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When did the oldest known skunk fossil live?

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Striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) — skunk Striped skunk (*Mephitis mephitis*).

The oldest fossil definitively identified as a skunk dates to 11–12 million years ago and was discovered in Germany.1

While this represents the oldest confirmed skunk fossil, genetic data suggest the family Mephitidae originated approximately 30–40 million years ago. Furthermore, mammals exhibiting skunklike dentition have been identified dating back to the Late Cretaceous Epoch, which occurred between 100.5 million and 66 million years ago.1