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Potamochoerus larvatus (Bushpig)
bosvark [Afrikaans]; Buschschwein [German]; potamochčre
[French]; nguruwe [Swahili]; ingulungundu, ifarigi yommango, isavakukazana
sommango [isiNdebele]; ingulube [isiXhosa]; ingulube, ingulube yasaWathini [isiZulu]; kolobę, kolobę-sodi, kolobę-ya-thaba [Sepedi]; kolobe, sodi, kolobe ya thaba,
mom, holobe-mom, kolobe-mom [Sesotho]; kolobę, kolobę yanaga, kolobę wanaga,
kotola, nkotola, kolobę-nkotola, kolobęsôdi, kolobętôpô [Setswana]; humba,
nguruve [Shona]; ingulube, ingulube ye siganga, ihhontji [siSwati]; khumba,
nguluve m 'hlati [Xitsonga]; nguluvhe, nguluvhe ya daka [Tshivenda]; !Garohagub
[Nama] [Damara]
Life
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Eukaryotes >
Opisthokonta >
Metazoa (animals) > Bilateria > Deuterostomia >
Chordata > Craniata > Vertebrata (vertebrates) >
Gnathostomata (jawed vertebrates) > Teleostomi (teleost
fish) > Osteichthyes (bony fish) > Class:
Sarcopterygii (lobe-finned fish) > Stegocephalia
(terrestrial vertebrates) > Reptiliomorpha > Amniota >
Synapsida (mammal-like reptiles) > Therapsida > Theriodontia
> Cynodontia > Mammalia (mammals)
> Placentalia (placental mammals) >
Laurasiatheria > Ferungulata > Cetartiodactyla (even-toed ungulates and cetaceans)
> Suiformes (pigs) > Family: Suidae >
Subfamily: Suinae
A hairy African pig that inhabits dense
vegetation and is active mainly at night. Although widespread, it is
rarely seen in the wild and seldom photographed. They eat mainly
bulbs, tubers and rhizomes and will also eat insect pupae,
earthworms and other animal matter when it is available. They occur
in groups (sounders) of 4-10 animals made up of a dominant boar and
sow together with subadult sows and young. Breeding pairs are
monogamous forming strong pair bonds. Bachelor groups and solitary
animals also occur.
Identification
Bushpigs have a pig-like appearance and are one of the most
generalized of the living even-toed, hoofed mammals (artiodactyls). The body is
well-covered in long bristle like hair that is usually reddish-brown to grey
brown in colour. A mane of long pale hair extends along the spine from the back
of the neck to the shoulders. The head is long with a hard flattened snout and
the facial hair is usually white. The large ears are pointed with tufts of hair
on the ends. The tail is thin with a dark tassle at the end, it is held down
when running unlike the warthog that holds its tail erect. While older boars may
have a pair of warts on the muzzle these are not as prominent as the wart-like
protuberances on the face of the warthog. The large canine teeth of the adults
project as tusks but are not as long or curved as those of the warthog. The
lower tusks are sharpened on the tip and along the edge by occlusion with the
upper canines and are formidable weapons when used. The teeth are adapted to the
omnivorous diet and the molars have characteristically rounded cusps. The males
are slightly larger than the sows.
Size
Height at shoulder 55-88 cm; weight range 60 –115 kg.
Dental Formula
I C PM M =
40-44
Distribution and habitat
Occurs in Africa south of the Sahara but not in the open
semi-arid and arid regions of southern Africa. In the latter region it is found
in the northern and eastern areas, with the distribution extending as far south
as Mossel Bay. Inhabits forest, dense bush, often in association with water in
riverine woodland, dense reedbeds or long grass. Essential habitat requirements
are dense cover and water.
General ehaviour
Bushpigs are predominantly nocturnal, with some activity
during the early morning and late evening during the winter months. They wallow
in mud as a means of temperature regulation and as a protection against biting
insects.
Groups (or sounders) usually consist of 4 –10 animals, a
dominant boar and sow and other subadult sows and young. Breeding pairs are
monogamous forming strong pair bonds. Bachelor groups and solitary animals also
occur. Bushpigs are regarded as aggressive and can be dangerous if cornered,
wounded or protecting piglets. When threatened bushpigs slash sideways with
their sharp lower canines and can inflict serious injury.
Food
Bushpigs are omnivorous and well adapted to range in
forests, thickets and woodland. They use their hard flattened snoots to root for
bulbs, tubers and rhizomes and will also eat insect pupae, earthworms and other
animal matter when it is available.
Reproduction
The gestation period is about 119 days. Pregnant sows
construct a haystack-type nest of grass in bush cover. The haystack is about 3m
in diameter and 1 m high. A litter usually consisting of 2 – 4 piglets is born
in the middle of the stack. The piglets follow the sow from 1 – 3 days after
birth. An interesting fact is that in pigs each piglet has its own teat at which
it feeds. Piglets have very characteristic colouration and are dark brown with
characteristic longitudinal pale stripes along the sides of the body. This
provides excellent camouflage in the dappled shadows of forest and woodland. The
boar assists with rearing the piglets and is very attentive to their care and
protection. Young pigs will remain with their parents in a family group until
well after weaning.
Life span
13- 14 years
Conservation
Bushpigs can be a problem in farming areas. It is rumoured
that the bushpig can cross-breed with the domestic pig, Sus scrofa, but
this hybrid has never been found or proven to occur. Conservation status: they
are not regarded as threatened and are classified as low risk.
Text by Denise Hamerton
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