Warthog a.k.a phacochoerus AiethiopicusNeither graceful or beautiful the Warthog is a remarkable animal
FAST FACTS
Location: The Warthog is a wild member of the pig family that lives in Africa.Their name comes from the four large wart-like tusks found on the head of the warthog used for defense purposes against predators.
Lifestyle: A grouping of warthogs is called a sounder. Warthogs live in family groups of a female and her young. Sometimes two families, often of related females, will join together. Males normally live by themselves, only joining the groups to mate.
Warthogs sleep and rest in holes. Although they can excavate, warthogs normally use those dug by other animals, like aardvarks. The shelter a hole provides is important for warthog thermoregulation—having neither fur nor fat, the warthog lacks both protection from the sun and insulation from cold. Sometimes warthogs will line their holes with grass, probably to make them warmer.
Before giving birth to a new litter, the female chases away the litter she has been raising and secludes herself. These juveniles may join up with another solitary female for a short time before they go on their own.
Habitat: Warthogs are found in moist and arid savannas. They avoid rainforest, deserts and high mountains.
Lifeline: Wild warthogs can live up to 15 years. Captive warthogs may live as long as 18 years. The typical gestation period is 5 or 6 months and the litter size is 2 to 8 piglets, although 2 to 4 is more typical. Piglets are weaned at 3 or 4 months of age, reaching sexual maturity at 18 to 24 months. Females may give birth twice a year.
Most famous warthog is 'Pumbaa' in the movie and famous broadway show
"The Lion King"
Diet: The warthog is mainly a grazer and has adapted an interesting practice of kneeling on its calloused, hairy, padded knees to eat short grass. Using its snout and tusks, it also digs for bulbs, tubers and roots during the dry season. They may eat earthworms and other small invertebrates during the wet season.
Lifeline: Wild warthogs can live up to 15 years. Captive warthogs may live as long as 18 years. The typical gestation period is 5 or 6 months and the litter size is 2 to 8 piglets, although 2 to 4 is more typical. Piglets are weaned at 3 or 4 months of age, reaching sexual maturity at 18 to 24 months. Females may give birth twice a year.
Most famous warthog is 'Pumbaa' in the movie and famous broadway show"The Lion King"
i beg to differ that warthogs are ugly creatures, maybe to us human beings but what about their community. dont you think they too find us the same plus call us 'the world's terrorists for wantonly killling and eating them? what is beauty and what is ugliness, anyway. aint it in the eye of the beholder? hahahaa just a thought. good blog keep it up and may you derve deeper into sights and sounds of the globe. congratulations and i am already a fan
ReplyDeleteThis is my first time to be here in your blog.i passed through your topics and iam happy to see tou focus on Africa.Keep it up.i got your blog from Michuzi's blog.JAH BLESS.
ReplyDeleteHello Michuzi,
ReplyDeleteThank you for dropping by Saharan vibe. As for the warthog well what can I say…it’s a famous Idiom and so I thought I better put it to use on this occassion :)))).
Luihamu, asante for the compliments. One of the next postings coming soon is inspired by your blog on reggae and Rastafarians.