Warthog

Warthog, wild pig that has two pairs of tusks and two pairs of wartlike protuberances on a long, wide head. Warthogs have stocky bodies with thin legs, and a long, tufted tail. Widespread on the plains and open woodlands of Africa, their diet includes grass, berries, bark, roots, and carrion. They are normally diurnal, spending the night in burrows, but in places with heavy human activity warthogs may become nocturnal. One or two females with young form small groups, which a male may join briefly during mating season; young males form bachelor groups, but older males are solitary. Male offspring separate from their mother after a maximum of 15 months. Female offspring may stay in the mother's herd for their entire lives. Offspring, regardless of gender, are driven off when new offspring are born. The older offspring sometimes return to the mother later. The warthog's tusks are sharp weapons used against such predators as lions; fights with other warthogs are mostly pushing matches, the tusks seldom used.

Scientific classification: The warthog belongs to the family Suidae, of the order Artiodactyla. It is classified as Phacochoerus aethiopicus.

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