Red river hog
A species of River pig Scientific name : Potamochoerus porcus Genus : River pig
Red river hog, A species of River pig
Scientific name: Potamochoerus porcus
Genus: River pig
Content
Description General Info
Photo By marsupium photography , used under CC-BY-SA-2.0 /Cropped and compressed from original
Description
The red river hog has striking orange to reddish-brown fur, with black legs and a tufted white stripe along the spine. Adults have white markings around the eyes and on the cheeks and jaws; the rest of the muzzle and face are a contrasting black. The fur on the jaw and the flanks is longer than that on the body, with the males having especially prominent facial whiskers. Unlike other species of pig native to tropical Africa, the entire body is covered in hair, with no bare skin visible. Adults weigh 45 to 115 kg (99 to 254 lb) and stand 55 to 80 cm (22 to 31 in) tall, with a length of 100 to 145 cm (39 to 57 in). The thin tail is 30 to 45 cm (12 to 18 in) long and ends in a tuft of black hair. The ears are also long and thin, ending in tufts of white or black hair that may each 12 cm (4.7 in) in length. Boars are somewhat larger than sows, and have distinct conical protuberances on either side of the snout and rather small, sharp tusks. The facial protuberances are bony and probably protect the boar's facial tendons during head-to-head combat with other males. Red river hogs have a dental formula of 3.1.3–4.33.1.3–4.3, similar to that of wild boar. Both sexes have scent glands close to the eyes and on the feet; males have additional glands near the tusks on the upper jaw and on the penis. There is also a distinctive glandular structure about 2 cm (0.79 in) in diameter on the chin, which probably has a tactile function. Females have six teats.
General Info
Lifespan
15-20 years
Diet
The dietary habits of red river hog center around vegetation, making it essentially an omnivore. It mainly feeds on roots, tubers, and rhizomes, supplementing its diet with fruits, fungi, grasses, herbs, as well as occasional invertebrates and small vertebrates when resources are scarce.
Appearance
Red river hog is a medium-sized ungulate with a robust build covered in dense, coarse fur. Sporting a common colouration of dark brown or black, it exhibits unique white or creamy lateral stripes and blotches that are more pronounced in juveniles. The animal features small, sharp tusks jutting from its snout and conspicuous dorsal mane. No remarkable differences in appearance between sexes have been noted.
Behavior
Red river hog display crepuscular foraging habits, with feeding peaks during dusk and dawn. These omnivorous creatures adopt a social structure known as sounders, generally dominated by females. Notably, they mark their territory through glandular secretions and are known for their distinctive wallowing behaviours.
Population
Decreasing
Photo By marsupium photography , used under CC-BY-SA-2.0 /Cropped and compressed from original