suidae
suidae
Mammalia
170-175 days
1-7
ESB
Omnivorous diet composed of herbs, roots, berries, bark and occasionally fungi, eggs and carrion, as well as small mammals, reptiles and birds. The food ingested varies seasonally depending on availability; this opportunism and the versatility of the diet constitute an excellent strategy that guarantees their survival.
7-11 years
This African mammal, weighing 50 to 150 kg, is also called warthog, due to its three pairs of facial warts, which it uses to dig underground in search of food or during strong fights between males during the mating season. With a voluminous and elongated head, the warthog has its eyes at the top of its head to be able to monitor lions and leopards, its main predators. To defend itself and dig, it has a pair of well-developed fangs in its snout.
They usually live in family groups of about 18 members, usually made up of females and their young. Males become solitary after 2 years of age. Females breed once a year and have litters of 1 to 7 individuals, although usually 3 offspring are born.
They are diurnal animals and need nearby water areas to cool off from high temperatures. At night they take refuge in burrows, usually built by oricteropos; where they maintain a warm environment, take refuge from predators and give birth to their young. Sometimes they change burrows looking for places with water sources.
Like most animals, warthogs establish communication signals among themselves. When they are in danger, they run quickly with their tails up as a sign of danger. As a sign of affection, they rub their facial warts.
In addition, they establish mutualistic relationships with birds, which cleanse their bodies of parasites.
