# Red River Hog (*Potamochoerus porcus*) The Red River Hog is a playful and colorful pig with bright red fur and a curly tail. They love to dig in the mud and are great at finding food in the forest! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Bush Pig ![Red River Hog](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Pinselohrschwein_Potamochoerus_porcus_Tierpark_Hellabrunn-5.jpg&width=800) Photo: Rufus46, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pinselohrschwein_Potamochoerus_porcus_Tierpark_Hellabrunn-5.jpg) ## Appearance The Red River Hog is strikingly vibrant with a reddish-brown coat, a distinct white stripe along its spine, and long, dark ear tufts. Its face has white markings around the eyes and jaw, contrasting with its dark snout. These unique patterns make it stand out from other wild pigs. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Artiodactyla - **Family:** Suidae - **Genus:** Potamochoerus ## Interesting facts - Baby Red River Hogs are born with stripes, helping them camouflage in the forest undergrowth! - Red River Hogs love mud baths to keep cool and protect their skin from insects and sun. - These hogs are very social and live in groups called sounders, led by an older female. - They communicate using a variety of grunts, squeals, and even booming roaring sounds! ## Special abilities - **Snouty Sniffer:** Red River Hogs can sniff out buried roots and fungi with their sensitive snouts, helping them find food. - **Water Wanderer:** Red River Hogs are strong swimmers, easily crossing rivers and wallowing in mud to cool down. - **Bristly Barrier:** Red River Hogs have stiff bristles that offer protection from thorny plants and insect bites. - **Tusk Tools:** Red River Hogs use their sharp tusks for digging, defending against predators, and even battles. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 130-190 cm - **Weight:** 45-120 kg - **Lifespan:** 15-20 years - **Speed:** 40 km/h - **Litter Size:** 3-6 - **Gestation:** 120-130 days ## Diet & Feeding These hogs are omnivores, munching on plants and small critters found in their forest homes. - **Primary Foods:** Roots, Fruits, Insects, Eggs, Fungi, Carrion - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Leopard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/leopard) (*Panthera pardus*) — Leopards are a main predator of adult hogs. - **Eaten by:** [Human](https://www.snappit.app/explore/human) (*Homo sapiens*) — Hunted by humans for their meat and tusks. - **Eats:** Sandpaper Fig (*Ficus exasperata*) — Consumes fruits, helping disperse seeds in the forest. - **Depends on:** African Civet (*Civettictis civetta*) — Follows hogs to eat insects uncovered by their rooting. ## Traits - [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. - [Burrowing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/burrowing): Burrowing animals dig tunnels and chambers in the ground, using these subterranean structures for shelter, hunting, or breeding. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [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. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate Always watch from a distance and never try to touch wild animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Red River Hog? 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 Red River Hog? 130-190 cm ### How much does Red River Hog weigh? 45-120 kg ### How long does Red River Hog live? 15-20 years ### How fast can Red River Hog move? 40 km/h ### What does Red River Hog eat? These hogs are omnivores, munching on plants and small critters found in their forest homes. ### Where is Red River Hog usually found? Forests ### How does Red River Hog hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Roger Williams Park Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/roger-williams-park-zoo) — Rhode Island, US · Zoo - [Philadelphia Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/philadelphia-zoo) — Pennsylvania, US · Zoo - [Howletts Wild Animal Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/howletts-wild-animal-park) — England, GB · Zoo [View all places to see Red River Hog](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/red-river-hog) ## 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: [Red River Hog: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-river-hog)