It is a common question whether two very different-looking animals are related. In the case of skunks and squirrels, the answer is yes, but only in the broadest sense. Both animals are mammals, meaning they are warm-blooded vertebrates that possess hair and nurse their young. However, they belong to entirely separate major branches on the evolutionary tree, placing a significant distance between them in the animal kingdom.
The Skunk’s Classification
The skunk is a member of the Family Mephitidae, a group whose name derives from the Latin word for “bad odor.” This family includes the four genera of skunks found across the Americas, plus the stink badgers of Southeast Asia. The most important classification for comparison is the Order Carnivora, which skunks belong to.
Although skunks are omnivores, their evolutionary lineage places them firmly within the Carnivora Order. This order encompasses a vast array of species, including animals such as cats, dogs, bears, and other members of the weasel family. Skunks share a more recent common ancestor with a house cat or a wolf than they do with a squirrel.
The Squirrel’s Classification
Squirrels, including the tree, ground, and flying varieties, are classified within the Family Sciuridae. This large and diverse family is part of the Order Rodentia, a group that represents the largest order of mammals globally.
Members of this order share a defining characteristic: a single pair of continuously growing incisor teeth in both the upper and lower jaws. This group includes familiar animals like mice, rats, beavers, and chipmunks. Squirrels are therefore much more closely related to a mouse than to a skunk.
How Distant Is Their Relationship?
The fundamental difference in their classification lies at the level of the taxonomic Order, with skunks belonging to Carnivora and squirrels to Rodentia. This distinction means they diverged from a common ancestor millions of years ago. The highest level of classification they share is the Class Mammalia.
The evolutionary distance between Carnivora and Rodentia is immense. Molecular evidence suggests that the lineage leading to modern rodents was one of the earliest to branch off from other major placental mammal groups. This ancient split occurred possibly as early as 100 million years ago, placing a profound evolutionary gap between the two animals. Their similarities in size and terrestrial habitat are simply the result of convergent evolution.