Examples of animals that look like skunks include otters, badgers, weasels, martens and wolverines.
There are certainly a variety of animals that look like skunks, but not all of them produce the foul 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, what animals are commonly mistaken for skunks?
Examples of animals that look like Skunks
Examples of animals that look like Skunks
Scientific nameTaxidea taxusType of animal Mammal Range Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan and Indiana
The American badger is a stocky, short-legged animal with a broad body and a long, pointed snout.
Badgers are also known to have black and white stripes on their faces, which can be mistaken for skunks.
However, the main difference between badgers and skunks is that badgers do not have the ability to spray their predators with a smelly fluid.
Scientific nameMartes foinaType of Animal Mammal Range Europe and Central Asia
The fatra is a species of mustelids that is widely distributed in Europe and Asia.
These animals are brown or red-brown in color with a yellow or white belly, and have a long bushy tail.
Although they do not have the characteristic white and black stripes of skunks, their color and general appearance can easily lead to confusion.
3. Chinese Ferret-Badger
3. Chinese Ferret-Badger
Scientific nameMelogale moschataType of animal Mammals Range China, including Hainan Island, and southern Hong Kong and northern Indochina
The Chinese ferret-dachshund looks a lot like 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 to skunks.
Ferret-badgers are found in various parts of Asia, including China, Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar.
Related Article: What colors can ferrets be?
Scientific name Lutra lutraType of AnimalMammal Range Europe, Asia and Africa
At first glance, the Eurasian otter may look like a skunk because of its black and white skin.
However, upon closer inspection, you will see that this animal does not have the same color pattern as a skunk.
Also, 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 fish, crabs and other small animals.
Scientific name Meles melesType of animal Mammals 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 can grow to about two meters in length.
They are cute animals with short legs and thick fur.
Its coat is usually gray or black with white stripes on its face.
Like skunks, badgers are nocturnal animals and live in burrows.
Scientific namePekania pennantiType of animal Mammals Range North America
Fishing cats are often mistaken for skunks because of their black and white fur.
However, fishing 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.
Scientific name Pteronura brasiliensisType of Animal Mammals Range South America
The giant otter is a large semiaquatic mammal that is native to South America.
These creatures can grow up to six meters in length and weigh up to 70 pounds.
Giant otters are often mistaken for skunks because of their similar coloring.
Scientific name Arctonyx collarisType of animal Mammal Range Southeast Asia
Also known as the largest stink badger, this animal is found in woods 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 rate
9. Honey rate
Scientific nameMellivora capensisType of animal Mammals 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.
It is truly a ferocious predator that eats almost 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.
Also, honey badgers do not produce the smelly fluid that skunks are known for.
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 are about the same size.
However, there are some key differences between these two animals.
For one, Japanese badgers do not have the prominent white stripe running down the center of their back like skunks.
Also, Japanese badgers live in Asia, while skunks are found throughout North and South America.
Ferret-badger of Java
Ferret-badger of Java
Scientific name Melogale orientalisType of animal Mammals 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 a similar color.
These animals are found in Southeast Asia and spend most of their time in trees.
Scientific name Procyon lotorType of animal Mammal Range North America
Raccoons are actually one of the most common animals to be mistaken for skunks.
This is probably because they are both nocturnal animals that have black and white markings on their bodies.
Raccoons have much longer tails than skunks, and their front legs are also noticeably different.
Scientific nameMellivora capensisType of Animal Mammals Range Sub-Saharan Africa
Ratels, 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 skin.
However, rats do not have the ability to spray a dirty fluid.
Instead, they release a musky odor from their anal glands as a form of self-defense.
Scientific nameAilurus fulgensType of animal Mammals 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 fluid that skunks do.
Scientific nameHydrictis maculicollisType of animal Mammal RangeCentral Africa
The next animal on our list is the spotted neck otter.
These animals are found in Africa and parts of Asia, and are very similar to skunks.
They have a long and slender body with short legs, and their fur is mostly black with white spots on the neck.
Like skunks, they also have a long, bushy tail.
One of the main differences between these two animals is that otters with a spotted neck do not have the ability to spray a dirty liquid.
They are also much smaller than skunks, measuring only about 3 feet long.
Scientific name Mustela eversmaniiType of Animal Mammals 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 only 1-2 pounds.
While steppe polecats do not produce the musty fluid that skunks are known for, they do have a musky odor that some people find unpleasant.
Scientific nameMustela ermineaType of AnimalMammalsRange North America, Europe and Asia
Stoats certainly look like skunks.
They are also black and white in color, but their stripes are more distinct and they have a long and slender body.
However, one of the main ways to distinguish these two animals is by their tails.
While skunks have a thick, bushy tail, ermines have a much thinner, more rat-like tail.
Also, stoats are smaller than skunks and their fur is thicker.
Scientific nameIctonyx striatusType of animal Mammals Range Sub-Saharan Africa
The striped polecat is a species of mustelid found in Africa.
These animals have black and white stripes running along their bodies, just like skunks.
However, unlike skunks, striped polecats do not produce the foul fluid.
Sunda Stink Badger
Sunda Stink Badger
The stink bug (Melogale parvula) is a mustelid species native to Southeast Asia.
Despite its name, it is not strictly related to American or European taxes.
It gets its name from the fact that it produces a foul-smelling fluid when threatened, like skunks.
The Sunda stink badger is a small creature, growing to only about 20 inches long.
It has a black coat with white stripes running down its back.
Scientific name MustelaType of animal Mammals Range Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and New Mexico
Weasels are often mistaken for skunks because they share a similar body shape and color.
However, females do not have the ability to spray their predators with a noxious fluid.
These slim mammals are truly professional hunters, preying on small animals such as rodents and birds.
Weasels can be found in North America, Europe and Asia.
Scientific nameGulo guloType of animal Mammal Range Canada and Alaska
Another animal that resembles a skunk is the carp (Gulo gulo).
Both animals are furred with black and white stripes running down their backs.
However, upon closer inspection, you will see that the carpus’s stripes are actually more of a spotted pattern and its overall body shape is different.
Wolverines are also much larger than skunks, weighing about 30 pounds.
Scientific name Ictonyx striatusType of Animal Mammal Range of the African continent
Zorrillas are small, brown-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.
There are many animals in the world that look like skunks.
Some of these include otters, badgers, weasels, marten and gophers.
Although they cannot spray a smelly liquid to ward off predators or enemies, they still have certain characteristics that make them look very similar to skunks.
Living in South Africa, I have had the pleasure of seeing most of these animals up close and personal.