The scientific name for the skunk is Mephitis mephitis. “Mephitis” in Latin refers to a very foul odor. (As you can see, whoever gave the skunk its name felt strongly enough about the way skunks smell to say it twice!)
If you’re ever lucky enough to visit the Florida Everglades, there’s a slithery, scaly new reason to keep a very sharp eye out…you might just see a Burmese python.
There’s no doubt that you recognized this animal immediately: With its tremendous size, massive, low-hanging head and shaggy coat, this symbol of the American Plains from days gone by is unmistakable.