“There are a lot of places where spotted skunks are not doing particularly well at all,” says Samantha Wisely, a wildlife ecologist at the University of Florida in Gainesville who was not involved in the research. “They’re these incredibly cryptic and very shy species, and so we just don’t know a lot about them and that makes them really hard to conserve.” Now, she says, this new paper provides evidence that there are far more distinct species of this animal than we realized.
He and his colleagues thought that a more thorough look at the genetics of spotted skunks might reveal some additional members hiding within the four known species. Gathering enough skunks to analyze proved to be a challenge, though. This was partly because the agile skunks can be difficult to find and catch, and partly because of their protective stench.
The researchers next examined the skunks’ DNA. First, they looked at the nucleus, the part of the cell containing the majority of genetic material. They also analyzed the mitochondria, which are the energy-producing cellular structures that contain. Analyzing both types of DNA allowed the researchers to build a more complete picture of the skunks’ evolutionary history, Ferguson says.
The findings may also shed light on a phenomena seen in some spotted skunk populations known as delayed implantation, which allows the animals to mate in fall and then wait to give birth until the spring.
Are we doing a skunk circus? This feels like it's becoming a skunk circus.
snickles1977
Hey skunkwhoplunks can you do one of these
SoftSkunk I never knew you could do this!
jdawg1969 This changes everything….
Is that supposed to be an intimidation display because it’s the exact opposite someone is going to get sprayed trying to hug it
yellowsippycup when will you unlock this ability, learn something from your siblings
Book_of_Spruce
morganjanae_
Billyhottakes
I thought they could all do this. How is this news?
Same energy
gotta get like you my boy.
AyeDee_23 ring the alarm 🚨🚨🚨lol scary hours if Bayshore ones evolve
I thought “zero”, so this does appear to be true.
😊
More skunks than 0?
So cute. I want one. You can have them descented like ferrets!😂😂
I thought that was just one of the normal warning signs they gave out that if you don't back tf up that you're going to get sprayed? The ones around me do the headstand all the time.
allahliker Who's 'we'...?
SJLahey important
WHAT THE HELL THIS IS THE BIGGEST NEWS IVE SEEN
We thought? Who was thinking about this?😂
big if true
biostitute JRMorber this seems right up your strange science alley! 😍
How many are we talking here?
speermm_
TLDR: There are seven species of spotted skunk instead of just four.
KKillgallen So they can toot their stank asses up for maximum aim? BYE.
Skimmed over this. The basic gist is that they discovered that there are more species of spotted skunk than they realized. Previously these were thought to be subspecies of spotted skunks. So, they're just dividing the same skunks up into more categories.
That’s 🅿️
Call me when they can handstand off a half-pipe.
New_Arra
parkourunner what a skunk!
OldTakesExposed
vinylcyclist
Whos we? I didn't think any could.
Good for them
tbh this is just the motivation I need to do one myself
Not her busn it open, I know it stank
pulte trying to change your feed, look at this man
SC_Griffith important news
Hell yeah
Big, if true.
brooklynmarie Punk rock kitty
Alexa, play 2Live Crew
🐸Enjoy your skunks!
He looks really eager to show us.
Speak for yourself
Big, if true.
I didn’t know we were giving awards for showing our asses cause you should see some of my coworkers during office meetings.
Big picture what are we lookin at here?
I never put in a guess... was there an online poll? I haven't read the article yet so add another vote for 30% of skunks being able to do handstands.
FUCK
thanks
ok
Striped skunks do it too.
skunkcamacho aver
fcknflyn
fretmistress That never ends well. Never
And choreography too.
I love how this implies there was a preconcieved notion of how many of them could do a handstand
ResNeXtGuesser this would be a fun one for the neural net
this is the level of headline I crave
I bet this guy won’t be doing handstands for a while
zachtrabalka
380kmh Spotted skunks do that when you're about to get sprayed
MainaNYC important news
CoachLRJ has been saying this for years
colormesummer
Big if true
Honestly, I would have thought zero, so that's a low bar.
GammaInkk
I’m pretty sure “we” thought zero skunks could do handstands.
exotikaris
Hell yeah
ByKatieGilstrap That'll teach you to underestimate skunks
All what’s missing is a Fortnite dance
Skussy poppin on a handstand
Billyhottakes here ya go bud, animal fact for the day
Taxes hard at work
Goth Ferrets are best ferrets.
mattBernius Things I haven’t thought about but should. Bless this research.
😆 pmorris_84
Neat
Fit bastards
MFJones1618 Proud of them
Imagine seeing this running at you at night ngl I would shit myself
excellent news
ICantBee
sponngebib did u know about this
femalebullying chlloeemarie ecco4k120fps big news for skunks
big whoop I can read _and_ do math. stupid skunks and their stupid cool talents
Imagine a skunk spraying you like this. Basically dunking on you twice. Scoring the winning touchdown and dancing in the end zone. Just the sheer disrespect.
noah_mendell you’re so talented
LRT: I am pleased to learn that there is some nice genetic studies being done on skunks, and absolutely devastated to not see more skunks doing handstands in that article.
Did we ever thought though?
This is a huge breakthrough
Time for a pourmecoffee tweet 🧵
Big if true
Okay so apparently not an Ewok
They bussin they lil skussi open omg
i always knew how many skunks can do handstands. y’all just didn’t listen.
I don’t care
TotGoth
Would be cool to see an updated range map, if data collection is widespread enough that one could be inferred
Big if true
ok but how many did we think like a handful?
More Than we thought?
Game changer
TL:DR. I'm wondering how many skunks did you used to think could do handstands? And how many of you suddenly decided to check? Was there an argument?
I knew the exact number of skunks that can do them but I’m built different 💅🏻
Skunks got aware that they can scare tourists, so they teached eachother. But damn ot looks scary, imagine this guy poping up from bushes while you stare at nice campfire in middle of night
They definitely do handstands. I saw one in a meadow and began walking towards it slowly to get a better look because, how cute! Handstand! ...I hastened back to the trail. Somehow, I had thought the whole handstand thing was like a joke?
LATSeema engineco16 Venice311 ai6yrham 👆🏻🦨
How many did we think could do one? Did we hold try outs? How many are going to make mat!!
Look at that lil stinker!!!!!
very reassuring news
Cute. Stinky hug for you!
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