# Pig (*Sus scrofa domesticus*)

Pigs are smart farm animals that enjoy playing in mud. They are kept for meat and can also make affectionate pets.

- **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate
- **Habitat:** Farms and pastures.
- **Also known as:** Hog, Porker, Swine

![Pig](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424627/objects/4371.jpg)

## Appearance

The Pig is a stocky, four-legged mammal with a thick body, short legs, and a distinctive flat, disk-like snout. They often have sparse bristly hair and a short, curly tail, coming in various colors like pink, brown, black, or spotted patterns.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Mammalia
- **Order:** Artiodactyla
- **Family:** Suidae
- **Genus:** Sus

## Interesting facts

- A group of wild adult pigs is called a 'sounder'!
- Baby pigs, called piglets, learn to recognize their mother's voice at birth.
- Pigs communicate using over 20 different sounds, from grunts to squeals!
- Pigs love to snuggle close to each other, especially when they sleep.

## Special abilities

- **Super Sniffer:** Pig can sniff out hidden food like truffles because of their powerful sense of smell that helps them forage.
- **Mud Protector:** Pig can cool down and protect its skin by rolling in mud because they have few sweat glands, helping them avoid sunburn.
- **Smart Learner:** Pig can quickly learn new tricks and tasks because of their high intelligence, which helps them adapt and solve problems.

## Measurements & details

- **Length:** 90-180 cm
- **Weight:** 50-350 kg
- **Lifespan:** 6-10 years
- **Speed:** 17.5 km/h
- **Litter Size:** 6-12
- **Gestation:** 112-115 days

## Diet & Feeding

Pigs are omnivores, meaning they eat both plants like roots and fruits, and sometimes small animals too!

- **Primary Foods:** roots, fruits, grains, insects, small rodents
- **Foraging Method:** Foraging

## Ecological connections

- **Eaten by:** [Human](https://www.snappit.app/explore/human) (*Homo sapiens*) — Pigs are a vital food source for people globally.
- **Eaten by:** Wolf (*Canis lupus*) — Feral pigs are hunted by wolves.
- **Eats:** [Corn](https://www.snappit.app/explore/corn) (*Zea mays*) — Often fed as a main part of their farm diet.
- **Eats:** Oak Tree (*Quercus robur*) — Feral pigs love foraging for acorns.

## 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.
- [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
- [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter.

## Collections

- [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals)

## Safety

**Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate

Be cautious — large pigs can push or bite if scared.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Pig?

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 Pig?

90-180 cm

### How much does Pig weigh?

50-350 kg

### How long does Pig live?

6-10 years

### How fast can Pig move?

17.5 km/h

### What does Pig eat?

Pigs are omnivores, meaning they eat both plants like roots and fruits, and sometimes small animals too!

### Where is Pig usually found?

Farms and pastures.

### How does Pig hunt?

Foraging

## Where to spot

- [Hattiesburg Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hattiesburg-zoo) — Mississippi, US · Zoo
- [Greenville Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/greenville-zoo) — South Carolina, US · Zoo
- [Naturschutz-Tierpark Görlitz](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/naturschutz-tierpark-g-rlitz) — Saxony, DE · Zoo
- [Tierpark Krüzen](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tierpark-kruzen) — Schleswig-Holstein, DE · Zoo
- [Tierpark Weeze](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tierpark-weeze) — Nordrhein-Westfalen, DE · Zoo
- [Wales Ape and Monkey Sanctuary](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/wales-ape-and-monkey-sanctuary) — Wales, GB · Zoo

[View all places to see Pig](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/pig)

## 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*)

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Source: [Pig: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pig)