Spilogale leucoparia Merriam, 1890

Jefferson, Kamren P., Garcia, S. Leigh Ann, Krejsa, Dianna M., Perkins, J. Clint, Stevens, Skyler, Matlack, Raymond S. & Dowler, Robert C., 2022, Noteworthy Records, Range Extensions, And Conservation Status Of Skunk Species In Texas, Occasional Papers of the Museum 384, pp. 1-16 : 8-10

Spilogale leucoparia Merriam, 1890

Desert Spotted Skunk

Spotted skunks are distinguished from other mephitids by their smaller, weasel-like body and the presence of a large white spot on the forehead and multiple white stripes on the dorsum and sides of the body ( Verts et al. 2001; Schmidly and Bradley 2016). One of the western forms of spotted skunk, Spilogale leucoparia , occurs in Texas from the southern part of the panhandle into southern Texas and from central Texas west into the Trans-Pecos region ( Schmidly and Bradley 2016). Spilogale gracilis (= S. leucoparia ) is listed as a Texas species of greatest conservation need, but at an S5 level of “Secure” (TPWD 2020).

A nonvouchered photographic record from Mills County, a specimen examined from Burnet County, and a newly recorded specimen examined in Travis County (previously nonvouchered photographic record, Morgan and Mueller 2014) represent eastern range extensions for the species ( Fig. 3 ). Specimens examined from Hays, Sutton, and Upton counties are included in the distribution for the species. Molecular analysis of four of the specimens examined confirmed that these were S. leucoparia . These records as well as others in the past 15 years (Dowler et al 2008; Morgan and Mueller 2014; Garcia et al. 2016) suggest a shift eastward in the range of S. leucoparia in Texas ( Fig. 3 ). In these areas, future research should determine if both spotted skunk species are maintaining sympatric distributions or whether S. leucoparia is locally displacing S. interrupta .

Specimens examined (7).— Burnet County (1): male, 3 February 2019, Marble Falls , 400 3rd Street (30.569164, -98.272018; ASNHC 20032 , GB accession number MZ558542 ). Hays County (2): 13 June 2014 ( ASNHC 18895 ) ; male, 4 August 2019, San Marcos, TX RR 32, ~ 1.5 km west of junction with TX RR 12 (29.939275, -98.106862; ASNHC 20033 , GB accession number MZ558543 ). Sterling County (1): male, 17 July 2020 ( ASNHC 20267 ) . Sutton County (1): male, 11 April 2016, 7.7 km north of Sonora on HWY 277 (30.636528, -100.643427; ASNHC 19173 , GB accession number MZ558541 ). Travis County (1): 12 June 2014 ( ASNHC 18947 , GB accession number MZ547038 ). Upton County (1): 25 August 2015 ( ASNHC 20034 ) .

NonVoucHered pHotograpHic records (5).—Edwards County (1): 13 November 2017 (68236476). Glasscock County (1): 22 August 2017 (7623291). McCulloch County (1): 29 August 2017 (7714786). Mills County (1): 1 May 2020 (49959626). Reagan County (1): 2 July 2016 (3620247).

Figures

Figure 3. Range map adapted from Schmidly and Bradley (2016) of Spilogale leucoparia (dark gray), S. interrupta (white), and areas of potential range overlap (light gray) in Texas (inset). Map indicates previous county records within a single species’ distribution (open circles – S. leucoparia, open squares – S. interrupta), new county records within a single species’ distribution (closed circles – S. leucoparia, closed squares – S. interrupta), and county records where both species have been documented (black diamonds). Nonvouchered photographic records are symbolized by a white star for S. leucoparia and a black star for S. interrupta. Counties noted by crosshatch represent new S. leucoparia records where S. interrupta was previously documented.