Examples of animals that look like skunks include otters, badgers, weasels, martens, and wolverines.
There certainly are a variety of animals that look like skunks, but not all of them produce the foul-smelling fluid that is common among skunks. Many people often mistake other creatures for these black and white striped mammals, but knowing the differences between these animals can help you better understand their characteristics and habits.
So, which animals are commonly mistaken for skunks? Let’s take a look.
Examples of Animals that Look Like Skunks
1. American Badger
| Scientific Name | Taxidea taxus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana |
The American badger is a stocky, short-legged animal with a wide-body and a long, pointed snout. Badgers are also known to have black and white stripes on their faces, which can cause them to be confused with skunks. However, the main difference between badgers and skunks is that badgers do not have the ability to spray their predators with foul-smelling fluid.
2. Beech Marten
| Scientific Name | Martes foina |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Europe and Central Asia |
The beech marten is a species of mustelid that is widely distributed across Europe and Asia. These animals are brown or reddish-brown in color with a yellowish or white belly, and they have a long, bushy tail. Although they do not have the characteristic black and white stripes of skunks, their coloring and overall appearance can easily lead to confusion.
3. Chinese Ferret-Badger
| Scientific Name | Melogale moschata |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | China, including Hainan Island, and south to Hong Kong and northern Indochina |
The Chinese ferret-badger looks strikingly similar to a skunk, with its black fur and white stripes running down its back. However, this creature is actually more closely related to weasels and otters than skunks. Ferret-badgers are found in various parts of Asia, including China, Laos, Vietnam, and Myanmar.
Related Article: What Colors Can Ferrets Be?
4. Eurasian Otter
| Scientific Name | Lutra lutra |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Europe, Asia, and Africa |
At first glance, the Eurasian otter may look like a skunk due to its black and white fur. However, upon closer inspection, you’ll notice that this animal does not have the same coloring pattern as a skunk. Additionally, Eurasian otters do not produce the foul-smelling fluid that is secreted by skunks. These creatures are typically found near bodies of water, where they hunt for fish, crabs, and other small animals.
Related Article: Do Otters Build Dams?
5. European Badger
| Scientific Name | Meles meles |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | British Isles, Europe, and Scandinavia |
The European badger is a member of the mustelid family, which includes weasels, otters, and wolverines. Badgers are found throughout Europe and Asia, and they can grow to be about two feet long. They are stocky animals with short legs and thick fur. Their coat is usually grey or black with white stripes on their face. Like skunks, badgers are nocturnal animals and they live in burrows.
6. Fisher Cat
| Scientific Name | Pekania pennanti |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | North America |
Fisher cats are often mistaken for skunks because of their black and white fur. However, fisher cats are actually a type of weasel. They are much larger than skunks, with some adults weighing up to 30 pounds. Fisher cats also do not have the ability to spray a foul-smelling fluid like skunks do. Instead, they rely on their sharp claws and teeth to kill their prey.
7. Giant Otter
| Scientific Name | Pteronura brasiliensis |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | South America |
The giant otter is a large, semiaquatic mammal that is native to South America. These creatures can grow up to six feet in length and weigh up to 70 pounds. They are covered in thick, dark fur with white patches on their chests and throats. Giant otters are often mistaken for skunks because of their similar coloration.
8. Greater Hog Badger
| Scientific Name | Arctonyx collaris |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Southeast Asia |
Also known as the greater stink badger, this animal is found in woodlands and forests throughout Southeast Asia. It has a black and white striped coat, similar to that of a skunk, but it does not have the ability to spray its predators with a noxious fluid.
9. Honey Badger
| Scientific Name | Mellivora capensis |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | sub-Saharan Africa, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and western Asia |
The honey badger is a small, carnivorous mammal native to Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. Despite its name, the honey badger does not eat honey. It is actually a ferocious predator that will eat just about anything it can catch, including snakes, rodents, and even carrion.
Honey badgers are often mistaken for skunks because of their similar black and white coloring. However, honey badgers lack the distinctive stripes of skunks and have a more rounded body shape. In addition, honey badgers do not produce the foul-smelling fluid that skunks are known for.
10. Japanese Badger
| Scientific Name | Meles anakuma |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku, and Shōdoshima |
At first glance, the Japanese badger certainly looks like a skunk. They both have black and white fur, and they’re about the same size. However, there are some key differences between these two animals. For one, Japanese badgers don’t have the prominent white stripe that runs down the center of their backs like skunks do. Additionally, Japanese badgers live in Asia, while skunks are found throughout North and South America.
11. Javan Ferret-Badger
| Scientific Name | Melogale orientalis |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Indonesia |
The Javan Ferret-Badger is a member of the Mustelidae family, which includes weasels, otters, and badgers. It is the size of a large skunk and has similar coloring. These animals are found in Southeast Asia and spend most of their time in trees. They are also nocturnal creatures that feast on insects, rodents, and reptiles.
12. Raccoons
| Scientific Name | Procyon lotor |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | North America |
Raccoons are actually one of the most common animals to be mistaken for skunks. This is likely because they are both nocturnal animals that have black and white markings on their bodies. However, there are several key differences between these two creatures. Raccoons have much longer tails than skunks, and their front paws are also noticeably different.
13. Ratels
| Scientific Name | Mellivora capensis |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | sub-Saharan Africa |
Ratel, also known as honey badgers, are some of the most common animals mistaken for skunks. They are found in Africa and parts of Asia and look very similar to skunks with their black and white fur. However, ratels do not have the ability to spray a foul-smelling fluid. Instead, they release a musky smell from their anal glands as a form of self-defense.
14. Red Panda
| Scientific Name | Ailurus fulgens |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | China, Nepal, and Bhutan |
The red panda is a small mammal that is native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China. These animals have reddish-brown fur, and their bodies are similar in size to that of a domestic cat. Red pandas are often mistaken for skunks because of their furry tails and black markings on their faces. However, red pandas do not have the same type of glands that produce the foul-smelling fluid that skunks do.
15. Spotted-Necked Otter
| Scientific Name | Hydrictis maculicollis |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | central Africa |
The next animal on our list is the spotted-necked otter. These animals are found in Africa and parts of Asia, and they look very similar to skunks. They have a long, slender body with short legs, and their fur is mostly black with white spots on their neck. Like skunks, they also have a long, bushy tail.
One of the main differences between these two animals is that spotted-necked otters do not have the ability to spray a foul-smelling liquid. They are also much smaller than skunks, measuring only about 3 feet long.
16. Steppe Polecat
| Scientific Name | Mustela eversmanii |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Central and Eastern Europe |
The steppe polecat is a member of the weasel family and is found in areas of Europe, Asia, and Africa. They have a black and white coat that is similar in appearance to skunks, but their fur is not as thick. These animals are also much smaller than skunks, weighing in at only 1-2 pounds.
While steppe polecats do not produce the foul-smelling fluid that skunks are known for, they do have a musky odor that some people find unpleasant. These animals are most active at night and spend their days in dens or other hiding places. They are solitary creatures that only come together to mate.
17. Stoats
| Scientific Name | Mustela erminea |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | North America, Europe, and Asia |
Stoats certainly resemble skunks. They are also black and white in coloration, but their stripes are more distinct and they have a long, slender body. However, one of the main ways to tell these two animals apart is by their tail. While skunks have a thick, bushy tail, stoats have a much thinner, more rat-like tail. In addition, stoats are smaller than skunks and their fur is more coarse.
18. Striped Polecat
| Scientific Name | Ictonyx striatus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | sub-Saharan Africa |
The striped polecat is a species of mustelid that is found in Africa. These animals have black and white stripes that run along their bodies, much like skunks. They also have a long tail and are proficient swimmers. However, unlike skunks, striped polecats do not produce the foul-smelling fluid. Instead, they release a musky scent from their anal glands when they are threatened or startled.
19. Sunda Stink Badger
| Scientific Name | Mydaus javanensis |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Indonesia (Java, Kalimantan, Sumatra, and Natuna Islands) and Malaysia (Sabah, Sarawak) |
The Sunda stink badger (Melogale parvula) is a species of mustelid native to Southeast Asia. Despite its name, it is not closely related to either the American or European stink badgers. It gets its name from the fact that it produces a foul-smelling fluid when threatened, much like skunks do.
This fluid is used to deter predators and can cause irritation if it gets into the eyes. The Sunda stink badger is a small creature, only growing to be about 20 inches long. It has a black coat with white stripes running down its back. It is also notable for its long claws, which it uses for digging.
20. Weasels
| Scientific Name | Mustela |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and New Mexico |
Weasels are often mistaken for skunks because they share a similar body shape and coloration. However, weasels do not have the ability to spray their predators with a noxious fluid. These slim mammals are actually proficient hunters, preying on small animals like rodents and birds. Weasels can be found in North America, Europe, and Asia.
21. Wolverine
| Scientific Name | Gulo gulo |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Canada and Alaska |
Another animal that looks like a skunk is the wolverine (Gulo gulo). Both animals are furry with black and white stripes running down their backs. However, upon closer inspection, you’ll notice that the wolverine’s stripes are actually more of a blotchy pattern and their overall body shape is different. Wolverines are also much larger than skunks, weighing in at around 30 pounds.
22. Zorrillas
| Scientific Name | Ictonyx striatus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | the African continent |
Zorrilla’s are small, brownish-black animals with stripes running down their backs. They are found in South America and are related to skunks. Like skunks, they can release a foul-smelling fluid from their anal glands when threatened.
Conclusion
There are many animals in the world that look like skunks. Some of these include otters, badgers, weasels, martens, and wolverines. While they may not spray a smelly liquid to ward off predators or enemies, they still have certain features that make them look very similar to skunks.
Hi, I’m Garreth. Living in South Africa I’ve had the pleasure of seeing most of these animals up close and personal. When I was younger I always wanted to be a game ranger but unfortunately, life happens and now at least I get to write about them and tell you my experiences.