Warthogs
| Warthogs | ||||||||||||
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(Actual) warthog ( Phacochoerus africanus ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Phacochoerus | ||||||||||||
| F. Cuvier , 1817 |
The warthogs ( Phacochoerus ) are a genus of the real pigs (Suidae) family that is native to large parts of Africa . A distinction is usually made between two types today: that
- (Actual) warthog ( Phacochoerus africanus ) and that
- Desert warthog ( Phacochoerus aethiopicus ).
The (actual) warthog is the better known and more widespread species, it is native to almost all of Africa south of the Sahara. The desert warthog is considered rarer. It was found in two subspecies in southern and eastern Africa, but the South African population has become extinct.
In the past it was assumed that there was only one species of warthog. However, recent research suggests that there are two different types . The main differences between the two species are the structure of the skull and teeth.
For more information, see the two articles.
literature
- Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World. Volume 1. 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD et al. 1999, ISBN 0-8018-5789-9 , pp. 61-64.
- DE Wilson & DM Reeder: Mammal Species of the World . Johns Hopkins University Press, 2005. ISBN 0-8018-8221-4
