Warthogs are part of the pig family but with wart-like growths on their large flat heads. They have very little hair except for the mane which starts on the head and goes down the spine. They are native to Africa with two main species: the common warthog and the desert warthog and six sub-species.
On the next two photos below you can see one very curious warthog wanting to see who the new residents are.
You can find them on farms running wild and close to water holes in the savannah areas. They are grazers and not ferocious at all, are herbivores spending most of their day looking for food, mainly roots, berries, bulbs and then the occasional insects, bugs and worms when there is a shortage due to drought, they are very adaptable and can go for months without water. Warthogs kneel on their front knees with calloused pads while eating.
Warthogs can reach a height of up to70cm, females weighing 40-80kg and males 55-90kg. They have two pairs of tusks, the upper curving tusks for digging and lower shorter razor-sharp ones for fighting. They reach sexual maturity at 18 months and breed between September to December. The female gives birth to 1-8 piglets at a time, weighing about 600g at birth and the gestation period is 3-6 months. They live for about 15 years.
You can find them in groups of up to 30 pigs called. The females are very sociable and the males’ territorial. Family grouping consists of adult saws and their young, a bachelors group with only young males and sometimes you will come across a solitary boar.
They like taking over barrows of other animals instead of digging their own. They roll in mud to cool down during hot conditions and snug close together during colder temperatures.
Predators like lions, leopards, cheetahs, wild dogs, crocodiles and birds of prey feed on them. they are quite fast with a speed of 35km/h which enables them to sometimes out run their predators. Oxpeckers ride on their backs to eat the insects on their bodies but they also allow mongoose and monkeys to groom them and remove the ticks.
What a wonderful post on Warthogs! Very informative information. Their tucks are so big and scary but they seem like very nice animals. I hope you are well and doing fine. Take care! :D
Thank you cabbagepatch. These were very tame, the piglets came to join us on the veranda (while the adults were watching) for breakfast and dinner every day. We gave them apples and wild bird seed. You must enjoy a fabulous weekend!!
Great stuff dude, if you guys like this kind of stuff, please check out my profile, I have a few pictures of African animals, mainly birds, but I am working on adding more and more pictures, since photography is a passion of mine.
Cute beasts that in a way resemble boars. I was surprised that they are that curious and not ferocious at all. Those tusks certainly look dangerous to me. And the most surprising part... why do they kneel when eating? Strange turn in evolution... as in an event of a predator attack it takes extra time to stand up and start running no matter how fast they can do it.
Thank you bescouted. They kneel to graze because their necks are very short.
I get the reason kind of, but i do not get the part why evolution made their necks so short. There has to be a good reason for that :) In nature things do not happen just because :)
The face looks seriously mean. I think there use to be a warplane name after this.
that is correct ace108, the A10 warthog.
Ah yes. So, my memory still OK. Thanks for this.
Heel interessant!
I lov your pictures...
Thank you tefa. I love these animals.
Your post seemed like my impossible
Thank you adviser. I could not believe how cheeky this warthog was. He wanted to see everything that was going on in the flat.
great foto. i like that.
Great story @crazymumzysa, great photo and exciting adventure :)
Thank you serkagan. It is always great fun to pay the bushveld a visit.
amazing pictures ;)
they look really cute :)
Thank you reconnectnature. We had these guests joining us for breakfast and dinner.
oh wow that is really cool ;)
would love to have such guests :D
Waw.. Amazing
Amazing photos really like it and upvoted!
@crazymumzysa!
Thanks for sharing wonderful stuff. I swear I'm reading and watching about this animal 1st time in my life. Totally unique STUFF. Waiting for your next post anxiously! Upvoted & Resteemd. Thanks!
Nice post, I love these animals.
wow.....Great story
They look cute even with their two pairs of tusks. :)I wonder how many enemies they have in Africa who want to eat them and one of them is Human. Feel sorry for them :(
increible, gracias por compartir, muy buenas fotos!
awesome !
Great photos!!
Please follow me and upvote my posts if you like.
it is looks a bit scary
I liked reading your post and learning more about warthogs :)
Thanks for sharing.
Wow!! Can't believe how tame they are!! You going to make it to Steem Saturday??
I see you not using teamsouthafrica as one of your tags - use it on your future posts so Team South Africa members can find your posts 😜
Thank you cheeto.blue. Unfortunately, I will not be able to make it but I am sending my beasts to take notes. I do not use the teamsouthafrica tag because I am not a member. Enjoy Steem Saturday!!
And who are your "beast"?? 😉
You are a member @crazymumzysa - so please feel free to use the tag ☺️👍🏻
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I did not know about the monkeys and mongoose, that is interesting thanks @crazymumzysa
I heard the mothers lick the cheek tufts to stand out more, making them appear older and fiercer to would be attackers, how true that is I am not sure.
Omg wht type of animal is this
It is a warthog, it says so right at the top of the page
Really interesting, i learned something new 👌thanks for sharing
Amazing animal, never even heard of it if I am to be honest. I thought animals like that only exist in World of Warcraft :P Great photos :)
Upvote and resteem.