The genus Phacochoerus encompasses wild pigs commonly known as warthogs, native to sub-Saharan Africa. The two primary species are the common warthog (Phacochoerus africanus) and the desert warthog (Phacochoerus aethiopicus).
Identifying Warthogs
Warthogs have prominent, fleshy protuberances on their faces, often called “warts,” which are protective fatty deposits. Males have two pairs of these “warts,” while females usually have one.
They have large heads and two pairs of tusks. The upper tusks curve outwards, reaching 25 to 64 centimeters, while the lower tusks are shorter, around 15 centimeters, and sharpen from rubbing against the upper tusks. Warthogs have sparse, bristly hair, with a noticeable mane running from their head down their spine. Their skin is gray.
Where Warthogs Live and How They Behave
Warthogs primarily inhabit savannas, grasslands, and woodlands across sub-Saharan Africa, adapting to environments from open plains to semi-arid regions. They avoid heavily forested areas and severe deserts. Their distribution is influenced by the availability of cover and foraging grounds.
Warthogs are diurnal, active during the day. They are omnivores, mainly eating grasses, roots, bulbs, and fruits. They often kneel on their calloused front knees to graze, using snouts and tusks to dig for underground food like tubers. They also consume insects, eggs, and carrion.
Warthogs are social, living in groups called sounders, typically consisting of females and their young. Adult males often live alone or in small bachelor groups, joining sounders during breeding season. They use abandoned burrows for shelter, backing in to defend themselves with their tusks. When fleeing predators, they hold their long, tufted tails upright and can reach speeds of up to 55 kilometers per hour. Wallowing in mud or water helps them cool down and remove parasites.
Warthog Life Cycle and Survival
Warthog reproduction occurs with mating 4 to 5 months after the rainy season, leading to births during the dry season. Gestation lasts 170 to 175 days. Females, known as sows, give birth to litters averaging three piglets, though sizes range from one to seven.
Piglets remain in the burrow for 6 to 7 weeks after birth, with the sow returning to nurse them. Males are sexually mature at 18 to 20 months but do not mate until about four years old. Major predators include lions, leopards, hyenas, and crocodiles; eagles threaten younger piglets. When threatened, warthogs rely on speed to escape, but sows aggressively defend their young.
The common warthog is widespread and classified as “Least Concern” by the IUCN Red List, indicating a stable population. However, localized threats like human-wildlife conflict, agricultural damage, and disease transmission such as African swine fever can impact populations. Some regional populations have faced extinction.