Main Page | See live article | Alphabetical index

Warthog

Warthog

Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Mammalia
Order:Artiodactyla
Family:Suidae
Genus:Phacochoerus]]
species:aethiopicus
Binomial name
Phacochoerus aethiopicus
Warthogs (Phacochoerus aethiopicus) are wild members of the pig family that live in the plains and open woodlands of Africa. They are the only widely recognised species in their genus, though some authors divide them into two species. On that classification, P. africanus is the Common Warthog and P. aethiopicus is the Cape or Somali Warthog.

Warthogs are identifiable by the two pairs of tusks on their head, which are used as weapons against predators. They eat grass, berries, bark, roots, and carrion.

They range in size from 0.9 to 1.5 metres (2.9-4.9 feet) in length and 50 to 150 kg (110-330 pounds) in weight.