Warthog

Range:
Most of Africa; greatest concentrations found in east and south.

Habitat:
Usually savanna, opens grasslands, and light forests.

Size:
Length: 57-75 in, Height: 26-33 in; Weight: 110-331 lbs.

Young:
2-4

Gestation:
171-172 days

Diet (wild):
Grass, roots, berries, bark of young trees, and occasionally carrion.

Lifespan (wild):
10-15 years

Status:
Common

Threats:
None.

Anatomy/Physiology:
The warts, which are only prominent on males, are actually just skin growths and have no bony structure. Both sexes bear tusks that are used to dig up roots and such. They have a barrel shaped body with long legs and a short neck making feeding difficult while standing.

Social/Family units:
They travel around singly, in pairs, or small "sounders" consisting of family parties of 1-2 sows and their latest offspring. Boars frequently travel along.

Habits:
Warthogs are often seen feeding while they are dropped down on their knees. This behavior is a result of their combination of long legs and short neck. It is much easier for them to feed from this position.

Communication:
Loud grunt-alarm; rhythmic grunts sound like a motor-courtship chant; also make squeaks and chirrups for signs of greetings, submission, or threat.

Defensive/Aggressive behavior:
They prefer to flee if confronted, but will defend themselves using their shorter, and sharper lower tusks to slash at an enemy. Male warthogs have ritualized battles where they will head butt and push each other down. They typically do not injure each other because they are protected by facial warts, and do not typically use tusks.

Prey items:
Grass, roots, berries, bark of young trees, and occasionally carrion.

Predators:
Lions, leopards, and wild dogs.

Locomotion:
Quadrupedal. Can run at speeds up to 30 mph.

Activity:
Usually diurnal. However, in area where they are harassed they have become almost nocturnal.

Interesting story/facts:
Warthogs always back into there holes so any entering predator will be confronted by its tusks, which may reach up to 2 ft. in some males.