Mephitidae
/ˌmɛfɪˈtɪdiː/noun
A zoological family of mammals that includes skunks and stink badgers.
Did you know?The family name ultimately comes from Latin mephitis, a word for a foul or potentially poisonous vapor rising from the earth, especially volcanic or sulfurous gas.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Latin
Latin
mephītis
“A foul-smelling or noxious exhalation, especially a poisonous vapor from the ground.”
18th Century
Scientific Latin
Mephitis
“A genus name applied to skunks, whose defensive spray was associated with the ancient idea of mephitic vapor.”
1811
Scientific Latin
Mephitis
“Taxonomic genus established for skunks in modern zoological classification.”
19th Century
Scientific Latin
Mephitidae
“A family-level name formed from Mephitis with the zoological suffix -idae, meaning a family of related animals.”
Modern English
English
Mephitidae
“The skunk family, including true skunks and stink badgers.”