Fauna
Mammal · GBIF taxon 7792440

Pig

Sus domesticus

Also known as Domestic Pig, Swine, Hog

Domestic pigs are highly social, intelligent mammals with keen spatial memory, acute hearing, and a sense of smell so refined they can locate subterranean fungi and roots beneath several inches of soil. Sows communicate with their piglets using nuanced vocalizations and establish a stable nursing hierarchy within hours of birth. When living outdoors, they wallow in mud not only to cool their sweat-gland-deficient bodies but also to protect their sensitive skin from sun and parasites.

DomesticatedOmnivoreSocial
Pig reference
Licensed referencekallerna / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Roots and Tubers
  • Fallen Fruits
  • Earthworms
Predators
  • Gray Wolf
  • Cougar
  • Coyote
ThreatsInfectious diseases such as African swine fever, heat stress, and poor welfare conditions
HabitatsAgricultural farms, pastures, and feral populations in mixed woodlands and scrub
Life span12–20 years
Classification
  1. OrderArtiodactyla
  2. FamilySuidae
  3. GenusSus
  4. SpeciesSus domesticus
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskHigh
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is high
Large hogs and nursing sows can charge or bite defensively; give them plenty of space.
Why it is dangerous
Large adult hogs possess powerful jaws and can deliver severe crushing bites or cause impact trauma if they charge.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Recognizable by their stout barrel-shaped bodies, cartilaginous flat snouts, cloven hooves, and prominent ears.
What to do
Maintain a secure barrier when interacting with unfamiliar stock, and never corner an adult boar or maternal sow.
Responsible observation
  • Body Language: Watch for lowered heads, ear pinning, or rapid huffing, which signal stress or territorial aggression.
  • Safe Approach: Move slowly and speak in calm tones, keeping barriers between yourself and breeding boars or sows with litters.
Related species
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