Four subspecies of hog-nosed skunks live in the Western Hemisphere: American, Molina's, striped and Humboldt's. The skunks indigenous to South America -- Molina's and Humboldt's -- live grassland regions and forested areas. American and striped skunks live a variety of North American habitats, but usually are found in rocky terrain and grasslands with dry climates. Hog-nosed skunks belong to the Conepatus genus. These mammals may be identified by their upturned snouts, which resemble pigs. The only hog-nosed skunk in the United States is the American hog-nosed; this species primarily lives in the Southwest and Mountain West.
Hooded and striped skunks are in the Mephitis genus of mammals. Both skunk species are native to the United States, although hooded skunks primarily dwell in Mexico. Striped skunks are the most common skunks species in the eastern United States; these skunks prefer to live in grasslands and forests. However, these skunks always stay within two miles of rivers or lakes. Hooded skunks also stay within two miles of water. Due to its geographic location, though, hooded skunks are usually found in areas with rocky terrain, prairies and desert scrubland.
As their names suggest, spotted skunks have black fur with white spots on their bodies, as opposed to striped, hooded or hog-nosed skunks. All spotted skunks are in Spilogale genus of mammals. This genus features four species: western, eastern, southern and pygmy spotted skunks. Two spotted skunks live in the United States --- western and eastern --- while southern spotted skunks live in Central America. Pygmy skunks are native to Mexico. Spotted skunks live near agricultural sites, forests and grasslands. Some western spotted specimens are found in arid desert scrublands and rocky terrains.
Although they do not have the "skunk" common name, stink badgers belong to the same family as skunks, Mephitidae. The only two stink badgers in the world are the Palawan and Indonesian stink badgers; both species are in the Mydaus genus. Palawan varieties live on the Philippine island of Palawan and the Calamian Islands, while Indonesian stink badgers are in Indonesia and Malaysia. Indonesian stink badgers prefer mountainous and forested regions. Grasslands and agricultural areas are where Palawan stink badgers dwell. Stink badgers have pig-like noses and external ears, which differentiates them from skunks.