The Desert Warthog Garrett Field

Classification  The desert warthog’s animal kingdom belongs to the Animalia kingdom which is the taxonomic kingdom comprising of all animals to include even human beings  The desert warthog’s phylum is Chordata.  The animal’s class is Mammalia and order is Artiodactyla.  The desert warthog’s family genus is Suidae and species is P. Aethiopicus.

Physical Characteristics  The size of the desert warthog is estimated to be in the range between 125 and 250 pounds because the males weigh a lot more than the females. Their width is approximately 30 inches at the shoulder and they stand about 3-4 feet high.  Another interesting discovery is that they have rather long tails that can reach up to almost 20 inches long.

Male VS Female

Distribution  The desert warthog species is very widespread in several countries but mostly concentrated in several South African countries such as Eritrea, Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia, and Djibouti.  Very little research has been conducted to get an accurate count on the population numbers of the desert warthog mainly because most of them can only be located mostly in remote villages in some of these desolate countries.

Map of Distribution The desert warthog species is very widespread in several countries but mostly concentrated in several South African countries such as Eritrea, Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia, and Djibouti.

Habitat  The desert warthogs try to live in flat, moist and arid savannas.  They like a place with an abundance of grass and weeds along with a place where there aren’t any other warthog families living there.  Another interesting thing that I found was that sometimes more than one family can share a watering hole.

African Savanna Grassy Plain

 At this time, the classification is listed as “least concern” in the IUCN Red List.  Sometimes over-grazing by domestic livestock and competition for water with humans and those domestic livestock could be affecting the populations of the desert warthogs in some regions but these estimates are subject to ongoing evaluations. Conservation Status

Reproduction Characteristics  When it comes to the size differences between male and female desert warthogs, males can weigh about pounds more than a female.  Male warthogs usually have warts below their eyes and also between their tusks.  The male warthog has been known to join other groups during breeding season but afterwards will leave the groups until the next season.

Longevity and Mortality  Other than some estimates that put the desert warthog’s longevity and mortality at about 15 years, more research needs to be done in order to get more accurate information.  Desert warthog’s don’t hibernate but are known to make burrows like other animals that actually hibernate but that this is only for protection against predators and to protect their young.

 “The main dietary habits of the desert warthog are that they are mainly grazers who eat grass but will eat grubs by diffing with their tusks.” (Janssen)  They prefer small grass and do so easily on their knees which appear to be designed specifically for those movements. Seasonal Patterns and Diet

Predator and Human relationships  The desert warthog’s main predators are lions and leopards. They defend themselves primarily by fleeing and hiding in their holes for sometimes a long period of time.  Ever since humans started farming huge amounts of land in the plains of Africa, these animals have found ways to raid these farms plants and food sources. It is because of this that farmers have been forced to kill them in order to protect their crops and livelihoods.

 Very little research has been conducted to get an accurate count on the population numbers of the desert warthog mainly because most of them can only be located mostly in remote villages in some of these desolate countries.  “The pelage is coarse and usually very sparse, except for a prominent dorsal crest of long bristles.” (Janssen) Normally in young animals especially, there is often a fringe of white hairs on their cheeks. “Another prominent pelage is that their knees are padded with a heavy skin which allows them to get on their knees and do such things as graze small grass a bit easier.” (Janssen) Fun Facts

VIDEO

Works Cited Janssen, Paul. "Warthog." Out of Africa. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Feb Meijaard, E., J. P. D'Huart, and W. L. Oliver. "LC - Desert Warthog." Ed. D. E. Wilson and R. A. Mittermeier. Wild Pig Specialist Group. Lynx Edicions, Web. 26 Feb Stoddart, D. M. "Aardvark and Pigs." A Macmillan Illustrated Encyclopedia Animals: Mammals. Ed. Philip Whitfield. Vol. One. New York: Macmillan Library Reference USA, Print. "Warthog." Wildlife of the World. Ed. Deborah Evans. Vol. 12. North Bellmore: Marshall Cavendish, Print.