CC BY-SA 4.0 · Charles J. Sharp · source
Quick Facts
- Type
- Mammal
- Size
- Body 90–150 cm long, 60–85 cm tall at the shoulder
- Weight
- 45–150 kg
- Habitat
- Grassland, savanna and open woodland of sub-Saharan Africa
- Diet
- Omnivore — mainly grass and roots, plus berries, bark and occasional carrion
- Active Time
- Diurnal
- Lifespan
- Around 7–15 years in the wild
Field Notes
- Warthogs often kneel on their padded wrists to graze short grass, a posture few other large mammals adopt.
- They shelter in burrows dug by aardvarks, backing in so their sharp tusks face the entrance to deter predators.
- When alarmed they sprint away with their tufted tails held straight up like little flags.
About the Common Warthog
The common warthog is a wild member of the pig family found across the grasslands and savannas of sub-Saharan Africa. Named for the pairs of fleshy 'warts' on its face, it is instantly recognisable by its flat head, upward-curving tusks, and a thin tufted tail held bolt upright when it trots away. Warthogs graze on their wrists, kneeling to crop short grass, and dig for roots and bulbs with their tough snout. They shelter in burrows dug by other animals, reversing in so their tusks face any intruder. Though they look fearsome, they prefer to flee predators at surprising speed.
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