Desert warthogs sometimes eat dung, including their own, and will tear bark from trees. They tusks are curved and they are sharp. They have long been used as an alternative to ivory in ornamental carving. Phacochoerus aethiopicus: Desert warthog: Northern Kenya and Somalia, and possibly Djibouti, Eritrea, and Ethiopia. Common warthog: Widespread in the savannah of Sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal to Ethiopia down to South Africa, absent from heavily forested or desert areas. The body is sparsely covered with bristly hairs and a more dense region of hairs runs along t… The jungles of Africa are filled with certain animal species that can't be found anywhere else in the world. ... Its characteristically small stature and notably large auditory apparatuses have adapted specially to desert ... 10 Wild Warthog Facts. Living in small groups or family they are commonly refereed to as a Sounder. Safaris. And wouldn’t that be a pity? 11/30/2004: Warthogs are looking for interns & Warthogs (471 Kb) “Light and rhythmic, Wildebeests and Warthogs is about as much fun as a bass quartet can. Warthogs can also be a problem to farmers – for eating their crops and because they carry diseases such as swine fever that can be passed onto domestic animals. They do this for very important reasons: to protect them from the harsh rays of the African sun, and against insect bites. Safaris, Madagascar General EnquiriesAdvertisingEditorsTravel with usCEO. Their tusks are enlarged canine teeth that protrude upwards from its mouth. They are abundant in East Africa and Southern Africa, with their favourite habitat being grassland, savannah and woodlands. Safaris, Tanzania Other common food items include eggs, carrion, fruit, berries, insects and mushrooms. Burrows also protect them from temperature extremes… This behaviour is known as allosucking and is thought to be a sign of altruism, rather than mistaken identity or milk theft. Shared tour (max 6 people per vehicle)BudgetTented Camp & Hotel, You Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Serengeti NP, Central Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara NP, Arusha (End), $500 They are abundant in East Africa and Southern Africa, with their favourite habitat being grassland, savannah and woodlands. Valle de la Luna ("Valley of the Moon") in the Atacama Desert of Chile, the world's driest hot desert. Warthogs like to live in abandoned burrows that were dug out by other animals, such as aardvarks or porcupines. Warthog Facts. The upper pair can grow to 25cm. Desert facts for kids. The desert warthog is a stockily-built animal growing to an average length of 125 centimetres (49 in) and weight of 75 kilograms (165 lb) with males being larger than females. However, they are omnivorous, meaning that they will eat both plants and small animals when given the opportunity – their diet can be quite adaptable depending on the availability of resources! Tours, South Africa Emma is an award-winning travel writer for Rough Guides, National Geographic Traveller, Travel Africa magazine and The Independent. By continuing you agree to our use of cookies. SafariBookings is the largest online marketplace for African safari tours. It’s calloused wrist pads protect its forelegs, photo credit by Lehmann. These grounds can get quite noisy as warthogs love to communicate with each other, using a range of vocals from grunts and snorts to squeals and growls! It has a rather flattened head with distinctive facial paired protuberances ("warts") and large curving canine teeth which protrude as tusks. Sparse bristles cover the warthog's body, although longer bristles form a mane from the top of the head down the spine to the middle of the back. There are two pairs: the shorter, lower pair are worn to a razor-sharp edge by rubbing against the longer, upper pair whenever the mouth is opened and closed. Its name comes from growths (warts) on both sides of the upper and the lower jaws. We're the Africa Geographic editorial team – a diverse set of writers, editors, designers and social media natives, all united by our passion for this addictive continent. The common warthog is found in much of Africa, below the Sahara desert. The warthog was previously thought to be a subspecies of P. aethiopicus. They usually back into the burrow, so they can use their sharp tusks to scare off any animal that bothers them. It was catapulted into celebrity by the unforgettable Pumba in Disney’s Lion King. An omnivore, it uses its rubbery snout to grub up roots and tubers. Shared tour (max 7 people per vehicle)BudgetTented Camp & Hotel, You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Lake Nakuru NP, Lake Naivasha, Nairobi (End). Female warthogs will have an average of four piglets after a five to six month gestation period. There is the common warthog (Phacochoerus africanus) and the desert warthog (Phacochoerus aethiopicus). The warthog’s favorite habitats are grassland, savanna, and woodlands. Mike is an award winning wildlife writer, editor of Travel Zambia magazine and author of the Bradt Guide to Southern African Wildlife. 1991. 3. Don't give your pet CBD Oil until you read this! Rolling in the mud provides a layer of natural sunscreen and helps cool them down. Tailored safari specialists. More About Us. When they do … It means that they are classed as ‘cooperative breeders’. The common warthog has the widest distribution in Africa, whereas the desert warthog is only found in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia. There are two species of warthog: The common warthog (Phacochoerus africanus), which has four subspecies. Est. Watch a video of warthogs eating a zebra carcass here! Copyright © 2021 SafariBookings. The males are usually about 25% larger than the females. The Striped Hyena (Hyaena hyaena) is a medium sized, scavenging mammal found in Africa, the Middle East, West India and the Arabian Peninsula. We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. Desert warthogs lack them completely, both in the upper and lower jaws, whereas Common warthogs … The common warthog is a member of Suidae or pig family and is related to pigs, boars, and hogs. The desert warthog is a stockily-built animal growing to an average length of 125 centimetres (49 in) and weight of 75 kilograms (165 lb) with males being larger than females. Click here to receive our stories and photo galleries via email. By continuing to browse through this website you agree to our use of cookies. 10 Interesting Facts About Warthogs. Publisher Their hearing is also quite keen. In fact, they can go up to several months without water during dry seasons (and they don't have reserves like camels do). Tours, Zambia Safaris, Zimbabwe The upper tusks … It’s unmistakable, with its incongruous combination of delicate hindquarters and huge head. The latter adorned with bizarre warty protrusions, bushy whiskers and an impressive set of tusks (particularly in the male). There are two species of warthog: the common warthog (Phacochoerus africanus) and the desert warthog (Phacochoerus aethiopicus). One of these rare species is the warthog. When startled or threatened, warthogs can be surprisingly fast, running at speeds of up to 50 km per hour! Usually around two or four piglets will survive to adulthood, and mothers who have lost their own litter have been observed nursing foster piglets, a practise known as allosuckling. Cookie settings. Probably the most feared member of the pig family, warthogs can be found in the grasslands, woodlands, and savanna regions of the Sub-Saharan Africa. Warthogs, like every other pig out there, like to roll in the mud. There is generally one species of warthog that most people will be familiar with. The warthog's large tusks are unusual: The two upper ones emerge from the sides of the snout to form a semicircle; the lower tusks at the base of the uppers are worn to a sharp cutting edge. Tours, Kenya Another key physical aspect of male warthogs is … There are actually two species of warthog, neither of which are endangered. The First F-16 Air To Air Kill Came From The Israeli Air Force. The desert warthog, (Phacochoerus aethiopicus) occurs in northern Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia. Desert Warthog Found In Tsavo East National Park And Tsavo West National Park by De Jong , Y. Even large eagles and Verreaux’s eagle owls may snatch a young piglet. Tours, Malawi Calloused pads on warthogs’ wrists help protect them while they graze on bended forelegs. In times when sustenance is limited, they will be seen eating odd foods like rhizomes, bulbs, and tubers with their elongated tusks. pp (USD), Tanzania: Warthog with young at Ulusaba Game Reserve, South Africa , Credit by Susan Aitken, Warthog kneeling to eat. Make decisions like a pro by using our 59,801 reviews and 200 destination guides.More About Us, $4,300 Warthogs spend much of their time grazing for food, with grass as a staple in their diet. pp (USD), Kenya: They have very thin hair so they loose body heat quicker. They have little fur, except for a mane that goes down the spine to the middle of the back, according to the Animal Diversity Web (ADW). Tours, Namibia Make sure to send us some of your favorite warthog pictures upon your return! Warthogs live in the desert, or some of them do anyway. When and where to go in Africa, and with whom. A variety of predators target warthogs, including lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, wild dogs and crocodiles. We publish inspiring and thought-provoking stories and photo galleries about African wildlife and safaris for our sophisticated international community. Warthog use their tusks for digging, fighting with rivals and defending themselves against predators. 1. So what better way to celebrate it than by taking a look at Africa’s own wild pig: the warthog! When startled or threatened, warthogs can be surprisingly fast, running at speeds of up to 30 miles an hour. Their tusks are enlarged canine teeth that protrude upwards from its mouth. Contrary to popular misconceptions that desert warthogs and similar species are vicious predators because of their protruding canines, desert warthogs are predominantly herbivores. Image via Pixabay. This, funnily … The Aardwolf looks most […] Being very protective mothers, the females will leave the sounder to give birth in a separate burrow. Another feature of the warthog – calluses on the knees of the front legs. They Sleep Underground. Kids Encyclopedia Facts. Horn of Africa – Where is it Located, Map It’s a region that juts into the Arabian Sea, sideways along the Southern region of the Gulf-of-Aden. Warthogs do not disdain seeds and roots, some fruits and even sometimes small animals. There are two pairs: the … Safaris, DR Congo Their eyes sit high on their heads so that they can spot predators, even while grazing. At night, during their least active time, warthogs prefer to hide away in the … Even though warthogs are not considered endangered, they are still threatened by poaching as they are hunted for their ivory tusks and meat. Home » Warthog Facts. Like their relatives, warthogs are plump, hooved animals with large nostrils at the end of the snout. Bespoke safaris and stories. They are larger in males than in females. 2. The Warthog is 120-150 cm long and up to 80 cm tall, with a total body mass of 70-120 kilograms. A sounder will be guided by an older female during grazing and foraging periods. These … 5 Fascinating Facts About the Incredible Warthog, Botswana These are not present in juveniles but grow over the course of a few years. The life expectancy is between 11.5 years and 15 years. Sounders occupy home ranges but are not territorial, NEWS WRAP: Hong Kong failing to tackle illegal wildlife trade + elephant poaching numbers down in Tanzania, Video: Leopard attacks baby honey badger, then mother retaliates, CEO note: Diamonds, rhino horn and elephant auctions, Photographer of the Year 2021 Weekly Selection: Week 8, The story behind the Namibian elephant auction. Although they reproduce at a high rate, the populations seem to be in a general decline. It often wallows in mud to help regulate its temperature and rid parasites from its largely naked skin. They adapted their hearing so that they can hear better. And then there’s the desert warthog (Phacochoerus aethiopicus), that has two subspecies – one of which went extinct in the 1870s. But adults – especially females with piglets – will defend themselves vigorously and often turn the tables on the predator, sometimes causing serious injuries with their tusks. Sounders occupy home ranges but are not territorial. They have eyes on the side of their head so that they can see if a predator is coming. Thanks to their short necks and relativity long legs it is far easier for them to kneel while grazing than it would be for other grazers. Sand dunes in the Rub' al Khali ("Empty quarter") of Saudi Arabia. They get less than 25 cm (9.8 inches) of rainfall a year. These animals prefer open areas and avoid rainforest, thickets, cool montane grasslands, and severe desert. Easily compare offers from 3,490 specialized tour operators. Quite often when you see a warthog in the wild it will either be running away with its tail straight up… or grazing. A desert is an arid (very dry) biome. Find out what the risks are for your pet. More Fun Facts/Notes; My Animals Adaptations. Photo Galleries, Photographer of the Year, Destinations, Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda. A., Culverwell, J. and Butynski, T. M. Suiform Soundings Vol 8(2), 2009 Both species of warthog, the common warthog Phacochoerus africanus and the desert warthog … They are found in open and semi-open habitats, even in quite arid regions, in sub-Saharan Africa. Although warthogs reproduce at a high rate, the populations seem to be in decline. They are larger in males than in females. Their tusks are used mainly for self-defence and when males battle it out for breeding rights. However, this is nowadays restricted to the desert warthog found in Somalia, Eastern Ethiopia, and Northern Kenya. Safaris, Uganda 1. You will notice that their face is quite wide and flat, with a prolonged snout and four impressive tusks. Its habits are equally odd: grazing on bended forelegs; entering its burrow backwards; trotting along with tail held erect, like a radio antenna. The warthog is a medium-sized species, with a head-and-body length ranging from 0.9 to 1.5 metres (3 to 5 feet), and shoulder height from 63.5 to … Usually you will see them eating grass and using their snout (and sometimes tusks) to dig up bulbs and roots. These are not present in juveniles but grow over the course of a few years. The Warthog is found in much of Africa, below the African Sahara desert. The fact is that a short and slow-moving fat neck does not allow eating and drinking with comfort, so … There are four subspecies of the warthog: The smallest hyena in the family hyaenidae is the Aardwolf (Proteles cristatus). Female warthogs are sociable creatures, and live in matriarchal groups called sounders with one or two adult females and their young.
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