The red river hog, Potamochoerus porcus, also called the bushpig, is a wild member of the pig family living in Africa, mostly in the Guinean and Congolian forests. It is rarely seen away from rainforest and generally prefers areas near rivers or swamps. It has striking orange to reddish-brown fur, black legs and a tufted white stripe along the spine, and its entire body is covered in hair. Adults weigh 45 to 115 kilograms. It is omnivorous and eats mainly roots, bulbs and tubers, plus fruit, seeds, fungi, eggs, insects and small animals, and it can damage crops such as cassava and yams. Groups of six to ten, with one adult male, are typical. It is often active by day but primarily nocturnal or crepuscular. Leopards are a common threat, and the animals probably live about fifteen years in the wild.
Facts
Classification
Population Trend System (Realm) ThreatsBiological Resource Use 2 Relationship to People Relationship to PeopleAgricultural or Structural Pest 1 Relationship to People Living or Extinct Conservation Status Body Size Band Activity Pattern Activity Pattern Activity Pattern Connections
Child Taxon Of
Suidae, Taxa Source GBIF: GBIF species match: Potamochoerus porcus
In Biome
Source Red river hog (Wikipedia)
Source Red river hog (Wikipedia)
Source Red river hog (Wikipedia)
In Ecosystem
Source Red river hog (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Red river hog (Wikipedia)Distribution and habitatQuote, Distribution and habitat
The species' distribution ranges from the Congo area and Gambia to the eastern Congo, southwards to the Kasai and the Congo River.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Red river hog (Wikipedia)Distribution and habitatQuote, Distribution and habitat
The species' distribution ranges from the Congo area and Gambia to the eastern Congo, southwards to the Kasai and the Congo River.
Sources
1. Red river hog (Wikipedia)
Distribution and habitat
The red river hog lives in rainforests, wet dense savannas, and forested valleys, and near rivers, lakes, and marshes.
Behaviour
The species is omnivorous, eating mainly roots, bulbs, and tubers
Behaviour, activity pattern
Red river hogs are often active during the day, but are primarily nocturnal or crepuscular.
Behaviour, activity pattern (2)
Red river hogs are often active during the day
Behaviour, relationship to people
They can cause damage to agricultural crops, such as cassava and yams.
Description
Adults weigh 45 to 115 kg (99 to 254 lb)
In Ecosystem: Congo Basin Rainforest, Lead
with most of its distribution in the Guinean and Congolian forests
View the Source2. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Potamochoerus porcus (Animal Diversity Web account)
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of ZoologyConservation Status
Numbers of Potamochoerus porcus are on the rise
Conservation Status, threats
bush pigs are hunted in Africa
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
can be carriers of diseases, such as African Swine Fever
View the Source 3. iNaturalist: iNaturalist taxon record: Potamochoerus porcus
iNaturalistTaxon record, extinct flagQuote, Taxon record, extinct flag
"extinct": false
View the Source 4. GBIF: GBIF IUCN Red List category record: Potamochoerus porcus
GBIFIUCN Red List category recordQuote, IUCN Red List category record
"category": "LEAST_CONCERN"
View the Source 5. Human Ageing Genomic Resources, University of Liverpool: AnAge entry for Potamochoerus_porcus
Human Ageing Genomic Resources, University of LiverpoolLifespan, ageing, and relevant traitsQuote, Lifespan, ageing, and relevant traits
Maximum longevity 22 years (captivity)
View the Source GBIF: GBIF species match: Potamochoerus porcus
GBIFChild Taxon Of: Suidae, Match record, family
"family": "Suidae"
In Group: Even-Toed Ungulates (Artiodactyla), Match record, order
"order": "Artiodactyla"
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