Details
Phacochoerus africanus
The common warthog is a diurnal pig of African savannas and grasslands. It moves in small herds and often uses burrows for shelter.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
It favors open savanna and grassland with access to water and diggable soil. At night it commonly retreats into old burrows made by other animals.
Body length is about 90-150 cm and weight about 45-150 kg. A large head, facial warts, curved tusks, and kneeling grazing posture are distinctive.
Active by day, females and young form small sounders. When alarmed, it runs with the tail raised and may bolt into a burrow.
It is omnivorous but eats many grasses, roots, and rhizomes. In dry periods it digs for moisture-rich underground plant parts.
Piglets are born in a burrow and protected by the mother. As they grow, they follow the group and learn feeding areas.
Its status is listed as Least Concern. It can use grazing lands and influences savanna soils through rooting and digging.
