A wild pig of the grasslands and savannas of sub-Saharan Africa, with two pairs of upward-curving tusks. The short lower pair is kept razor-sharp by rubbing against the upper pair.
Quick answers
What is it?Mammal
Carnivore?Omnivore
Dangerous?Can be
Warthogs use their razor-sharp lower tusks in fights and to defend themselves against predators.
Domesticated?No
Awake when?Daytime
Hibernates?No
Kept as a pet?No
Do people eat it?Yes
Valued for its meat, both locally and in city markets, and popular on game ranches.
At a glance
Found inAfrica
HabitatGrassland, Scrub
ColoursGrey, Brown
SizeMedium
Length0.9–1.5 m
Weight45–150 kg
Legs4
Covered inBristles
Lives ingroups
Lives for12–18 years
Can swim
In the wild
- Where it lives
- Sub-Saharan Africa.
- What it eats
- Grasses, bulbs and roots, dug up with its snout and feet.
Did you know
Reverses into its burrow so it can come out tusks first.
When feeding it often kneels on its front wrists, which have calloused pads from before birth.
Often confused with
- Wild boar
Both are wild pigs; the warthog is African, with two pairs of upward-curving tusks.
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