Warthog
Template:Short description Script error: No such module "about". Script error: No such module "Protection banner". Template:Automatic taxobox
Phacochoerus is a genus in the family Suidae, commonly known as warthogs (pronounced wart-hog). They are pigs who live in open and semi-open habitats, even in quite arid regions, in sub-Saharan Africa. The two species were formerly considered conspecific under the scientific name Phacochoerus aethiopicus, but today this is limited to the desert warthog, while the best-known and most widespread species, the common warthog (or simply warthog), is Phacochoerus africanus.[1]
Description
Although covered in bristly hairs, a warthog's body and head appear largely bare, from a distance, with only a crest of hair along the back and the tufts on the face and tail being obvious. The English name "wart"-hog refers to their facial wattles, which are particularly distinct in males. The males also have very prominent tusks, which reach a length of Script error: No such module "convert".; females' tusks are always smaller.[2] They are largely herbivorous, but, like most suids, opportunistically eat invertebrates or small animals, even scavenging on carrion.[3] While both species remain fairly common and widespread, and considered to be of Least Concern by the IUCN, the nominate subspecies of desert warthog, commonly known as the Cape warthog (P. a. aethiopicus) was extinct by around 1865.[4]
Species in taxonomic order
The genus Phacochoerus contains two species. The two species emerged from ecological barriers.[5] P. africanus were found with a lack of upper incisors, while P. aethiopicus were found with a full set.[5] Template:Species table
Template:Species table/row Template:Species table/end
References
<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Novak, R. M. (editor) (1999). Walker's Mammals of the World. Vol. 2. 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore. Template:ISBN.
- ↑ Kingdon, J. (1997). The Kingdon Guide to African Mammals. Academic Press Limited, London. Template:ISBN.
- ↑ Template:Cite iucn
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
External links
- Template:Sister-inline
- Template:Sister-inline
- d'Huart, J.P. & Grubb, P. (2005). A photographic guide to the differences between the Common Warthog (Phacochoerus africanus) and the Desert Warthog (Ph. aethiopicus).Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Suiform Soundings 5(2): 4–8.
Script error: No such module "Navbox". Template:Suina Template:Taxonbar Template:Authority control