalist Juan Ignacio Molina, an early chronicler of Chilean natural history whose work documented many South American species.
How does Molina's hog-nosed skunk defend itself?
This species can spray a strong-smelling chemical defence from glands near the base of the tail, a deterrent shared with all skunk species and signalled by its bold black-and-white colouration.