Potential distribution and conservation of the hog-nosed skunk (genus Conepatus, Mammalia: Mephitidae)

Abstract

Understanding the range-wide distribution and abundance of species is critical for their conservation and management. Hog-nosed skunks, genus Conepatus, are an understudied small carnivores’ taxa with a broad geographic range across America. However, the factors that shape their distribution are poorly understood and large-scale analyses of Conepatus species’ range and ecological niche are absent. On the basis of species occurrence records, large-scale environmental variables (bioclimatic and topographic) and using niche-based species distribution modeling, we estimate the suitable areas and the most important variables that underlie their distribution. Although general pattern of Conepatus distribution is mostly congruent with those described from the literature, C. semistriatus seems to be expanding they distribution range, likely at the expense of changes in anthropogenic land use. Our results show that isothermally (for C. chinga and C. leuconotus) and the mean of the monthly temperature ranges (for C. semistriatus) are the main variables influencing hog-nosed skunks’ distribution. Also, the three species responded negatively to the presence of trees. Finally, and according to our models, sites of high habitat suitability, at least for C. chinga, are underrepresented in protected areas. We believe that the geographic and potential distribution maps presented here constitutes a valuable tool to better understand Conepatus ecology as well as for their conservation planning.