SPECIES PROFILE

Name: the warthog (Phacochoerus africanus) – or common warthog – is a member of the pig family (Suidae).

Appearance: warthogs have large heads, two pairs of tusks, and bristly manes running down their spines to the middle of their backs. They have long tails with tufts of hair at the end.

Size: they are a medium-sized species reaching up to 85 cm at the shoulder and weighing up to 150 kg.

Diet: they eat a wide mix of grasses, roots, berries, fruits, insects, eggs, and carrion. Their diet varies according to the season – during the wet season they graze on grasses while in the dry season they dig out roots and bulbs.

Did you know: warthogs are easily recognised by their distinctive tusks. The smaller lower pair are razor-sharp as they rub against the upper pair each time they open or close their mouths. The larger upper pair can grow up to 25 cm long. The tusks are not used for digging but for combat with other warthogs, and in defence against predators. The sharp lower set can inflict severe wounds during a fight! The tusks are made of the same material as elephant’s tusks and are harvested for ivory.

Location: they can be in found in grasslands, savannas, and woodlands across sub-Saharan Africa.

Where TO SEE Warthogs

According to reports submitted to WildSide, you can see warthogs in the following places:

Photo credit: herbert2512 under a Creative Commons licence from Pixabay