Mammal · GBIF taxon 2441212
Warthog
Phacochoerus africanusAlso known as Common Warthog, African Warthog, Savannah Warthog
Common warthogs are resilient African wild pigs easily recognized by their facial warts, curved tusks, and the comical habit of running with their tails held straight up like antennae. They are diurnal grazers that frequently kneel on padded wrists to feed on short grasses, roots, and bulbs. At night, they seek refuge in abandoned aardvark burrows, backing in tail-first to defend the entrance with their formidable tusks.
DiurnalSavannaTusked
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Grasses
- Roots and tubers
- Bulbs
Predators
- Lions
- Leopards
- Spotted hyenas
ThreatsHabitat loss, hunting for bushmeat, drought, and disease outbreaks like African swine fever
HabitatsSavannas, open grasslands, woodlands, and shrublands
Life span12 to 15 years in the wild
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderArtiodactyla
- FamilySuidae
- GenusPhacochoerus
- SpeciesPhacochoerus africanus
Native
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Can charge and inflict severe wounds with sharp tusks; observe from a safe distance inside a vehicle.
Responsible observation
- Vehicle Observation: Watch them from safari vehicles, as they are accustomed to cars but flee if approached on foot.
- Burrow Awareness: Avoid walking near active aardvark holes where startled warthogs might bolt out blindly.
- Tail Signal: Look for their upright tails, which act as visual beacons for piglets following through tall grass.
Habitat Provider no rights reserved, uploaded by Kelly Abram · cc0
Predator "African Lion" by Mathias Appel is marked with CC0 1.0. To view the terms, visit https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/. · cc0
Symbiont Gerrie van Vuuren / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative jeanpaulboerekamps / CC0 · cc0
Close Relative (c) Bernard DUPONT, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
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