This time on Candid Animal Cam, meet the common warthog …
About common warthogs:
- The scientific name for the common warthog is Phacochoerus africanus.
- Warthogs are part of the pig family.
- Their name comes from their facial warts, that can grow as long as 6 inches (15 cm).
- Common warthogs have two pairs of tusks that curve upwards.
- Warthogs live in grasslands, savannas, and woodlands in sub-Saharan Africa.
- Warthogs are omnivores. An omnivore is an animal that eats both plants and food from animals (such as insects, other animal meat, or eggs).
- Warthogs eat mostly plants, including grasses, roots, and seeds. They sometimes eat worms, insects, and occasionally meat from dead animals.
- Predators of the common warthog include lions, leopards, cheetahs, crocodiles, wild dogs, and hyenas.
- Warthogs are fast! They can run up to 30 miles per hour (48 km/h).
- A group of warthogs is called a sounder.
Comprehension questions:
- Why are warthogs sensitive to changes in temperature? How do they cool down when it is hot? How do they stay warm when it is cold?
- How do warthogs escape predators? How do they defend themselves?
- Why do warthogs sometimes have oxpecker birds on their backs?
- What other facts did you learn from the video that are not listed in the About common warthogs section above?
For more information visit Mongabay: https://news.mongabay.com/2021/04/did-you-know-that-a-group-of-warthogs-is-called-a-sounder-candid-animal-cam/
Romi thanks:
Dr. Meredith Palmer and Dr. Justine Becker for sharing their footage with us, and Erin Phillips for providing the audio clip about warthog behavior.
