The Red River Hog (Potamochoerus porcus) is a mid-sized African ungulate featured in the Tropical Pack DLC for Planet Zoo.
Zoopedia Description
General[]
Population In Wild: Unknown
Native to the rivers, lakes and marshes of Western and Central Africa, the red river hog (or Potamochoerus porcus) is a small member of the pig family. It has striking red fur across its body, with a black face, legs, tail and ears. The ears are adorned with long black and white tufts. Down their backs, red river hogs have a wispy, white line of hair. Their facial features and ears are surrounded by coarse white fur. They are sexually dimorphic, with males being generally larger and heavier than females, and having a wider skull with bony protrusions and long whiskers along the face. Red river hogs measure between 40in and 60in in head-body length, stand 20in to 32in tall at the shoulder, and weigh 99lb to 253lb.
The red river hog is considered a species of Least Concern, however, their population numbers are decreasing. They are a protected species in almost all national parks across their range.
Social[]
Red river hogs are very social and usually live in family groups of 3 to 10 individuals, although groups of up to 30 are possible if enough resources are available. These groups consist of a dominant male, his females, and their offspring. Occasionally, individuals may also live alone for parts of their lives.
Reproduction[]
Male red river hogs viciously fight over territory and females in their harems. Using their scent glands, red river hogs mark their territory on trees and track nearby individuals. During the breeding season, which lasts from November to February, males will mate with the females in their harems, so that the offspring is born at the beginning of the wet season, when plenty of resources are available.
Pregnancy in red river hogs lasts 120 days, after which the sow builds a nest of grass and leaves to give birth to a litter of 1 to 6 piglets, usually 3 or 4. The young begin eating solid food and foraging with their mother at 3 to 10 days old, and are fully weaned at by 4 months old.
Red river hogs reach sexual maturity at 3 years of age, at which point the dominant male of the group begins acting aggressively towards them to encourage them to leave the family group. The offspring may spend some time alone before before joining or forming an unrelated harem.
Animal Care[]
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Hay · Fruit, Leaves and Vegetables · High Fibre Biscuits | |
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FOOD ENRICHMENT |
HABITAT ENRICHMENT |
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Trivia[]
Zoopedia Facts[]
- Red river hogs are the smallest African member of the pig family.
- The red river hog has scent glands around its eyes, feet and tusks that it uses to scent-mark.
- Like most pigs, red river hogs are omnivores and will eat meat if given the opportunity, mostly in the form of small animal carcasses.
- Red river hogs are known to follow foraging chimpanzees in order to pick up the food they drop.
- The piglets of the red river hog will play dead if frightened, but when they get older they will abandon this survival strategy and simply run away.
Gallery[]
