Warthog hunts in South Africa with South African Hunting Safaris.

Warthog
(Phacochoerus aethiopicus)

The warthog is found is most open country of Africa south of the Sahara. This area includes the savannah of Ghana, Somalia, and South Africa.

Warthogs are found in grasslands and sparse forests. Warthogs prefer the open plains of the savannah, with a nearby water source for drinking and wallowing. For shelter they use aardvark burrows, which they back into in order to defend themselves from predators, or holes among rocks.

The warthog weighs up to 150kg, has long legs, a large shovel-shaped head, and a broad muzzle that bears tusks derived from the canine teeth. Warthogs have a body length ranging from 3 1/2 ft.-4 1/2 ft. and usually stand about 30 inches at the shoulder. Females are smaller in size than the males, with shorter tusks. The sexes are also differentiated by the two wart-like protuberances on either side of the male's head. These two skin growths have no bony support or core, and it has been speculated that they serve to cushion the blows involved in males' ritual battles. The warthog has a sparse, bristly coat, with a long mane running to the middle of the back, and a few whiskers on the lower jaw. The tail of the animal is 13-19 inches long and is thin and tufted at the end. Warthogs carry their tails high and straight when running. The skin of the warthog resembles slate or clay in colour and is very thick, often enabling the animal to escape being severely wounded. The tusks of the warthog are the feature most striking in appearance. These tusks protrude from both upper and lower jaw. The shorter tusks of the lower jaw are used as sharp weapons, while those of the upper jaw curve upward and inward in a semicircle. The upper tusks attain a length of more than 60 cm in some older males.

Generally gregarious animals, warthogs live in family groups in a territory that may be shared by more than one family. The population is divided into clans, each consisting of several bands and associated lone animals. Most bands (also called "sounders") contain 4-6 individuals, although groups of up to 40 have been reported. The members of these groups tend to have lasting bonds with one another, especially the females. Adult males are usually solitary, but join female groups briefly for mating. At these times, males engage in highly ritualised battles. In these battles the upper tusks are used as weapons, so as not to seriously injure one another. Warthogs are not territorial, but sometimes competition for resources and waterholes occurs. Warthogs communicate through vocalizations including grunts, growls, snorts, and squeals. These calls are used for greeting, contact maintenance, threats, warnings, and submissions.

Unlike most wild pigs, warthogs are active in daylight. They may become nocturnal where they are hunted by humans. They can run as fast as 55km/h (35 m/h). Their eyesight is poor but their sense of smell and hearing are acute.

Warthogs graze on short grasses, feed on fruits and carrion, and also dig up bulbs, roots, and tubers. The vast bulk of the warthog's diet is made up of grasses. They sometimes eat carrion and bark from trees. Warthogs generally feed while kneeling. Tusks are not used for foraging, but rather for defence.