What family do skunks belong to?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking about the biological classification of skunks, specifically the family they belong to within the animal kingdom.
Answer
Mephitidae
The final answer is Mephitidae
Answer for screen readers
The final answer is Mephitidae
More Information
Skunks were once thought to belong to the Mustelidae family, which includes weasels and otters. However, genetic studies have reclassified them into their own family, Mephitidae, which is derived from the Latin word for 'bad odor'.
Tips
A common mistake is to still classify skunks under the Mustelidae family due to older classification systems. Always check the most recent taxonomic classifications.
Sources
- Skunk | The Canadian Encyclopedia - thecanadianencyclopedia.ca
- Mephitidae - Wikipedia - en.wikipedia.org
- Skunk - Wikipedia - en.wikipedia.org
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