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Warthog

Phacocoerus aethiopicus

CLASS: Mammalia
ORDER: Artiodactyla
FAMILY: Suidae
GENUS: Phacocoerus
SPECIES: Aethiopicus

LIFESPAN: 18 years (average)
COLOR/PATTERN: Coarsely grained pale gray hide thinly sprinkled with stiff brown hair extending from the nape to the middle of the back where it is broken by a bare space, and then continues on the rump. The remainder of the body is covered with bristles
HABITAT: Dry, sandy country, prefers thinly forested area with plenty of thickets
RANGE: Africa south of the Sahara
HEIGHT: 2 feet at the shoulder
WEIGHT: 110 to 330 pounds
REPRODUCTION: Females reach sexual maturity at 18 to 24 months. Males do not usually mate until 4 years of age. Breeding season is during the local rainy season.
GESTATION: 171 to 175 days
LITTER: 1 to 8 (average 2 to 4)
DIET: Grass Roots, berries, bark of young trees, carrion.
ACTIVE: Diurnal
STATUS: Common

NOTES:

• Warts protect the face during fights.
• They travel in groups called Sounders consisting of 1 to 2 sows and young offspring, males usually travel alone
• Use burrows for shelter, often those abandoned by aardvarks. They back in when entering, and in the morning burst out at top speed to get a running start on any predators.
• Would rather run than fight, but can be fierce if forced to fight.
• Allow birds to eat the parasites that live on their bodies
• Kneel when feeding, slide along on the tough calluses on their knees
• Carry tail straight and high when running
• They are able to run at speeds of up to 35 mph.
• Eyesight is poor, but their sense of smell and hearing is keen.
• Major predators are lions, leopards, and cheetahs.
• Both sexes have tusks, but the males are much longer, reaching lengths up to 12 inches.
• They do not have sweat glands, so they wallow in the mud to keep cool.

Last Update:Friday, May 13, 2005 at 09:42:00