Conepatus l. ssp. telmalestes (White-backed Hog-nosed Skunk)

[Deleted]

Where are there preserved samples of Conepatus mesoleucus telmalestes?

[Peter]

Range and Population This endemic North American species was known only from Big Thicket, Texas.

Hog-nosed skunks have been hunted for their pelt and it is probably this commerce that has led to the extinction of the isolated population in Big Thicket.

Here an article
Dragoo, J. W., R. L. Honeycutt, and D. J. Schmidly. 2003. Taxonomic status of white-backed hog-nosed skunks, genus Conepatus (Carnivora: Mephitidae). Journal of Mammalogy, 84:159-176.

www.msb.unm.edu/mammals/PDF/Dragoo2003.pdf

Morphological analyses.—Photographs were taken of 85 museum skins to observe variation in color pattern. These skins included 21 C. l. texensis, 11 C. m. telmalestes, and 53 C. m.
mearnsi.

Specimens:

Conepatus mesoleucus telmalestes.—UNITED
STATES: Texas: Hardin County: Sour Lake (USNM 136989, 136990, 136549–136551, 136533). Liberty County: Cleveland (USNM 136771, 136772, 140358–140360); Tarkington
Prairie (USNM 135098).

[sebbe67]

this subspecies are probably not even valid anymore

[another specialist]

Species is still valid - still listed by IUCN as extinct

www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php?species=5220

BIG THICKET HOG-NOSED SKUNK

Range and Population

This endemic North American species was known only from Big Thicket, Texas.

Threats

Hog-nosed skunks have been hunted for their pelt and it is probably this commerce that has led to the extinction of the isolated population in Big Thicket.

[another specialist]

Common Hog-nosed Skunk
(Conepatus mesoleucus)


Range and Habitat


The common hog-nosed skunk ranges across the southwestern states of Arizona, southeastern Colorado, New Mexico, and southern Texas in the United States, southward into Mexico, and the Central American countries of El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. They prefer habitats that consist of foothills, partially wooded, and brush .


Physical Appearance


Hog-nosed skunks are medium-sized carnivores, with their moderate-length body set on relatively short, thick legs. Their elongated face is conical in shape, with the short, rounded ears set low to the sides of the head. Also, the hog-nosed skunks have a broad, bare nose that gives these species their common name. They have 3 pairs of mammae. They have the following dental formula 2(I 3/3, C 1/1, P 2/3, M 1/2) for a total of 32 teeth. Hog-nosed skunks have five toes on each paw with thick, curved powerful claws used for digging in the soil. Like all skunk species, this species possesses a well-developed anal scent gland that excretes a powerful, noxious fluid at its attackers.

In general, the hog-nosed skunks are similar in appearance to the related striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) with slight variations in color patterns. Hog-nosed skunks, however, lack the thin white stripe present on the face of Mephitis. Conepatus skunks have two basic coloration patterns. Wherever the range of a species of hog-nosed skunk overlaps with that of M. mephitis, they have a single, broad solid white stripe on their back. Further south, where M. mephitis is not found, they have two white stripes on their backs.

Their all-white tail is very thick and bushy, and represents about 40% of their total length. The medium length coarse coat has the basic coloration of black and white, with the animal being black ventrally and having a single, wide white stripe along their back. This stripe begins at the top of their head and ends at the base of their tail, and extends midway down the sides of the animal. Males are slightly larger than the females.


Diet


The common hog-nosed skunk is an opportunistic omnivore. They use their powerful claws to dig in the soil, and root around with their pig-like nose to locate insects and other food items buried in the rocky soil. The majority of their diet consists on insects, which makes up between 50-82% of their annual diet, but they will also feed on arachnids, small mammals, reptiles, snails, and vegetation. Their dietary composition varies with the seasons, and the availability of food. Their seasonal dietary intake is based on the analysis of the stomach contents of 83 individuals from Texas. In the spring, insects comprise the majority, about 4/5 of their total diet, with arachnids and reptiles making up the other fifth. In the summer, half of their diet is insects, vegetation comprises about a third, and arachnids, small mammals, snails and reptiles each comprising a small percentage apiece. In the fall, insects still comprise about half and vegetation a little over a third, with reptiles and arachnids comprising about 10% total. In the winter, insects comprise approximately 3/4, and arachnids, small mammals and vegetation comprising almost all of the other 1/4, with reptiles and molluscs comprising less than 1% total.


Reproduction and Life Cycle


Little information is given on the reproductive habits of this species. The breeding season begins in February, with litters being born in April to early May after a 2 month gestation period. No litter sizes are recorded for this species, but it is speculated that since they only have 6 teats, the litter size is likely to be relatively small. There are also no records on the early growth and development of the young. They reach approximately 450 g by mid-June, and are completely weaned and capable of foraging on their own by August.


Behavior


Like the other species of Conepatus, the common hog-nosed skunk is solitary, with the male and female only coming together to mate. They are primarily nocturnal in their habits, but not as strictly so as other hog-nosed skunks. They have been observed foraging in the daytime during the winter months. Cracks and hollows in the rocky ground serve as wintering and nursery dens.


Threats


Skunks generally have few predators due to their powerful defense system. They emit a powerful, noxious liquid from their anal glands when startled, which can cause confusion and distraction from a potential predator, and can even temporarily blind the animal if the liquid gets in the eyes. However, unless they are startled, the skunk usually gives a warning signal by lifting its tail straight into the air and presenting its rear end toward its potential attacker.

Skunks are sometimes considered a pest to crop farmers since they tend to dig up the soil. Their hog-like habit of rooting in the soil earned them the nickname "rooter skunk" by Texans. However, they feed on insects that are pests to crops, and so usually do more good than harm. Like raccoons and foxes, skunks are notorious for carrying rabies.

Although they are not considered very common throughout their range, they are not endangered or threatened.


Subspecies


There are several subspecies listed for the common hog-nosed skunk. The validity of these subspecies is unknown

C. m. figginsi -- southeastern Colorado
C. m. filipensis -- southern Mexico
C. m. fremonti -- southern-central Colorado
C. m. mearnsi -- central Texas
C. m. mesoleucus -- central Mexico
C. m. nelsoni -- western central Mexico
C. m. nicaraguae -- Nicaragua
C. m. pediculus -- northern Mexico
C. m. sonoriensis -- northwestern Mexico
C. m. telmalestes -- Big Thicket hog-nosed skunk, in southeastern Texas. Now considered Extinct by the IUCN
C. m. venaticus -- Arizona

[sebbe67]

IUCN lists several species and subspecies which arent considered valid anylonger, for ex RED-THROATED WOOD-RAIL Aramides gutturalis, a poorly-prepared specimen of Grey-necked Wood-rail A. cajanea.

[another specialist]

sebbe67 said:

IUCN lists several species and subspecies which arent considered valid anylonger, for ex RED-THROATED WOOD-RAIL Aramides gutturalis, a poorly-prepared specimen of Grey-necked Wood-rail A. cajanea.

were did you get info on aramides gutturalis?

[sebbe67]

in HBW volume 3 and on the IUCN website.

[another specialist]

sebbe67 said:

IUCN lists several species and subspecies which arent considered valid anylonger, for ex RED-THROATED WOOD-RAIL Aramides gutturalis, a poorly-prepared specimen of Grey-necked Wood-rail A. cajanea.

It's not just on IUCN website that states it's valid


more useful info here

www.msb.unm.edu/mammals/PDF/Dragoo2003.pdf

[sebbe67]

In the case of C. l. figginsi and C. l. telmalestes, further genetic
research may indicate that these taxa are not valid,

from that site.

[another specialist]

sebbe67 said:

In the case of C. l. figginsi and C. l. telmalestes, further genetic
research may indicate that these taxa are not valid,

from that site.

further genetic research may indicate that these taxa are not valid,

Yes, the word may was used so it's not a definate like all subspecies always a possibility of not be valid, not be distinct enough from the nominate race to be called by it's own name.

At present it's valid and it's extinct - until further notice.

[sebbe67]

Conepatus mesoleucus telmalestes

The Big-Thicket hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus mesoleucus telmalestes)
occurs at the eastern periphery of its species’ main range,
from which the Big-Thicket area is isolated by about 200 km. It
differs in skull form and in the smaller size of the camassials,
possibly indicating a different diet. Outlying isolated populations
are considered to be important in the process of species formation.
In this context it appears interesting that C. m. telmdestes lives in
a moister and more densely vegetated region than other hog-nosed
skunk subspecies.
Distribution: Conepatus mesoleucus telmalestes is confined to
the Big-Thicket area in eastern Texas, U.S.A. (see Map 7).
Status: The species is extremely rare in eastern Texas, or even
extinct (Schmidly 1983). The Big-Thicket hog-nosed skunk
population was considered to be extinct already in 1945, and
Schmidly did not encounter any during three years of field work in
the Big-Thicket National Preserve. However, one third of the
licensed trappers of the area responding to a questionnaire reported
to have taken a total of 38 specimens, which would be a higher
figure than for the trapped striped skunks (M. mephitis). If the
trappers did not confuse the hog-nose skunk with striped skunks,
the population may still survive.
Status in captivity: There are no records of this subspecies in
captivity, and for the species as a whole there are only two (Jones
pers. comm. 1988): one C. m. mesoleucus was held in Cincinnati
Zoo (U.S.A.) from 1965-1968, and the New York Bronx Zoo
exhibited a pair which produced several offspring in 1968 (of
which one survived). This birth represents the only known case of
captive breeding of the species and one of only two for the whole
genus Conepatus. No hog-nosed skunk of any species seems to be
in captivity at present.
Occurrence in protected areas: As cited above, Schmidly
(1983) did not find the subspecies in the Big-Thicket National
Preserve (34,243 ha), which lies within its range.

[another specialist]

Thanks sebbe67 were was the above found? what was the source?

[Bhagatí]

Conepatus leuconotos telmalestes - Big Thicket skunk

from:
www.picsearch.com/pictures/animals/extinct%20animals/big%20thicket%20hog-nosed%20skunk.html
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

And here it:
www.mnh.si.edu/mna/image_info.cfm?species_id=49

Conservation Status: A subspecies, the Big Thicket Hog-nosed Skunk, Conepatus mesoleucus telmalestes, is Extinct.


Conepatus leuconotus - eastern variant (base of tail is black)
Click to enlarge. (70 kb)
www.mnh.si.edu/mna/full_image.cfm?image_id=1623
museum.utep.edu/mammalogy/fieldguide/Mephitidae.pdf

This species Conepatus leuconotus have 3 subspecies:
link:
www.bucknell.edu/msw3/browse.asp?id=14001535
1 C.l.figginsi EX (?)
2 C.l.leuconotus
3 C.l.telamlestes EX (?)

Conepatus leuconotus
Author: Lichtenstein, 1832.
Citation: Darst. Säugeth., text: "Mephitis leuconota" [not paginated]: pl. 44. fig 1.
Common Name: American Hog-nosed Skunk
Type Locality: "oberen Lauf des Rio Alvarado" [Mexico, Veracruz, Rio Alvarado]
Distribution: Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico (from USA south along coast to Veracruz), Nicaragua, USA (S Gulf coast of Texas).
Status: IUCN – Extinct as C. mesoleucus telmalestes, Lower Risk (lc) as C. mesoleucus and C. leuconotus.
Comments: Includes mesoleucus (Dragoo et al., 2003; Hall, 1981).

Seen:
www.mnh.si.edu/mna/image_info.cfm?species_id=49
www.lioncrusher.com/animal.asp?animal=212

And finally:
www.fs.fed.us/r2/projects/scp/assessments/americanhognosedskunk.pdf

www.msb.unm.edu/mammals/publications/Dragoo_etal2004.pdf

www.dragoo.org/Classify.html
www.msb.unm.edu/mammals/publications/Dragoo_etal1993.pdf

[Bhagatí]

Please, answered about it.

[another specialist]

Thanks baghira for the image especially

[Bhagatí]

from:
www.donaldheald.com/browse2.html
www.donaldheald.com/s5708.html
&
search.abaa.org/dbp2/book338409200.html
&
www.ilab.org/db/book1700_05708.html

on this picture is Conepatus mesoleucus telmalestes.

There is a fact.:

"A specimen procured by John Woodhouse Audubon in Texas in 1845-46... was caught alive near San Jacinto. It was secured to the pack saddle of one of his baggage mules, but managed to escape during the day's march. As the scent was still strong on the saddle, it was not missed until the party arrived at the rancho of Mr.McFadden, who kept a house of entertainment for man and beast, which, by this time, was greatly needed by the travellers."


A specimen procured by John Woodhouse Audubon in Texas in 1845-46... was caught alive near San Jacinto.

See:
books.google.co.uk/books?id=Hg2daPm0qLkC&pg=PA133&dq=Conepatus+mesoleucus+telmalestes&sig=XgO2iRBJH8rfjZJ_r6xr UhrtGEk#PPA133,M1

The Hog-nosed or White-backed Skunk is limited to Texas and its neighbourhood. "A specimen procured by John Woodhouse Audubon in Texas in 1845-46... was caught alive near San Jacinto. It was secured to the pack saddle of one of his baggage mules, but managed to escape during the day's march. As the scent was still strong on the saddle, it was not missed until the party arrived at the rancho of Mr.McFadden, who kept a house of entertainment for man and beast, which, by this time, was greatly needed by the travellers." (Quadrupeds, II, p.19)

[another specialist]

Field Book of North American Mammals
By H. E. Anthony

[Melanie]

Still valid according HMW 1

[another specialist]

Thanks Melanie for confirmation