Peccaries, also known as skunk pigs or javelinas, are medium-sized, pig-like mammals with a distinctive, flexible snout that ends in a round, cartilaginous disk. Although they resemble pigs (family Suidae), peccaries belong to a separate family, Tayassuidae, and differ in several anatomical features. For instance, while pigs have large, upright ears, peccaries have smaller, rounded ones. Additionally, peccaries have short, straight tusks, in contrast to the long, curved tusks of pigs.
These mammals originated in North America and are currently found in Central and South America, southwestern regions of North America, and Trinidad. They are omnivores that feed on plants, like cacti, insects, small vertebrates, worms, fungi, and even carrion.
Currently, there are only 3 species of peccaries, the white-lipped, Chacoan, and the collared peccary, under 3 separate genera.
On average, peccaries measure between 2 ft 11 in and 4 ft 3 in (90 and 130 cm) in length and weigh around 44 to 88 lb (20 to 40 kg).
These mammals resemble pigs due to their large heads and circular snouts but differ in several key features, including their ears, teeth, and tails.
They typically have dark and coarse body hair, with the collared peccary distinguished from the other two species by a pale stripe around its neck. The white-lipped peccary, as the name suggests, has a notable white area around the mouth.
Their eyes and ears are small relative to their head, and the circular snout culminates in a cartilaginous disc. Like pigs, they have two middle digits that are primarily used for walking, while the other toes may be absent.
Peccaries get their name from the Carib word pakira or paquira, while their family name, Tayassuidae, has its roots in the Portuguese word tajaçu.
Three extant species of peccaries are divided into three different genera: Tayassu, Catagonus, and Dicotyles.
A fourth species, the giant peccary (Dicotyles maximus), was discovered in the year 2000 in the Brazilian Amazon and north Bolivia by Dutch biologist Marc van Roosmalen. It is gray in color, collarless, and, unlike other peccary species, lives in pairs. However, its identity as a separate species remains uncertain, and the IUCN considers it a synonym for the collared peccary.
These mammals are believed to have first appeared in North America during the Miocene Epoch (around 23 to 5 million years ago). The earliest undisputed peccary fossils belong to the Early Miocene, including genera like Perchoerus. Other extinct genera from this period include Floridachoerus, Aptenohyus, Mylohyus, Prosthennops, and Skinnerhyus.
Around 3 million years ago, with the formation of the Isthmus of Panama during the Great American Interchange, early peccaries migrated from North to South America, along with llamas and tapirs.
However, some species, including those in the genera Mylohyus and Platygonus, stayed in North America till they went extinct around 12,000 years ago at the end of the Pleistocene Epoch.
Currently, the Americas are home to all three species of peccaries. They are distributed across Central and South America, southwestern regions of North America, and Trinidad in the Caribbean.
Although most artiodactyls are herbivores, peccaries (and even pigs) are omnivores and feed on a variety of food items. They consume almost every plant part, including roots, seeds, and fruit, and are sometimes found to feed on worms, grubs, small vertebrates, fungi, eggs, and carrion.
Peccaries are foregut fermenters, compared to pigs, which are hindgut fermenters. Their foregut fermentation by the three-chambered stomach is an indication of their convergent evolution from the ruminants.
These mammals are social and live in herds consisting of both males and females of all ages. White-lipped peccaries often form herds of up to 400 individuals, whereas Chacoan peccaries live in smaller groups of about 2 to 20, and the collared peccary forms groups of 6 to 50 individuals.
While traveling, they form small groups of 6 to 9 individuals called a squadron. Living in groups helps these animals defend their territories from predators, besides keeping themselves warm. However, based on their need, for instance, during foraging, these groups undergo temporary fission or fusion.
The members of a group communicate through various vocalizations, like grunts and chattering of the teeth. They also scent-mark their territories (ranging from 75 to 700 acres) using secretions from scent glands beneath their eyes and on their backs. Moreover, they scent-mark themselves by rubbing against each other’s dorsal scent glands so that they can easily recognize their group members by the pungent odor.
In response to danger, these animals usually run for cover, taking refuge in caves, burrows, or under vegetation. Some white-lipped peccaries, however, have been found to counterattack their enemies by using alarm calls and clashing their teeth violently.
The three extant species have varied lifespans (both in the wild and captivity).
| Species | In Wild | In Captivity |
|---|---|---|
| White-lipped peccary | Around 13 years | Up to 28 years |
| Collared peccary | About 7 years | Up to 31 years |
| Chacoan peccary | Around 9 years | Up to 18 years |
Both male and female peccaries mate with multiple partners by the time they are around two years old. Following a gestation period of about 20 to 23 weeks, the female gives birth to one or two precocial offspring.
A young peccary resembles a miniature adult and usually runs around within a few hours of its birth. Initially, it suckles frequently but later switches to feeding on solid food. It hops around, running and leaping in circles, sometimes play-biting other young.
Their natural predators include mountain lions, jaguars, puma, and coyotes. It is believed that collared peccaries are preyed upon by ocelots and American crocodiles as well. Sometimes, humans also consume their meat.
The upper and lower canines of peccaries interlock, which helps stabilize their jaws and improve the bite force necessary to crack open hard seeds like palm nuts.
The IUCN Red List classifies the Chacoan peccary as Endangered (EN), the white-lipped peccary as Vulnerable (VU), and the collared peccary as Least Concern (LC). CITES lists the Chacoan peccary in Appendix I, while the white-lipped and collared peccaries fall under Appendix II.
The evident decline in the number of peccaries can be attributed to hunting and illegal trade of these animals for their skin and meat. Other threats include habitat loss and fragmentation due to increased agricultural developments and livestock overgrazing.
Welcome to AnimalFact - your go-to source for fascinating insights into the amazing world of animals!
