Warthog vs Wild Boar: What's the Difference?
Both are wild pigs; the warthog is African, with two pairs of upward-curving tusks. The warthog is active by day; the wild boar is active at night.
Common questions
Is a warthog a pig?
Yes. The warthog is a wild pig of the grasslands and savannas of sub-Saharan Africa, though not a domestic pig.
Is a warthog a wild boar?
No. Both are wild pigs, but the wild boar (Sus scrofa) is the wild pig of Eurasia and North Africa, while the warthog (Phacochoerus africanus) is African and has two pairs of upward-curving tusks.
Quick answers
They differ on 1 of the 8 quick answers: awake when.
| Question | Warthog | Wild boar |
|---|---|---|
| What is it? | Mammal | Mammal |
| Carnivore? | Omnivore | Omnivore |
| Dangerous? | Can be | Can be |
| Domesticated? | No | No |
| Awake when? differs | Daytime | Night |
| Hibernates? | No | No |
| Kept as a pet? | No | No |
| Do people eat it? | Yes | Yes |
At a glance
| Question | Warthog | Wild boar |
|---|---|---|
| Found in differs | Africa | Europe, Asia, Africa |
| Habitat differs | Grassland, Scrub | Forest, Farmland, Wetland, Grassland |
| Size differs | Medium | Large |
| Length differs | 0.9–1.5 m | 153–240 cm |
| Weight differs | 45–150 kg | 66–272 kg |
| Legs | 4 | 4 |
| Covered in | Bristles | Bristles |
| Lives | In groups | In groups |
| Lives for differs | 12–18 years | 10–14 years |
| Can fly | No | No |
| Swims | Yes | Yes |
| Lays eggs | No | No |
About each
Warthog
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.
Everything on the warthog page
Wild boar
The wild pig of Eurasia and North Africa, now one of the widest-ranging mammals in the world after introductions to the Americas and Oceania. Females and young live in family groups.
Everything on the wild boar page
Sources
Last reviewed . The answers and notes come from each animal's own page, where every source is listed.
How each answer is decided: How we answer. More look-alikes: Commonly confused animals.