Warthog Flashcards
What is the range and habitat of the warthog?
It is found in the savannas and grassland of central Africa.
How does the warthog get its name?
The wart-like protrusions on its head.
What does a warthog use its head lumps for?
They are fat reserves and are used as defense when males fight.
What do the native words for warthog often mean?
Pig of the plains.
What is the conservation status of the warthog?
Least concern.
How many subspecies of warthog are there?
4
How long can a warthog get?
5 feet
How much can a male warthog weigh?
300 pounds
Are female warthogs smaller than males?
Yes.
Why are the lower tusks of the warthog razor sharp?
They constantly rub against the upper tusks every time the warthog opens or closes its mouth.
How long are the upper canine teeth of a warthog?
10 inches
What does a warthog use its tusks for?
Digging, fighting, and defending against predators.
True or false? Warthog teeth are extremely sharp and can cause severe wounds.
True.
What is a warthog tusk made out of?
Ivory.
What do people use warthog tusks for?
Carving.
True or false? Unlike babirusas, warthog teeth stop growing at a certain length.
False. They grow continuously.
Why are common warthogs so susceptible to heat?
They have very coarse hair.
What does the warthog eat?
Plants, berries, fruits, eggs, and insects.
What is the only species of pig that has adapted to grazing?
The warthog.
Besides their tusks, what else do warthogs use to dig?
Their feet and nose.
While warthogs frequently dig their own burrows, what animal will they also take abandoned burrows from?
Aardvarks.
What will warthogs do when it gets hot?
They wallow in mud and hide in their burrows.
What will warthogs do when it gets cool?
They huddle together.
What is the warthog’s primary defense?
It will run away.
What are some predators of the warthog?
Lions, leopards, cheetahs, crocodiles, and hyenas.
True or false? Mother warthogs are very defensive of their piglets and will attack any threat.
True.
What species has a cleaning symbiosis with the warthog?
The mongoose.
What does the mongoose do to clean the warthog?
It eats the ticks off of it.
Are warthogs territorial?
No.
What is a group of warthogs called?
A sounder.
What is a sounder composed of?
A group of female warthogs and her young or a group of young bachelor male warthogs.
True or false? Warthogs of both sexes will scent mark things.
True.
What do warthogs use tusk marking for?
Courtship and to establish status.
How does a male warthog court a female?
He will wait for her to come out of her burrow, and then show of his strength or dominance for her.
In warthog mating, what is a “staying tactic” versus a “roaming tactic”?
A staying tactic involves a male boar hanging around receptive females and protecting them. A roaming tactic involves males actively seeking out females and then competing for them.
What is the gestation period of a warthog?
6 months.
What is a typical warthog litter size?
2 - 4 piglets
What will female warthogs do if they lose their litter?
They will nurse foster piglets.
What is the current population of warthogs?
250,000
What are the two main threats to the warthog?
Drought/climate change and hunting.
what is alloparenting?
When individuals other than the biological parents play a role in raising the young one.
Are adult male warthogs solitary?
Yes.
What unusual movement will warthogs make when they are feeding?
They will bend their legs and walk around on their wrists.
How does a warthog sit in its burrow?
It will sit with its head pointed toward the exit, allowing it to easily escape if disturbed.
How long does a warthog live?
15 years
