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-smelling liquid that is common with 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 name Taxidea taxus Type of animal Species 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 confuse them 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 liquid.
Scientific name Martes foina Species of animal Range Europe and Central Asia
The beech marten is a species of mustellid 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 color and general appearance can easily lead to confusion.
3. Chinese ferret badger
3. Chinese ferret badger
Scientific nameMelogale moschataType of animalMammal Range China, including Hainan Island, south to Hong Kong and northern Indochina
The Chinese ferret badger looks strikingly 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 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 lutra Species of animal 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 will notice that this animal does not have the same color pattern as a skunk.
Additionally, Eurasian otters do not produce the foul-smelling liquid secreted by skunks.
These creatures are typically found near bodies of water where they prey on fish, crabs and other small animals.
Scientific name Meles meles Species of animal Range British Isles, Europe and Scandinavia
The European badger is a member of the mustelidae family, which includes weasels, otters and wolverines.
Badgers are found throughout Europe and Asia, and they can grow up to two meters long.
They are stocky animals with short legs and thick fur.
Their coat is usually gray or black with white stripes on their face.
Like skunks, badgers are nocturnal and they live in burrows.
Scientific name Pekania pennantiType of animalMammal RangeNorth 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 liquid like skunks do.
Scientific name Pteronura brasiliensis Species of animal Acid Range South America
The giant otter is a large, semiaquatic mammal native to South America.
These creatures can grow up to six feet in length and weigh up to 70 pounds.
Giant otters are often mistaken for skunks because of their similar coloring.
Scientific name Arctonyx collaris Type of animal acid 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 enemies with a noxious liquid.
9. Honey badger
9. Honey badger
Scientific nameMellivora capensis Type of animal Mammal Range Sub-Saharan Africa, Saudi Arabia, Iran and West Asia
The honey badger is a small, carnivorous mammal native to Africa, the Middle East and South Asia.
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.
Additionally, honey badgers do not produce the foul-smelling liquid that skunks are known for.
Scientific name Meles anakuma Type of animal 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 that runs down the middle of their back like skunks do.
Additionally, Japanese badgers live in Asia, while skunks are found throughout North and South America.
Javan ferret badger
Javan ferret badger
Scientific nameMelogale orientalis Type of animal Mammal RangeIndonesia
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 lotor Type of animal Mammal Range North America
Raccoons are actually one of the most common animals that are 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 paws are also noticeably different.
Scientific name Mellivora capensis Type of animal Mammal Range Sub-Saharan Africa
Ratels, also known as honey badgers, are some of the most common animals that are mistaken for skunks.
They are found in Africa and parts of Asia and are very similar to skunks with their black and white fur.
However, rattlesnakes do not have the ability to squirt a foul-smelling liquid.
Instead, they release a musky odor from their anal glands as a form of self-defense.
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 red-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 liquid that skunks do.
Scientific nameHydrictis maculicollis type of animal
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 the 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 inject an unnecessary liquid.
They are also much smaller than skunks, measuring only about 3 feet long.
Scientific nameMustela eversmanii Species of animalsAnimalsPages RangeCentral 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 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 foul-smelling liquid that skunks are known for, they do have a musky odor that some people find unpleasant.
Scientific name Mustela erminea Type of animal Safe range North America, Europe and Asia
Stoats certainly resemble skunks.
They are also black and white in color, but their stripes are more distinct and they have a long, slender body.
However, one of the main ways to distinguish these two animals is by their tail.
While skunks have a thick, bushy tail, stoats have a much thinner, more rat-like tail.
Additionally, stoats are smaller than skunks and their fur is coarser.
Scientific name Ictonyx striatus Type of animal Acid Range Sub-Saharan Africa
The striped polecat is a species of mustelid found in Africa.
These animals have black and white stripes that run along their body, just like skunks.
However, unlike skunks, striped polecats do not produce the foul-smelling liquid.
Sunda Stink Badger
Sunda Stink Badger
The Sunda stink badger (Melogale parvula) is a species of mustelid native to Southeast Asia.
Despite its name, it is not closely related to the American or European skunks.
It gets its name from the fact that it produces a false odor when threatened, just like skunks do.
The Sunda Stink Badger is a small creature that grows to just over 20 centimeters in length.
It has a black coat with white stripes running down its back.
Scientific name MustelaType of animal Mammal RangeTexas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and New Mexico
Weasels are often mistaken for skunks because they share a similar body shape and color.
However, weasels do not have the ability to inject their enemies with a noxious liquid.
These slender mammals are actually experienced hunters that prey on small animals such as rodents and birds.
Weasels can be found in North America, Europe and Asia.
Scientific nameGulo guloType of animalMammal RangeCanada 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, if you look closer, you’ll notice that Wolverine’s stripes are actually more of a blue pattern and her overall body shape is different.
Wolverines are also much larger than skunks, weighing about 30 pounds.
Scientific name Ictonyx striatus Type of animal mammal Range of the African continent
Zorrilla’s 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 liquid from their anal glands when threatened.
There are many animals in the world that look like skunks.
Some of these include otter, badger, weasel, marten and wolverine.
While they may not spray a smelly liquid to ward off predators or enemies, they still have several features 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.