These piglets are red river hogs or, as Camera Trap Codger called them in German, “Pinselohrschwein.” The scientific name is Potamochoerus porcus. The genus name is derived from the Greek words for river (“Potamos”) and pig (“Khoirus”). The species name is the Latin name for the word pig (“porcus.)
I figured that a lot of my readers would think them some form of Eurasian wild boar. Pure European wild boars are born with these stripes, and some of the hybrid feral stock in the US are born this color.
However, the ears give the identity of these piglets away.
As adults, they will lose these stripes. Long tassels will grow on their ears. They will get quite shaggy, and a white dorsal stripe will appear. The hair on this dorsal stripe can be raised. Their faces already have the distinct masking that will become even more obvious once their muzzles become shaggy.
Red river hogs as adults.
The stripes on the piglets are camouflage. The sows have them in dense thickets, and if a predator comes by, the piglets remain motionless. The stripes break up their outlines in the leaf litter, and many predators walk past them.
As adults, they can raise the hair on their white dorsal stripes to make themselves appear larger. They can also swim and run from predators.
These animals are native to Central and West Africa, where they frequent forests, riparian areas, and savannas. Another species in the genus Potamochoerus is the bush pig, which lives in Eastern and Southern Africa.
Historically, the red river hog was considered a form of the bush pig. However, they are now considered separate species.
The two animals do interbreed, and there is a definite progression from bush type animals to red river hog type animals. It is still possible that these animal represent a still possible that these animals represent a single species.
And you thought wolf taxonomy was bad!
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I couldn’t figure it out. I knew their ears were off to be the typical wild boar.
I love their ear tassels.
All the pigs at the sanctuary, from potbellied to the big guys, piloerect. They do it when they like what you’re doing (belly rubs and just your voice inspire hackling) as well as when they want to appear larger/more aggressive. The former is quite different than when dogs piloerect!
All pigs can.
I just didn’t want to write the word piloerect.
The gray fox is amazing what it does when it piloerects.
They have a black mane that runs to their tail tip.
But it’s such a fun word!
Any pictures of the gray fox?
The black hair on the tail stands up just as the rest of the hair on the back does.
Wow, I didn’t know there were pig sanctuaries. And people who give pigs belly rubs.
I love your “what’s this animal” posts. They’re my favourite thing on your blog. Those piglets are adorable. The adults… could get a bit part on Star Trek, I think.
Have you ever seen Ernest Scared Stupid?
It’s a stupid movie, but the trolls in it look a lot like red river hogs:
The dog is a great actor!
There aren’t that many. I work for one that rescues most species of domestic farmed animals. We provide sanctuary to pigs, cattle, goats, sheep, chickens, turkeys and rabbits. :)
This might be a stupid question, but how do they swim? How are their feet constructed that they allow them to push water? Just curious.
I love the first picture with the “flying piglet.” Too cute.
Pigs are amazing swimmers.
I had no idea. Fascinating!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/5843957/Pigs-swim-in-sea-in-Bahamas.html
I want to visit these pigs! They’re domestic pigs who have sort of become feral (but not really).
My guess is that the are amazing floaters, too.