Warthogs are members of the same family as domestic pigs, but present a much different appearance. These sturdy hogs are not among the world's most aesthetically pleasing animals—their large, flat heads are covered with "warts," which are actually protective bumps. Warthogs also sport four sharp tusks. They are mostly bald, but they do have some sparse hair and a thicker mane on their backs.
Though warthogs appear ferocious, they are basically grazers. They eat grasses and plants, and also use their snouts to dig or "root" for roots or bulbs. When startled or threatened, warthogs can be surprisingly fast, running at speeds of up to 30 miles (48 kilometers) an hour.Warthogs are adaptable and are able to go long periods without water, as much as several months in the dry season.
The warthog is the only pig species that has adapted to grazing and savanna habitats.Its diet is omnivorous, composed of grasses, roots, berries and other fruits, bark, fungi, insects, eggs and carrion.The diet is seasonably variable, depending on availability of different food items. During the wet seasons warthogs graze on short perennial grasses. During the dry seasons they subsist on bulbs, rhizomes and nutritious roots.
When water is available, warthogs will seek it and often submerge to cool down. They will also wallow in mud for the same purpose—and to gain relief from insects. Birds also aid these hogs in their battle with insects; oxpeckers and other species sometimes ride along on their warthog hosts, feeding on the tiny creatures invading their hides.These African hogs often utilize empty dens created by aardvarks.
Rather than fight, they often choose flight, and search for such a den to use as a hidey-hole. They typically back in, using their tusks to effectively guard the entrance.Warthogs also use these dens to have their young. Females have litters of four or fewer young, which they suckle for about four months.
The warthog population in southern Africa is estimated to be about 250,000.Typical densities range between 1 and 10 per km² in protected areas, but local densities of 77 per km² were found on short grass in Nakuru National Park. The species is susceptible to drought and hunting (especially with dogs), which may result in localized extinctions.The Common Warthog is present in numerous protected areas across its extensive range.
Fast Facts
- Type:
- Mammal Sources:www.nationalgeographic.com
- Diet:
- Herbivore www.wikipedia.com
- Average life span in the wild:
- 15 years
- Size:
- Height at shoulder, 30 in (76 cm)
- Weight:
- 120 to 250 lbs (54.5 to 113 kg)
- Group name:
- Sounder
- Size relative to a 6-ft (2-m) man:
