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skunk

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skunk

1. any of various American musteline mammals of the subfamily Mephitinae, esp Mephitis mephitis (striped skunk), typically having a black and white coat and bushy tail: they eject an unpleasant-smelling fluid from the anal gland when attacked
2. Slang a strain of cannabis smoked for its exceptionally powerful psychoactive properties
Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

skunk

[skəŋk]
(vertebrate zoology)
Any one of a group of carnivores in the family Mustelidae characterized by a glossy black and white coat and two musk glands at the base of the tail.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
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References in periodicals archive
A skunk's only defense besides their sharp claws and teeth is the noxious odor created by a sulfuric acid that can be "fired" from either of two independently operating anal glands.
He tweeted: "Skin from the band Skunk Anansie was actually the first black artist to headline glasto she done it with her band in 1999 no disrespect intended and massive salute to you - my apologies.
stephen.white@mirror.co.uk @StephenWhite278 SKUNKS live for up to 10 years and can weigh 18lb.
Nature's version of tear gas, the skunk's scented spray is so potent that one well-placed dose can leave its victim gagging and gasping for breath.
In the interim, occupational health and industrial hygiene conducted a review of organic chemistry literature to better understand what, if any, possible respiratory or mucus membranes irritants were contained within striped skunk spray that might explain the patient's presentation.
And he said: "I got a call one day that this shop was selling up and they had this skunk in the window, so I went down and I bought her for PS450."
Asked why he keeps smelly skunks, which aren't known for being perfect pets, he said: "I do kids parties and care homes and animal therapy for hospitals and stuff like that and the opportunity arose to get a skunk and I just thought, do you know what?
putorius, information on the natural history associated with both spotted skunk species in North America is lacking.
If the skunk bites or scratches your dog, immediately take him to your veterinarian for medical attention and help reporting the incident to your local health department.
Steve Pace's coffee-table-size book pays tribute to the aviation creativity of engineers--or more accurately, geniuses--at the Skunk Works.
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