The javelina, often seen rooting through the desert landscape, frequently leads to a common question: is it a pig? Despite their similar appearance, javelinas are not true pigs. They belong to a distinct biological family, separate from the pigs and hogs found in other parts of the world.
Understanding the Javelina
Javelinas, also known as collared peccaries, are medium-sized ungulates native to the Americas. Their scientific classification places them in the family Tayassuidae, distinct from the Suidae family, which includes true pigs. These animals are found from the southwestern United States, including Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, southward through Mexico, Central America, and into South America, reaching as far as northern Argentina.
An adult javelina typically measures between 90 and 130 centimeters (2 feet 11 inches and 4 feet 3 inches) in length and weighs about 20 to 40 kilograms (44 to 88 pounds). They possess a coarse coat of grizzled black, gray, and brown hair, with a distinctive lighter-colored band, or “collar,” around their shoulders and neck, which gives the collared peccary its name. Their body is stout with short legs and a pig-like snout.
Why the Confusion?
The frequent misidentification of javelinas as pigs stems from their striking superficial resemblances. Both animals share a similar stout body shape, short legs, and a prominent, disc-like snout used for rooting in the soil. Their coarse, bristly hair further contributes to the pig-like appearance, leading many to believe they are a type of wild hog or boar. Javelinas also exhibit social behaviors, living in herds, much like some wild pig populations.
The common nicknames for javelinas, such as “skunk pig” or “musk hog,” reinforce this misconception. These names refer to their strong scent, not their biological classification. Their presence in similar habitats, particularly in the southwestern United States where feral hogs also exist, adds to the confusion. These shared physical characteristics and behaviors often overshadow the deeper biological distinctions between the two animal families.
Key Distinctions
Javelinas and true pigs exhibit several significant biological and anatomical differences. A primary distinction lies in their dental structure: javelinas have canine teeth, or tusks, that are short, straight, and point downwards. In contrast, true pigs possess tusks that are longer and curve upwards and outwards. This difference in tusk orientation also affects their jaw movement; peccary jaws have limited side-to-side motion.
Another notable difference is found in their foot structure. Javelinas have four toes on their front feet but only three on their hind feet. True pigs typically have four toes on both their front and hind feet. Javelinas also possess a unique dorsal scent gland on their rump, which they use to mark territory.
Beyond external features, their internal anatomy also differs. Javelinas have a more complex, three-chambered stomach, allowing them to process tough plant materials efficiently. True pigs are hindgut fermenters, whereas peccaries are foregut fermenters. Additionally, javelinas have a much shorter tail compared to the more distinct tails of pigs. These distinct anatomical features underscore their separate evolutionary paths, with javelinas belonging to the New World family Tayassuidae and pigs to the Old World family Suidae.