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Giant forest hog
Order : Artiodactyla
Family : Suidae
Subfamily : Suinae
Species : Hylochoerus meinertzhageni
The Giant forest hog (Hylochoerus meinertzhageni) is the largest pig of the 16 pig species (family Suidae) in the world. The length of adults ranges from 130-210 cm, their height from 75-110 cm and they can weigh between 180-275 kg. They live in scattered populations in the rainforests of West and Central Africa. They are shy, nocturnal creatures, which feed on grass and do not dig with their snouts for food like other wild pigs. 'Wallowing', rolling through the mud, is a favourite activity of them. The male is responsible for defending the group and does so very aggressively. Giant forest hogs, like other pigs practice 'coprophagy', which means they consume feces of other animals, because they contain amounts of semi-digested food. Their main predators are the leopard and the hyena. Interesting fact: In the Congo, eating a giant forest hog is believed to bring misfortune.
Picture of the Giant forest hog by S. Fimpel, licensed under GFDL
The Giant forest hog is listed as Least Concern (LR/lc), lowest risk. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category, on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Namings for the giant forest hog
The females are called 'sow' and males 'boar'. A giant forest hog group is called a 'drift or herd'.Countries
Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Democratic Republic of the, Congo, Republic of the, Cote d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda
Facts about the giant forest hog
The giant forest hog is a more typical resident of dense tropical and mountain forests in central Africa.
Giant Forest Hog Please click on the blue ball to see animals: The giant forest hog is the largest of the eight
Here also are herds of Topi, Buffalo and Uganda Kob, and Giant Forest Hogs are not rare.
Hylochoerus meinertzhageni is really the red squirrel.
The legendary giant forest hog is visible roaming the bush.
There are also about six kinds of dwarf antelope, ranging from the royal antelope to the yellow-backed duiker; the giant forest hog is widespread (although nowhere common), and the red river hog is locally plentiful. (Full text)
Bongos (and giant forest hogs) are frequently poisoned by the toxic bamboo, unaware of the deadly changes in the plant. (Full text)
which has one of the highest concentrations of hippo and often elephant and other wildlife come to the water’s edge to drink – leopard is often seen on the Mweya Peninsula and Giant Forest Hog is frequently seen in this park. (Full text)
Chapter 4 WildlifeAll African wild porcines - warthogs, bush pigs and giant forest hogs - are susceptible to infection but completely resistant to the pathogenic effects of the virus. (Full text)
Giant forest hogs are fairly common in and near the forested areas, and lion and leopard are by no means rare. (Full text)
Introduction The 'giant' forest hog, Hylochoerus meinertzhageni, is one of the most recently (Full text)
The warthog's larger cousins, the giant forest hogs, are much more shy and come out to feed mainly at night. (Full text)
Giant Forest Hogs are fairly common in and near the forested areas as well as Lion and Leopard. (Full text)
Unlike some other wild pigs which are nearly hairless, the giant forest hog is covered in dark black hair. (Full text)
Giant forest hogs are grey-skinned animals, covered in long, black, coarse fur. (Full text)
· In the Congo, eating a giant forest hog is believed to bring misfortune. (Full text)
Giant forest hogs are found mainly in humid, forested areas of central Africa. (Full text)