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Wart hog - PHACOCHOERUS AETHIOPICUS
Class: Animals with Milk Glands (Mammalia)
The Name "Hog": "Hog" is an Old English word for the animal. In today's usage, the animal is a "pig" until it reaches 125 pounds, and then it is a "hog."
Location: Sub-Saharan Africa, except forests.
Habitat: Terrestrail. Savanna and grassland.
Description: The adult wart hog is blackish, brownish, or grayish, while the young are pinkish. The hide is almost hairless, but a few hairs present on the cheeks and on the back where they form a mane. The tail is long, has a tuft of hair at the end, and is carried in a distinctive upright position when the animal is moving. The head is disproportionately large and has two pair of large warts. The tusks form a semicircle pointing forward and upward between these warts. The lower canines are extremely sharp. Length of head and body is about 40", and shoulder height 25 to 30". It weighs 165-220 lbs, with the females somewhat smaller.
Behavior: The wart hog usually lives in small family groups, but several families will often band together temporarily to form larger herds. It is diurnal, but spends the hottest part of the day sheltered by vegetation or in its den. The dens are usually adapted from old aardvark burrows. It is vegetarian and can often be seen grazing in a characteristic kneeling position. It feeds mostly on short grasses and herbs. It does not damage crops, and prefers to remain away from areas where there is human activity. Its main enemies are lions and leopards.
Reproduction: After about 175 days of gestation two to four young are born, which nurse for a few months and become independent about one year after birth.
Go to the Artiodactyla Page to learn more about all the even-toed hoofed animals.
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