Peccaries
Peccaries
Tayassuidae
The Tough, Social Relatives of Pigs: Peccaries (Tayassuidae) are medium-sized, pig-like mammals native to the Americas, from the southwestern United States through Central America to Argentina. Though they resemble true pigs, peccaries belong to a separate family and are uniquely adapted to life in a variety of habitats, including deserts, forests, and grasslands. There are three living species of peccaries: the Collared Peccary (Pecari tajacu), the White-lipped Peccary (Tayassu pecari), and the Chacoan Peccary (Catagonus wagneri). They typically measure 90–140 cm (35–55 in) in body length and weigh between 16–40 kg (35–88 lbs). Peccaries have coarse, bristly fur, a large head with a mobile snout, and small tusks that point downward, unlike those of true pigs. Peccaries are highly social animals, often living in groups ranging from small family units to herds of over 100 individuals, especially in the case of White-lipped Peccaries. Group living provides protection against predators like jaguars, pumas, and large snakes. They communicate using grunts, growls, and a scent gland located on their back for marking territory and recognizing group members. Primarily herbivorous, peccaries feed on roots, fruits, seeds, cacti, and occasionally small animals or insects. Their tough snouts and strong jaws help them access hard-shelled nuts or prickly cactus pads. Although adaptable, peccaries face threats from habitat destruction, hunting, and fragmentation of their populations. The Chacoan Peccary, once thought extinct, remains one of the most endangered species, surviving in the dry forests of the Gran Chaco.