Ethogram of Conepatus chinga (Carnivora: Mephitidae) in Captivity: Approach to a Little-Studied Species

We developed an ethogram of Conepatus chinga (South American hog-nosed skunk, chingue) from the continuous monitoring of a captive individual, with environmental enrichment, at a wildlife rehabilitation center in the O’Higgins Region, Chile. Using video camera traps, 17 days (408 h) of its activity were recorded, allowing us to identify daily activity patterns and times of exploration, locomotion, feeding, shelter use, and other relevant behaviors. The individual displayed a constant nocturnal activity pattern, starting around 9:00 P.M. and finishing at 5:00 A.M. The most frequent behaviors were walking and sniffing, evidencing active exploration guided by smell. No hunting/scavenging attempts were observed under these husbandry conditions. The primary refuge used was a small tunnel (approximately 30 cm deep) excavated under a wooden pallet covered with tree branches, which is consistent with refuges reported in wildlife. No visible defecation, urination, or musk release was recorded in the camera-trap footage. Given the limited observation coverage, we cannot determine whether these behaviors did not occur or occurred outside the recorded field of view. This study provides behavioral information and a descriptive baseline for this individual, including a pilot ethogram useful for research and captive management.