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Bushpig

Mammals

The bushpig, Potamochoerus larvatus, is a member of the pig family that inhabits forests, woodland, riverine vegetation and cultivated areas in East and Southern Africa. Introduced populations are also probably present in Madagascar. Bushpigs are mainly nocturnal. Adults stand 66 to 100 centimetres at the shoulder, and mature boars can reach 150 kilograms, although 60 to 80 kilograms is more common. They resemble the domestic pig and can be identified by pointed, tufted ears and a face mask, and old males develop two warts on the snout. The range runs from Ethiopia and Somalia in the north southwards through the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Mozambique to South Africa. The species is closely related to the red river hog of West Africa, and the two can interbreed, although some authorities dispute this.

Facts
Classification
Diet
Omnivore 1
Population Trend
Increasing 1
Population Trend
Stable 2
System (Realm)
Terrestrial 1
Threats
Other or No Known Threats 1
Relationship to People
Hunted or Fished 1
Relationship to People
Agricultural or Structural Pest 1
Relationship to People
Disease Vector 1
Relationship to People
Invasive or Introduced Species 1
Living or Extinct
Yes 3
Conservation Status
Least Concern 4
Body Size Band
Large 1
Activity Pattern
Nocturnal 1
Lifespan
20 1
Comparison
CITES Appendix
Not Listed 1
Connections

Child Taxon Of

Suidae, Taxa
Source GBIF: GBIF species match: Potamochoerus larvatus

In Biome

Riparian Zone, Biomes
Source Bushpig (Wikipedia)
Wetlands, Biomes
Source Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Potamochoerus larvatus (Animal Diversity Web account)
In the Other Atlases

Found In

Botswana

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Bushpig (Wikipedia)Distribution
Quote, Distribution
It is also known to inhabit Botswana, Eswatini, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Democratic Republic of the Congo

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Bushpig (Wikipedia)Distribution
Quote, Distribution
occurs from Ethiopia and Somalia in the north to southeastern DR Congo and southwards through the Cape and KwaZulu-Natal Provinces, South Africa
Eswatini

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Bushpig (Wikipedia)Distribution
Quote, Distribution
It is also known to inhabit Botswana, Eswatini, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Ethiopia

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Bushpig (Wikipedia)Distribution
Quote, Distribution
occurs from Ethiopia and Somalia in the north to southeastern DR Congo and southwards through the Cape and KwaZulu-Natal Provinces, South Africa
Kenya

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Bushpig (Wikipedia)Distribution
Quote, Distribution
It is also known to inhabit Botswana, Eswatini, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Madagascar

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Bushpig (Wikipedia)Distribution
Quote, Distribution
The bushpig also occurs on Madagascar
Malawi

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Bushpig (Wikipedia)Distribution
Quote, Distribution
It is also known to inhabit Botswana, Eswatini, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Mozambique

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Bushpig (Wikipedia)Distribution
Quote, Distribution
It is also known to inhabit Botswana, Eswatini, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Somalia

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Bushpig (Wikipedia)Distribution
Quote, Distribution
occurs from Ethiopia and Somalia in the north to southeastern DR Congo and southwards through the Cape and KwaZulu-Natal Provinces, South Africa
South Africa

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Bushpig (Wikipedia)Distribution
Quote, Distribution
occurs from Ethiopia and Somalia in the north to southeastern DR Congo and southwards through the Cape and KwaZulu-Natal Provinces, South Africa
Tanzania

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Bushpig (Wikipedia)Distribution
Quote, Distribution
It is also known to inhabit Botswana, Eswatini, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Uganda

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Bushpig (Wikipedia)Distribution
Quote, Distribution
It is also known to inhabit Botswana, Eswatini, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Zambia

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Bushpig (Wikipedia)Distribution
Quote, Distribution
It is also known to inhabit Botswana, Eswatini, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Bushpig (Wikipedia)Distribution
Quote, Distribution
It is also known to inhabit Botswana, Eswatini, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Sources
1. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Potamochoerus larvatus (Animal Diversity Web account)
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology
  • Habitat
    Habitat Regions temperate temperate tropical tropical terrestrial terrestrial
  • Food Habits
    Primary Diet omnivore
  • Behavior
    They are predominantly nocturnal.
  • Conservation Status
    CITES No special status
  • Conservation Status, population trend
    has resulted in an increase in their numbers in some areas
  • Conservation Status, threats
    is not considered threatened over the majority of its known range at the present time
  • Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
    is hunted widely for subsistence purposes
  • Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
    bushpigs are reputed to cause more damage to agriculture than any other species
  • Economic Importance for Humans: Negative, relationship to people
    are regarded as vectors of livestock diseases
  • Other Comments
    As an invasive they are outcompeting a number of the native species and changing species composition.
  • Lifespan/Longevity
    On average, bushpigs live about 20 years in the wild.
  • Physical Description
    Range mass 54 to 115 kg
View the Source
2. Bushpig (Wikipedia)
  • Hunting and control
    the population of bushpigs in many farming areas is stable or growing despite the hunting efforts
  • In Biome: Riparian Zone, Lead
    inhabits forests, woodland, riverine vegetation and cultivated areas in East and Southern Africa
View the Source
3. iNaturalist: iNaturalist taxon record: Potamochoerus larvatus
iNaturalistTaxon record, extinct flag
Quote, Taxon record, extinct flag
"extinct": false
View the Source
4. GBIF: GBIF IUCN Red List category record: Potamochoerus larvatus
GBIFIUCN Red List category record
Quote, IUCN Red List category record
"category": "LEAST_CONCERN"
View the Source
GBIF: GBIF species match: Potamochoerus larvatus
GBIF
  • Child Taxon Of: Suidae, Match record, family
    "family": "Suidae"
  • In Group: Even-Toed Ungulates (Artiodactyla), Match record, order
    "order": "Artiodactyla"
View the Source
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