Conepatus leuconotus (LicHtenstein, 1832)

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 : 4

Conepatus leuconotus (LicHtenstein, 1832)

White-backed Hog-nosed Skunk

Conepatus leuconotus can be distinguished from other skunks by the lack of a white spot or medial stripe between the eyes. In addition to the extended nose, the species can be identified by a single, wide white stripe that begins on the forehead and extends the length of the back and tail (Dragoo and Sheffield 2009). Within Texas, its range consists of C. leuconotus leuconotus in southern, western, and central Texas and a disparate, but presumed extinct, subspecies, C. leuconotus telmalestes , in southeastern Texas (Dragoo et al. 2003; Schmidly and Bradley 2016).

Five county records, including a range extension for the species, and three nonvouchered photographic records are reported here. A record from Briscoe County in 2009 extends the range of C. l. leuconotus by approximately 100 km north of its known distribution in the Texas Panhandle ( Fig. 1 ). A record from Garza County also recently was reported ( Halsey et al. 2018). Herein are other specimens examined from Bell, Edwards, Hood, and San Saba counties, all within the currently known distribution. Nonvouchered photographic records from iNaturalist in Blanco, Kendall, and Kinney counties are within the currently known distribution of the species.

The state of Texas lists C. leuconotus as a species of special conservation need but categorizes it as S4 (TPWD 2020). The category S4 is defined as “Apparently Secure: Uncommon but not rare; some cause for long-term concern due to declines or other factors.” The consistent appearance of individuals killed by vehicles and on game cameras suggests that it is widely distributed and populations appear stable.

Specimens examined (7).— Bell County (1): 29 April 2014 ( ASNHC 20031 ) . Briscoe County (1): male, 4 June 2009, 9.2 km north, 11.6 km west of Silverton on TX HWY 207 (34.554221, -101.435619; ASNHC 16138 ) . Edwards County (3): male, 24 October 1993, 6 km south of Edwards-Sutton county line on Route 277 (30.220729, -100.666578; ASNHC 12930 ) ; female, 16 March 2008, 61 km northeast of Del Rio on TX HWY 377 (29.793503, -100.627954; ASNHC 13538 ) ; male, 6 February 2015, north of Val Verde County line on TX HWY 277 (30.122737, -100.694652; ASNHC 17833 ) . Hood County (1): 3 June 2011 ( ASNHC 14849 ) . San Saba County (1): 23 August 2012 ( ASNHC 16470 ) .

NonVoucHered pHotograpHic records (19).— Blanco County (12): 14 September 2016 (4109458); 20 March 2017 (5411795); 13 November 2017 (8797691); 28 November 2018 (18699497); 12 February 2019 (21539430); 2 December 2020 (66049785); 08 December 2020 (66323291); 16 December 2020 (66716938); 22 December 2020 (66922450); 23 December 2020 (66967526); 04 February 2021 (69042216); 14 March 2021 (71300046). Kendall County (3): 18 October 2014 (1025909); 23 September 2019 (33313743); 3 October 2019 (48581808). Kinney County (4): 2 October 2015 (2040687); 20 April 2017 (5873511); 12 October 2019 (34282008); 28 July 2020 (56424839).

Figures

Figure 1. Distribution of Conepatus leuconotus in Texas (gray shading) adapted from Schmidly and Bradley (2016) with a new range extension (cross-hatched county) based on a voucher specimen collected approximately 100 km from the distribution of C. leuconotus. Black dots indicates county records.