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Why were skunks once classified with weasels?
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skunk
Striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis).
Skunks were historically classified as a subfamily of the weasel family, known as Mustelidae. This traditional grouping was based on shared physical characteristics.1
However, modern scientific advancements have refined this understanding. Through the use of genetic data, researchers determined that skunks are distinct enough to warrant their own separate family, Mephitidae. This reclassification highlights the importance of evolving biological research in accurately categorizing the natural world.1