Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Artiodactyla
- Family
- Suidae
- Genus
- Sus
- Species
- Sus scrofa
Habitat
Domestic pigs are primarily found on farms worldwide, but feral populations inhabit forests, grasslands, and agricultural areas. They prefer regions with access to water, shade, and foraging opportunities, often in temperate to tropical climates.
Diet
Domestic pigs are omnivorous, consuming a variety of foods including grains, roots, fruits, insects, and small vertebrates. They forage actively during the day, using their snout to root in the soil for food, and in domestic settings, they are fed commercial feed.
Behavior
Domestic pigs are social animals that live in groups called sounders, typically led by a dominant female. They are generally diurnal, active during the day for foraging and socializing, but can become nocturnal in areas with human disturbance. Pigs exhibit territorial behavior when resources are limited and use vocalizations for communication.
Conservation Status
The wild boar (Sus scrofa), which includes domestic pigs as a subspecies, is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, with stable populations overall. However, feral pig populations can be invasive and are managed as pests in many areas due to their impact on agriculture and native wildlife.