Polka-Dotted, Hand-Standing Skunks Among New Species In U.S.

ACROSS AMERICA — Acrobatic polka-dotted skunks — yes, these creatures politely (in the human mind, at least) warn predators they’re about to blast out their trademark smell by doing handstands — have more cousins than researchers previously thought, according to reports about new species discovered in 2021.

Researchers discovered last year there are almost twice as many species of spotted skunk, each with a distinct genetic lineage, than previously believed. Three new species were found, but researchers warned that this type of skunk is in serious decline across the country.

By the way, now is the time you may be seeing — or, at least, smelling — more of these nocturnal creatures, both spotted and the more common striped species, because mid-February is prime mating time for skunks.

The researchers identified eight species of spotted skunk with distinct genetic lineages but only recommended that seven of them be recognized.

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Adam Ferguson of Chicago's Field Museum, one of the authors of the paper published in the journal Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, said in a news release announcing the findings that mammals in North America are among the most studied, and “being able to redraw the skunk family tree is very exciting.”

Scientists have long been fascinated by spotted skunks since the first species was discovered in 1758. At one time, as many as 14 species of this type of skunk were recognized, but the number was condensed to four.

Ferguson suspected there were more than four species but couldn't confirm it due to the lack of DNA samples to test in skunks that appear structurally different from others and those in geographically isolated populations.

“We figured there had to be some surprises when it came to spotted skunk diversity, because the genus as a whole had never been properly analyzed using genetic data,” Ferguson said in the release.

Of the seven recognized species of spotted skunk, four are found in the United States.

Hand-standing skunks weren’t the only new species scientists discovered in 2021.

New Giant Whale Species

A group of a newly discovered great whale species, called Rice’s whale, “hid in plain sight” in a small area along the continental shelf near Florida’s Panhandle, The Wire Science reported.

They were thought for years to be Bryde’s whales, though they fed at deeper depths and had other differences.

When a dead whale washed up in the Florida Everglades, researchers were able to take DNA samples that confirmed what they’d suspected for years.

In 2014, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration researchers published the results of a DNA analysis that showed the whales were genetically different enough to at least be considered a subspecies of Bryde’s whale, but researchers didn’t have a full skeleton and skull to study until recently.

Rice's whales are classified as critically endangered, with fewer than 100 known individuals. They are threatened by marine ship traffic, plastic waste, and oil and gas exploration in the Gulf.

A New Trap-Jaw Ant

A new Strumigenys ant species, commonly known as a trap-jaw ant, was discovered in Arizona along the Colorado Plateau. Researchers trapped a single queen of the new species, called Strumigneys superstes, and discovered distinct physical differences when compared with queens of closely related species.

This species-rich type of ant, known for its powerful mandibles and swift movements, is also a stinger. They’re typically found beneath dead wood and piles of debris.

The carnivorous ants eat other insects; but like other types of ants, they’re also attracted to sweets.

23 Species Lost In 2021

We lost more than a few species last year, too.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said in September it had removed 23 likely extinct species from the list of plants and animals protected by the Endangered Species Act.

Notably among them is the ivory-billed woodpecker — often referred to as the “Lord God bird” by people in the southeast United States and Cuba as the majestic black-and-white bird swooped into view — which hasn’t been seen in the United States since it was sighted in Louisiana in 1944.

Various species of birds, mussels, fish and other wildlife that in most cases hadn’t been seen in decades in the United States were also removed from the list.

Editor's note: This story has been edited to remove a stock photo that incorrectly identified a bird as an ivory-billed woodpecker. Thanks to readers for bringing this error to our attention.