# Babirusa (*Babyrousa babyrussa*) Babirusas are unique pigs with long, curved tusks that grow through their snouts. They live in the forests of Southeast Asia and are excellent swimmers! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Babyrousa ![Babirusa](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426019/objects/5879.jpg) ## Appearance The Babirusa has distinctive upward-curving tusks that can pierce its own skull if not worn down. It has wrinkled, coarse, greyish-brown skin with sparse hair, giving it a somewhat prehistoric appearance. Its slender legs and arched back make it visually different from other wild pigs. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Artiodactyla - **Family:** Suidae - **Genus:** Babyrousa ## Interesting facts - The Babirusa's name means "pig-deer" in Malay, describing its unique look. - Their upper tusks can actually grow so long they curl back towards their forehead! - They don't use their tusks to dig for food, preferring to root with their hard snouts. - Unlike other pigs, female babirusas have only two nipples to feed their single-born young. ## Special abilities - **Tusk Power:** Babirusa has unique tusks that grow through their snout, helping males display dominance or defend themselves in rare fights. - **Forest Navigator:** Babirusa can expertly forage through dense jungle, using a keen sense of smell to locate buried roots and fungi for food. - **Mud Wallow Master:** Babirusa can wallow in mud baths to cool down its body and protect its sensitive, sparse skin from biting insects and sunburn. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 85-110 cm - **Weight:** 60-100 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-24 years - **Speed:** 35 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-2 - **Gestation:** 150-157 days ## Diet & Feeding These unique pigs enjoy a varied diet of plants, fruits, roots, and even some forest critters. - **Primary Foods:** Fallen Fruit, Leaves, Roots, Fungi, Insect Larvae, Grubs - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Human](https://www.snappit.app/explore/human) (*Homo sapiens*) — Hunted for meat; habitat is destroyed by human activity. - **Eaten by:** [Reticulated Python](https://www.snappit.app/explore/reticulated-python) (*Python reticulatus*) — Juvenile Babirusas can be prey for large constricting snakes. - **Eats:** Cluster Fig (*Ficus racemosa*) — Enjoys fallen fruits and leaves from various fig trees. - **Eats:** Macassar Ebony (*Diospyros celebica*) — Feeds on the fruits, leaves, and young shoots of these trees. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Tool Use](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/tool-use): This trait describes organisms that manipulate external objects to achieve a specific goal. - [Tusked](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/tusked): Characterized by having long, pointed, projecting teeth, usually in pairs. - [Ancient Lineage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient-lineage): This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate Babirusas are wild animals and should be observed from a safe distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Babirusa? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Babirusa? 85-110 cm ### How much does Babirusa weigh? 60-100 kg ### How long does Babirusa live? 10-24 years ### How fast can Babirusa move? 35 km/h ### What does Babirusa eat? These unique pigs enjoy a varied diet of plants, fruits, roots, and even some forest critters. ### Where is Babirusa usually found? Forests ### How does Babirusa hunt? Foraging ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Babirusa: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/babirusa)