Order: Artiodactyla Family:
Suidae
Scientific name: Babyrousa babyrussa U.S.
common name: Babirusa
Status in the wild: Listed as vulnerable by IUCN,
endangered by USDI, and is on Appendix 1 of CITES.
Major threats: Habitat loss and excessive
hunting
Geographic range currently:
Sulawesi, Togian, Sula and Buru islands (Buru and Sulu as a result of human
introduction
Habitat:
Tropical forest, canebrakes, shores of rivers and lakes
Circadian cycle:
Diurnal, although activity is concentrated in the morning
Size
General range male female birth
Head to rump length: 875-1065 mm
Tail length: 275-320 mm
Head & tail length: 1150-1385 mm
Shoulder height: 650-800 mm
Weight: 43-100 kg
Sexual dimorphism: Males are larger than females, and have tusks that protrude through
the snout up to 310 mm in length.
Birthing season: Early
months of the year
Gestation period: 150-158 days
Estrous cycle: 28-42
days, estrus lasts 2-3 days
Monestrus/polyestrus: Polyestrous
Number of mammae: Two pair
Interbirth interval: Can produce two litters
annually
Sexual maturity: Captives
at 5-10 months; in the wild by one year of age
Other information: Young are not striped as in
most other pigs.
Rearing and
young
Young called: Piglets
Number of young (range): One to three
Condition of young: Precocial
First take solids:
3-10 days
Weaned: 6-8 months
General
Life expectancy: Up to 24 years in
captivity.
Social structure: Live
in a variety of situations; may travel in small, mixed groups of around eight.
Single males may travel alone; small groups of
bachelors are possible. Matriarchal
groups with young are also possible. They are not territorial.
Unique behavior(s): The babirusa is a swift
runner as well as a good swimmer, and has even been recorded swimming to
off-shore islands. Mud wallowing is
a
frequently recorded activity, while rooting with the snout - an action commonly
seen in other pigs - is very uncommon.
Captive
individuals have been noted making nests of
straw to rest in. Males must sharpen their lower tusks by rubbing them on trees,
since they
do not self-sharpen against the upper canines
as in other pigs. These lower canines
are used in an offensive manner, while the curled
upper
tusks probably act as a defensive shield.
These long teeth are fairly brittle and are easily broken off.
Senses: Excellent
sense of smell and hearing
Coat & coloration: The skin is brownish gray and
sparsely covered with short whitish gray to yellowish hairs.
Dental Formula: 2/3 I, 1/1 C, 2/2 PM, 3/3 M
= 34 total
Diet: Foliage, fallen fruit, fungi,
insect larvae, nuts, and grass.
Sources
Nowak, Ronald M. (ed.) 1999. Walker’s
Mammals of the World Vol. 2 (6th edition)..The
John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore and London. Macdonald, David (ed.). 1987. The
Encyclopedia of Mammals. Facts on
File Publications, New York. The Ultimate Ungulate Page www.ultimateungulate.com/babirusa.html last updated 16 April, 2000. Brent Huffman.
11 May, 2000.