The Striped Skunk belongs to the Mephitidae family, in the order carnivora. There are twelve species of mephitis, in four genera: Mephitis (the hooded and striped skunks, two species); Spilogale (spotted skunks, four species);Mydaus (stink badgers, two species); and Conepatus (hog-nosed skunks, four species).