Giant forest hog
Encyclopedia
The Giant Forest Hog is native to wooded habitats in Africa
and generally is considered the largest wild member of the Suidae
(pig family; a few subspecies of the wild boar can reach an even larger size). Despite its large size and relatively wide distribution, it was only described by scientists in 1904. The specific name honours Richard Meinertzhagen
, who shot the type specimen in Kenya
and had it shipped to the Natural History Museum
in England
.
and H. m. ivoriensis of west Africa
. The giant forest hog has extensive hairs on its body, though these tend to become less pronounced as the animal ages. It is mostly black in colour on the surface, though hairs nearest the skin of the animal are a deep orange colour. Its ears are large and pointy, and the tusk
s are proportionally smaller than those of the warthogs
but bigger than those of the bushpig
. Nevertheless, the tusks of a male may reach a length of 35 centimetres (13.8 in).
and Congolian forests
. They also occur more locally in humid highlands of the Rwenzori Mountains and as far east as Mount Kenya
and the Ethiopian Highlands
. They are mainly found in forest-grassland mosaics, but can also be seen in wooded savanna and subalpine habitats at altitudes up to 3800 metres (12,467.2 ft). They are unable to cope with low humidity or prolonged exposure to the sun, resulting in them being absent from arid regions and habitat
s devoid of dense cover.
, but also scavenges. It is usually considered nocturnal, but in cold periods it is more commonly seen during daylight hours, and it has been suggested it is diurnal in regions where protected from humans. They live in herds (sounders) of up to twenty animals consisting of females and their offspring, but usually also including a single old male. Females leave the sounder before giving birth and returns with the piglets about a week after the birth. All members of the sounder protect the piglets and they can nurse from all females.
As all suids
of sub-Saharan Africa
, the giant forest hog has not been domesticated
, but it is easily tamed and has been considered to have potential for domestication. However, in the wild the giant forest hog is more feared than the Red River Hog
and the bush pig (the two members of the genus Potamochoerus
), as males sometimes attack without warning, possibly to protect their sounder. It has also been known to drive spotted hyena
s away from carcasses and fights among males resulting in the death of one of the participants are not uncommon.
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and generally is considered the largest wild member of the Suidae
Suidae
Suidae is the biological family to which pigs belong. In addition to numerous fossil species, up to sixteen extant species are currently recognized, classified into between four and eight genera...
(pig family; a few subspecies of the wild boar can reach an even larger size). Despite its large size and relatively wide distribution, it was only described by scientists in 1904. The specific name honours Richard Meinertzhagen
Richard Meinertzhagen
Colonel Richard Henry Meinertzhagen CBE DSO was a British soldier, intelligence officer and ornithologist.- Background and youth :Meinertzhagen was born into a socially connected, wealthy British family...
, who shot the type specimen in Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
and had it shipped to the Natural History Museum
Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum is one of three large museums on Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, England . Its main frontage is on Cromwell Road...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Characteristics
Males reach up 2.1 metres (6.9 ft) in length and 1.1 metres (3.6 ft) in height, and may weigh as much as 275 kilograms (606.3 lb). Females are smaller than males, and the eastern nominate subspecies is larger than H. m. rimator of central AfricaCentral Africa
Central Africa is a core region of the African continent which includes Burundi, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Rwanda....
and H. m. ivoriensis of west Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
. The giant forest hog has extensive hairs on its body, though these tend to become less pronounced as the animal ages. It is mostly black in colour on the surface, though hairs nearest the skin of the animal are a deep orange colour. Its ears are large and pointy, and the tusk
Tusk
Tusks are elongated, continuously growing front teeth, usually but not always in pairs, that protrude well beyond the mouth of certain mammal species. They are most commonly canines, as with warthogs, wild boar, and walruses, or, in the case of elephants and narwhals, elongated incisors...
s are proportionally smaller than those of the warthogs
Phacochoerus
Phacochoerus is a genus of wild pigs in the Suidae family that are known as warthogs. It is the sole genus of subfamily Phacochoerinae. They are found in open and semi-open habitats, even in quite arid regions, in sub-Saharan Africa...
but bigger than those of the bushpig
Bushpig
The bushpig, Potamochoerus larvatus, is a member of the pig family and lives in forests, woodland, riverine vegetation and reedbeds in East and Southern Africa. Probably introduced populations are also present in Madagascar and the Comoros archipelago. Bushpigs are mainly nocturnal. There are...
. Nevertheless, the tusks of a male may reach a length of 35 centimetres (13.8 in).
Distribution
Giant forest hogs occur in west and central Africa, where largely restricted to the GuineanGuinean Forests of West Africa
The Guinean forests of West Africa is a biodiversity hotspot designated by Conservation International, which includes the belt of tropical moist broadleaf forests along the coast of West Africa, running from Sierra Leone and Guinea in the west to the Sanaga River of Cameroon in the east...
and Congolian forests
Congolian forests
The Congolian forests are a broad belt of lowland tropical moist broadleaf forest which extends across the basin of the Congo River and its tributaries in Central Africa...
. They also occur more locally in humid highlands of the Rwenzori Mountains and as far east as Mount Kenya
Mount Kenya
Mount Kenya is the highest mountain in Kenya and the second-highest in Africa, after Kilimanjaro. The highest peaks of the mountain are Batian , Nelion and Point Lenana . Mount Kenya is located in central Kenya, just south of the equator, around north-northeast of the capital Nairobi...
and the Ethiopian Highlands
Ethiopian Highlands
The Ethiopian Highlands are a rugged mass of mountains in Ethiopia, Eritrea , and northern Somalia in the Horn of Africa...
. They are mainly found in forest-grassland mosaics, but can also be seen in wooded savanna and subalpine habitats at altitudes up to 3800 metres (12,467.2 ft). They are unable to cope with low humidity or prolonged exposure to the sun, resulting in them being absent from arid regions and habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
s devoid of dense cover.
Habits
The giant forest hog is mainly a herbivoreHerbivore
Herbivores are organisms that are anatomically and physiologically adapted to eat plant-based foods. Herbivory is a form of consumption in which an organism principally eats autotrophs such as plants, algae and photosynthesizing bacteria. More generally, organisms that feed on autotrophs in...
, but also scavenges. It is usually considered nocturnal, but in cold periods it is more commonly seen during daylight hours, and it has been suggested it is diurnal in regions where protected from humans. They live in herds (sounders) of up to twenty animals consisting of females and their offspring, but usually also including a single old male. Females leave the sounder before giving birth and returns with the piglets about a week after the birth. All members of the sounder protect the piglets and they can nurse from all females.
As all suids
Suidae
Suidae is the biological family to which pigs belong. In addition to numerous fossil species, up to sixteen extant species are currently recognized, classified into between four and eight genera...
of sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa as a geographical term refers to the area of the African continent which lies south of the Sahara. A political definition of Sub-Saharan Africa, instead, covers all African countries which are fully or partially located south of the Sahara...
, the giant forest hog has not been domesticated
Domestication
Domestication or taming is the process whereby a population of animals or plants, through a process of selection, becomes accustomed to human provision and control. In the Convention on Biological Diversity a domesticated species is defined as a 'species in which the evolutionary process has been...
, but it is easily tamed and has been considered to have potential for domestication. However, in the wild the giant forest hog is more feared than the Red River Hog
Red River Hog
The red river hog , also known as the bush pig , is a wild member of the pig family living in Africa, with most of its distribution in the Guinean and Congolian forests...
and the bush pig (the two members of the genus Potamochoerus
Potamochoerus
Potamochoerus is a genus in the pig family . The two species are restricted to Sub-saharan Africa, although the Bushpig, possibly due to introduction by man, also occurs in Madagascar and nearby islands.-Species:...
), as males sometimes attack without warning, possibly to protect their sounder. It has also been known to drive spotted hyena
Spotted Hyena
The spotted hyena also known as laughing hyena, is a carnivorous mammal of the family Hyaenidae, of which it is the largest extant member. Though the species' prehistoric range included Eurasia extending from Atlantic Europe to China, it now only occurs in all of Africa south of the Sahara save...
s away from carcasses and fights among males resulting in the death of one of the participants are not uncommon.