Wild boars include the European wild boar (Sus scrofa), the Indonesian wild boar (Sus scrofa vittatus), and the African warthog (Phacochoerus africanus). Wild boars belong to the Suidae family, and their original distribution spanned across Eurasia and Africa. If you have seen wild boars in other parts of the world, it's because they were introduced by humans.
Table of contents
European wild boar
Indonesian wild boar
African warthog
Javan warthog
bristle pig
Palawan bristle pig
Sulawesi Warthog
1. European wild boar (Sus scrofa)
The European wild boar is the most widespread and influential wild boar species, native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa. With human migration, it has been introduced to several countries, including Argentina and Chile, and has become an invasive species in places like Spain. European wild boars are robust, with coarse dark brown hair and backward-curving tusks. Sows and piglets often form large groups, while adult boars typically live alone. It is worth noting that the domestic pig (Sus scrofa domestica) was domesticated from the European wild boar.
2. Indonesian wild boar (Sus scrofa vittatus)
The Indonesian wild boar, also known as the ringed wild boar, is a subspecies of the European wild boar, mainly distributed in the Malay Peninsula, Indonesia, and the Lesser Sunda Islands. It has a more primitive skull, sparse hair, and a distinct light-colored marking on its nose. This subspecies primarily feeds on fruit and is an important seed disperser in tropical rainforests. In the Komodo region, it is also frequently prey for Komodo dragons.
3. African warthog (Phacochoerus africanus)
The African warthog, also known as the common warthog, is a typical wild boar species found in sub-Saharan Africa. It is robust, with a short snout and gray or reddish-brown fur, and is widely distributed in grasslands, scrublands, and savannas. African warthogs are omnivorous, feeding on fruits, roots, fungi, insects, and even small mammals. They possess a strong sense of smell and excellent digging abilities. The IUCN lists it as a species of least concern.
4. Javan warthog (Sus verrucosus)
The Javan warthog is endemic to the islands of Java and Pawian in Indonesia, and is commonly found in forest plantations and wetlands. Its most distinctive features are three pairs of prominent wart-like folds on its face and long bristles extending from its neck to its back. Due to habitat loss and overhunting, this species is listed as endangered by the IUCN.
5. Bristleboar (Sus barbatus)
The bristle pig is divided into two subspecies, distributed in the Malay Peninsula, Singapore, Borneo, and Sumatra. They inhabit diverse environments, including tropical rainforests, peat bogs, and mangroves. The bristle pig feeds on roots, fungi, invertebrates, small vertebrates, and seeds, with a particular fondness for oily oak and dipterocarp seeds. Due to deforestation and habitat fragmentation, the bristle pig is listed as a vulnerable species by the IUCN.
6. Palawan bristle pig (Sus ahoenobarbus)
The Palawan bristle pig is endemic to the Palawan Islands of the Philippines, distributed across the main island and several surrounding islands. This species inhabits primary and secondary forests and farmland at altitudes of 0-1500 meters. Due to its large size, it is frequently hunted for food by local residents. Although legal protection exists, enforcement is weak, necessitating strengthened conservation management and the establishment of new protected areas.
7. Sulawesi warthog (Sus celebensis)
The Sulawesi warthog is endemic to the island of Sulawesi and surrounding islands in Indonesia. It adapts to a variety of environments, including tropical forests, swamps, grasslands, and farmlands. Its diet consists mainly of roots, fruits, and shoots, but it also consumes invertebrates and small animals. Sulawesi warthogs can interbreed with domestic pigs. Wild populations are threatened by hunting and genetic pollution, and it is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN.
Summarize
These seven species of wild boar (warthogs) not only differ in appearance and ecology, but also play important roles in their respective distribution areas. The diversity of the wild boar family demonstrates the infinite possibilities of nature and reminds us to strengthen the protection of wild animals and their habitats.
