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Why is the pygmy spotted skunk considered vulnerable?
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skunk
Striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis).
The pygmy spotted skunk (Spilogale pygmaea) is classified as a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) primarily due to the impact of human activity on its environment.1
This small mammal, which inhabits Mexico’s Pacific coast, faces significant threats from habitat loss and hunting pressures directly linked to the expansion of tourism in coastal regions. Protecting these fragile ecosystems is essential to ensuring the survival of the species and maintaining biodiversity.1