35-460: Conepatus Mydaus Mephitis Spilogale † Brachyprotoma † Palaeomephitis † Promephitis Mephitidae is a family of mammals comprising the skunks and stink badgers . They are noted for the great development of their anal scent glands , which they use to deter predators. Skunks were formerly classified as a subfamily of the Mustelidae (the weasel family); however, in
70-538: A band of cattle rustlers and cut-throats who had been terrorizing the area. The Rangers were members of a select group known as the Special Force. Led by Leander McNelly , the Special Force was given the task to bring law and order to an area of South Texas that lay between Corpus Christi and the Mexican border . San Antonio has the most significant African American population in all of South Texas. An important event in
105-717: A colonel. President Zachary Taylor was General of the Army at Fort Brown ( Brownsville ) during the Mexican–American War. The Texas Rangers gained popularity for their actions in South Texas during the Mexican bandit raids in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. On May 25, 1876, a band of 40 Texas Rangers rode out of Laredo and headed north to the Nueces Strip. Their mission was to find, kill or capture John King Fisher , leader of
140-525: A few times in the winter and snowfall is rare, usually three inches or less. Summers in this zone are hot and humid, with daily averages above 90 °F or 32.2 °C. In addition, areas in Texas that are slightly inland from the Gulf of Mexico, such as San Antonio that border the semi-arid climate zone, generally see a peak of precipitation in the spring, and a deep, drought-like nadir in midsummer. The region itself sees
175-484: A short wet season from March to May and another one from late August to October, and a dry season elsewhere in the year. Night-time temperatures are around 85 °F or 29.4 °C in summer. The region of South Texas includes the semi-arid ranch country and the wetter Rio Grande Valley. Considered to be the southernmost tip of the American Great Plains region, the inland region has rainfall similar to that of
210-468: A subregion of East Texas . The climate of South Texas is varied. The area along the Mexican border is generally semi-arid ( Köppen climate classification BSh ), while the area from the coast inland to just west of San Antonio has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa ). South Texas weather is affected by the Sierra Madre Oriental mountains to the west, the Gulf of Mexico to the east, and
245-543: Is between June and November. However, the Texas coast gets affected usually between August and September, when systems sporadically organize in the southern Gulf around the Bay of Campeche or western Caribbean and the latter months forming off the coast of Africa. Droughts - Although South Texas summers generally see rainfall in summer months, some years the lack of rain is persistent and leads to water shortages; lake levels drop significantly and lead to municipal water restrictions. In
280-418: Is the correct name of the merged populations. The individual hog-nosed skunk species vary in size, but among them is included the largest of all skunks. All are characterized by comparatively short hair, especially on the tail, and this appendage lacks the plumelike appearance observed in other skunks. The nose is prolonged into a distinct "snout", naked on the top and sides and evidently used for rooting in
315-496: Is well known for strong Hispanic , primarily Mexican American and Tejano (the Spanish term for " Texan ") influences, due to its proximity to Mexico . Tejanos and Mexicans living in South Texas are descended from the Spanish and Sephardic Jewish settlers of Mexico, from Mexican indigenous groups allied with the Spanish, such as Tlaxcaltec and Otomi peoples, and from local indigenous groups of South Texas who were missionized by
350-711: The Chihuahuan Desert to the west/northwest. Moisture from the Pacific is cut off by the Mexican Sierra Madre Occidental and Oriental mountain ranges. Along the coast the climate is best exemplified in the summers when humidity is extremely high though at times arid, depending upon whether tropical moisture from the Gulf and sometimes from the Pacific is flowing in or if the region is cut off from any moisture by high pressure systems, causing long droughts, which occur every few years. Temperatures reach freezing only
385-450: The Gulf of Mexico , but turning southeast at or near Lavaca County , and continuing towards the Gulf of Mexico to separate it from East Texas and Southeast Texas . The Rio Grande serves as the western and southern boundaries and separates Texas from Mexico . The eastern portion of South Texas is bordered by the Gulf of Mexico . South Texas consists of 41 counties. Its terrain is flat, lying on
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#1733085486473420-778: The Republic of the Rio Grande was established in this region in 1840, lasting less than a year. Laredo served as its capital. The Rio Grande Valley area played a significant role in the Mexican War of Independence , the Texas Revolution , the Mexican–American War , and the American Civil War , with many historical battle sites around the area. General Robert E. Lee resided at Fort Ringold ( Rio Grande City ) during this time as
455-789: The 1990s, genetic evidence caused skunks to be treated as a separate family. Similarly, the stink badgers had been classified with badgers, but genetic evidence shows they share a more recent common ancestor with skunks, so they are now included in the skunk family. A 2017 study using retroposon markers indicated that they are most closely related to the Ailuridae ( red pandas and allies) and Procyonidae ( raccoons and allies). There are twelve extant species of mephitids in four genera : Conepatus ( hog-nosed skunks , four species); Mephitis (the hooded and striped skunks , two species); Mydaus (stink badgers, two species); and Spilogale ( spotted skunks , four species). The two stink badgers in
490-484: The 254 counties in Texas. Tornadoes do occur in this part of the state, but not as frequently as other parts. They approach, usually from the northwest to southeast, as a line of severe thunderstorms , mostly in the summer months and by cold fronts in fall. Snow rarely falls south of San Antonio or on the coast except in rare circumstances. Of note is the 2004 Christmas Eve snowstorm , when 6 inches (150 mm) of snow fell as far south as McAllen . South Texas
525-481: The American hog-nosed skunk raise concerns over its conservation status. Although both the spotted skunks and common skunks live mainly on insects, the hog-nosed skunks are even more insectivorous in their feeding habits. The bare snout appears to be used constantly for the purpose of rooting out beetles , beetle larvae (or grubs), and larvae of various insects from the ground. This article incorporates text from
560-552: The Northern Plains. The coastal areas are warm most of the year due to currents of the Gulf of Mexico, but can get cold in winter if a strong front comes in, occasionally causing snow at sea level. Rain in the coastal region is more abundant than in the inland region, and subtropical forests line the Rio Grande . Inland, where it is drier, ranches dominate the landscape, characterized by thick, spiny brush and grasslands. The winters in
595-788: The South Texas Plains or the Brush Country . Mesquite trees and crop fields dominate the Brush Country. Some people consider Houston to be in South Texas for several reasons: numerous businesses in the Houston region contain 'South Texas' in their titles. The United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas includes the Houston division. However, Houston is most accurately classified as being within Southeast Texas ,
630-574: The Spanish, particularly Coahuiltecans . These migrations occurred and have been ongoing since the early 1700s in South Texas. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in the 1840s failed to secure land belonging to the Mexican settlers. The disputed area was between the Nueces River south of San Antonio and Corpus Christi, the King Ranch , and the Rio Grande. Recognized by neither Mexico nor the United States,
665-515: The coastal plain. South Texas is so vast, that there are even subregions. The very southern tip of South Texas, called the Rio Grande Valley , has fertile soils and is known for its citrus production. The eastern portion of South Texas is often referred to as the Coastal Bend ; here, coastal salt marshes, estuaries, and wetlands are scattered all around. The western and central parts are known as
700-433: The deserted burrows of other animals, or of natural cavities among the rocks. Owing to their strictly nocturnal habits, they are generally much less frequently seen than the common skunks, even in localities where they are numerous. Sightings are recorded from brush habitat and semi-open grasslands . Habitats may also include rocky terrain and stream beds in desert-scrub and mesquite grassland. Infrequent sightings of
735-689: The development of South Texas and the Texas Gulf Coast rice industry was the introduction of seed imported from Japan in 1904. The Houston Chamber of Commerce and the Southern Pacific Railroad invited Japanese farmers to Texas to help area farms in the production of rice. The seed the Japanese farmers brought with them was a gift from the Japanese emperor. The production of Japanese rice began at Webster in Harris County. The Gulf Coast rice industry
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#1733085486473770-412: The earth after the manner of a pig as their name implies. In addition, the front feet are armed with long, heavy claws . The claws are well developed for digging up insect prey, and the front legs and shoulders are provided with a strong muscular development for digging, as in a badger . This likeness has led to the use in some places of the appropriate name "badger skunk" for these animals. The extent of
805-418: The east it is the Gulf of Mexico . The population of this region is more than 5 million according to the 2024 census estimates. The southern portion of this region is often referred to as the Rio Grande Valley . The eastern portion along the Gulf of Mexico is also referred to as the Coastal Bend . Greater Houston and Beaumont–Port Arthur are occasionally tied to the region, both for physically being on
840-461: The family Mephitidae (skunks). They are native to the Americas . They have white backs and tails and black underparts. † Conepatus robustus † Conepatus sanmiguelensis † Conepatus suffocans Work in 2003 concluded that the western hog-nosed skunk or common hog-nosed skunk (formerly Conepatus mesoleucus ) is the same species as the American hog-nosed skunk, and that Conepatus leuconotus
875-485: The genus Mydaus inhabit Indonesia , Brunei , Malaysia and the Philippines ; the other members of the family inhabit the Americas, ranging from Canada to central South America. All other mephitids are extinct, known through fossils, including those from Eurasia . In taxonomic order, the living species of Mephitidae are: Conepatus The hog-nosed skunks belong to the genus Conepatus and are members of
910-404: The hog-nosed skunk, Conepatus mesoleucus , had two major volatile components, ( E )-2-butene-1-thiol and ( E )- S -2-butenyl thioacetate. Minor volatile components identified from this secretion were phenylmethanethiol, 2-methylquinoline, 2-quinolinemethanethiol,and bis[(E)-2-butenyl] disulfide. 3-Methyl-l-butanethiol, a major component in the defensive spray of the striped skunk, hooded skunk and
945-426: The inland region are cooler and drier, as Arctic air can make it into the region, but snow is rare due to the lack of humidity. Summers are for the most part hot and dry, but at times can be humid if winds come off the warmer Gulf of Mexico. Tornadoes can occur in this region, but less frequently than in other parts of the state. Hurricanes are the most dangerous weather systems to affect South Texas. Hurricane season
980-404: The local distribution of the two is practically the same. They live along the bottom-lands of watercourses, where vegetation is abundant and the supply of food most plentiful, or in canyons and on rocky mountain slopes. For their protection hog-nosed skunks create their own burrows , generally within a bank, or beneath a rock , or the roots of a tree, but do not hesitate to take possession of
1015-732: The merge of the American hog-nosed skunks, the eastern hog-nosed skunk, Conepatus leuconotus is typically larger than the western hog-nosed skunk, Conepatus mesoleucus . Female eastern hog-nosed skunks range from 58 to 74 cm in length and 19–34 cm in height. They weigh between 2.0 and 4.0 kg. Male hog-nosed skunks range from 56 to 92 cm in length and 22–41 cm in height. They weigh on average between 3.0 and 4.5 kg. The western hog-nosed skunk ranged from 40 to 84 cm in length, 13–35 cm in height, and 1.1–2.7 kg. Males are larger than females and can occasionally reach 4.5 kg. The teeth are smaller in C. mesoleucus than in C. leuconotus . The anal sac secretion of
1050-504: The open grassy areas in the Patagonian regions of Chile and Argentina The western hog-nosed skunk ( C. mesoleucus ) is found in, Texas , Arizona , New Mexico , Sierra Guadalupe, Coahuila, Colima , Honduras, Sonora , and Nicaragua. The striped hog-nosed skunk, C. semistriatus , is found in Veracruz , Costa Rica, and Guatemala. Where their range coincides with that of the common skunks,
1085-485: The publication Wild Animals of North America , copyright 1918 by the National Geographic Society . This book is in the public domain . [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Southern Texas South Texas is a geographic and cultural region of the U.S. state of Texas that lies roughly south of—and includes— San Antonio . The southern and western boundary is the Rio Grande , and to
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1120-423: The southern end of the state and for businesses that use "South Texas" in its name. (i.e. South Texas School of Law , South Texas State Fair , etc). However, the two are more commonly associated with East Texas or Southeast Texas . There is no defined northern boundary, although it is believed to be at the city of San Antonio and from an east to west line extending from the Rio Grande near Maverick County to
1155-621: The spotted skunk was absent from this secretion. The eastern hog-nosed skunk is found only in Southern Texas , Veracruz , Mexico, and Arizona The Molina hog-nosed skunk, also known as the Andean hog-nosed skunk ( C. chinga ), is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay. Humboldt's hog-nosed skunk, also known as the Patagonian hog-nosed skunk ( C. humboldtii ) finds its habitat in
1190-450: The stripe on the hind of the skunk, and the color of the tail underside suggests a distinction between eastern and western species. The eastern species is a narrow stripe, with black under the base of the tail. The western distinction is a wide stripe, with a predominantly white tail. The hair on these skunks is coarse and harsh, lacking the qualities which render the coats of their northern relatives so valuable. They are nocturnal . Before
1225-417: The summer of 2011, numerous records were set. On August 28, 2011, most of South Texas had temperatures reaching 110 °F, breaking many cities' record highs. Furthermore, 95% of the state faced an extreme or exceptional drought, according to the office of the Texas state climatologist. These drought conditions led to a string of dangerous wildfires across the state, and the enforcement of burn bans in 250 of
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