Saturday, December 19, 2009

Camera Critters

Misty brings us Camera Critters every Saturday.
Be sure to stop by and visit.


One of my favorite animals at the Houston Zoo
is the Wart Hog.
They are so funny and shy.


Wart Hogs

Neither graceful nor beautiful, warthogs are nonetheless remarkable animals. They are found in most of Africa south of the Sahara and are widely distributed in East Africa. They are the only pigs able to live in areas without water for several months of the year. By tolerating a higher-than-normal body temperature, the warthog is perhaps able to conserve moisture inside its body that might otherwise be used for cooling. (Camels and desert gazelles have developed a similar mechanism for survival in hot, arid environments.)

The warthog is a tough, sturdy animal. Males weigh 20 to 50 pounds more than females, but both are distinguished by disproportionately large heads and “warts”—thick protective pads that appear on both sides of the head. The warthog's large tusks are unusual: The two upper ones emerge from the sides of the snout to form a semicircle; the lower tusks at the base of the uppers are worn to a sharp cutting edge. Sparse bristles cover the warthog's body, although longer bristles form a mane from the top of the head down the spine to the middle of the back. The long tail ends with a tuft of bristles. The warthog characteristically carries its tail upright when it runs, the tuft waving like a tiny flag.

Wart Hog


Diet
The warthog is mainly a grazer and has adapted an interesting practice of kneeling on its calloused, hairy, padded knees to eat short grass. Using its snout and tusks, it also digs for bulbs, tubers and roots during the dry season. They may eat earthworms and other small invertebrates during the wet season.

Predators and Threats
Outside of protected areas, the warthog’s range is declining. They are killed for raiding wheat, rice, bean or groundnut fields. People in some agricultural areas also eliminate warthogs as they can carry African swine fever.

(Wart Hog information from awf.org)


21 comments:

Anya said...

Very funny and a little silly wart hogs ...... LOL
Fantastic shots :-)

Your "P.. F.. F.."
is posted look for orange :-)

Have a nice weekend
Anya :-)

eileeninmd said...

I like the wart hogs too. I think they are cool looking critters.

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Snap: Great shot of the Wart Hog with the fancy hairdo clear down its back.

squirrel said...

Very interesting. I learned a lot. They look like they evolved from about 5 different animals or someone just made up a animal from the left over parts. Very cute looking. Has Disney made a movie starting Wart Hogs? They should.

Jessica - Magical Mundane said...

Oh I beg to differ. I think those wart hogs are cute! I love their wispy hair. :D Great critters for Saturday.

Barb said...

Great photos of the Warthog, Snap. I guess beauty really is in the eyes of the beholder...They seem to like being models.

Rosa said...

I'd hate to run up against one of those in a dark alley. Heck, I'd hate to run into those just about anywhere! Hope your weekend is filled with love and laughter. xo

Lyneen said...

Bulbs! THey look so scary... thanks for stopping your and leaving your kind words

Chubskulit Rose said...

Oh wow, look at those teeth.

Please come and meet our New Baby Champ. Merry Christmas!

Misty DawnS said...

Excellent post! They are definitely one-of-a-kind looking creatures!

Kate said...

Those tusks look pretty wicked. I saw many of these animals in South Africa. Great photos.

Jane said...

Great shot of those 'Hogs, thanks for sharing:)

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Snap, Great post for Camera Critters. He looks like he has something stuck in his mouth!!!! ha

Going to the zoo will give one enough camera critter pictures for a year, won't it????

Hugs,
Betsy
my word verification was varaZOO

eden said...

We enjoyed so much of your entry. I called the attention of my kids and shared your pictures to them and they had a good laugh too. Thanks for sharing information about them.We enjoyed reading it too.

Have a good day!

rinelle said...

Nice Catch. Love your critter. Hope you can find time to visit mine.

Barbara said...

Great Shots Snap! Oh, they're so interesting looking. I'm not sayin' they're not pretty. I'm just sayin' interesting. ;p)
Sorry I've been so out of touch. Crazy month. I miss all of you.

Kim Mailhot said...

Funny creatures ! You shots make me think on Pumba in the Lion King - probably the most famous warthog around, right ? I hope you and Mr. Dragon have a cozy Sunday, lovely Snap !

rinzo said...

Happy camera critters please view my very first entry!

Kate Tracton said...

Those are some funky-looking beasties! I used to have a stuffed animal - named Wally Warthog, and when you squeezed him he'd grunt. I loved that silly thing.

'tho the ones you pictured here don't look quite so cuddly... ;)

Kate

Smalltown RN said...

Now that is some funny looking critter....but then they most probably think the same about us....happy weekend!

Carole said...

I find myself wanting to sing Hakuna Matata...lol They are an interesting looking animal aren't they?