Peccary

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Peccaries
Temporal range: Early Miocene–Holocene
Collared peccary, Dicotyles tajacu
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Suborder: Suina
Family: Tayassuidae
Palmer, 1897
Type genus
Tayassu
, 1814
Extant and subfossil genera
Range of the peccaries
Synonyms

Dicotylidae

A peccary (also javelina or skunk pig) is a

even-toed ungulates
).

Peccaries are social creatures that live in herds. They are omnivores and eat roots, grubs, and a variety of other foods. They can identify each other by their strong odors. A group of peccaries that travel and live together is called a squadron. A squadron of peccaries averages between six and nine members.[1]

Peccaries first appeared in North America during the Miocene and migrated into South America during the Pliocene–Pleistocene as part of the Great American Interchange.

They are often confused[2] with feral domestic pigs, commonly known as "razorback" hogs in many parts of the United States,[3] when the two occur in the wild in similar ranges.

The Maya kept herds of peccaries, using them in rituals and for food.[4] They are kept as pets in many countries in addition to being raised on farms as a source of food.[5]

Etymology

The word peccary is derived from the Carib word pakira or paquira.[6]

In Portuguese, a peccary is called pecari, porco-do-mato, queixada, tajaçu, among other names like Cateto or Caititu. In Spanish, it is called javelina, jabalí (a word also used to describe wild boar), sajino, or pecarí. The word "javelina" derives from the Spanish word for "wild boar".[7] In French Guiana and Suriname, the animal is called pakira.

The scientific name Tayassuidae derives from the same source as the Portuguese tajaçu.[8]

Characteristics

Skulls of wild boar (left) and white-lipped peccary (right): Note how the upper canines of the peccary point downwards.

A peccary is a medium-sized animal, with a strong resemblance to a pig. Like a pig, it has a snout ending in a cartilaginous disc and eyes that are small relative to its head. Also like a pig, it uses only the middle two digits for walking, although, unlike pigs, the other toes may be altogether absent. Its stomach is not ruminating, although it has three chambers, is more complex than those of pigs,[9] and are a foregut fermenters (as opposed to the pigs' hindgut fermentation)[10] This foregut fermentation, similar to but separately evolved from a ruminant, is an example of convergent evolution.

Peccaries are omnivores and will eat insects, grubs, and occasionally small animals, although their preferred foods consist of roots,

grasses, seeds, fruit,[9] and cacti—particularly prickly pear.[11] Pigs and peccaries can be differentiated by a number of characteristic, including tails and ear shape. The ears of pigs are large and upright and often pointed while the ears of peccaries are small and rounded. Pigs also have tasseled tails, but peccaries' tails are small and discreet.[12]

The most noticeable difference between pigs and peccaries is the shape of the canine teeth, or tusks. In European pigs, the tusks are long and curve around on themselves, whereas in peccaries, the tusks are short and straight and interlock with each other, prohibiting side-to-side movement of the jaw. The jaws and tusks of peccaries are adapted for crushing hard seeds and slicing into plant roots,[9][12] and they also use their tusks to defend against predators. The dental formula for peccaries is: 2.1.3.33.1.3.3

By rubbing the tusks together, they can make a chattering noise that warns potential predators to stay away.

Peccaries are

giant peccary (Pecari maximus) of Brazil appears to be less social, primarily living in pairs.[13] Peccaries rely on their social structure to defend territory, protect against predators, regulate temperature, and interact socially.[14]

Peccaries have

myopic
vision. The odor is strong enough to be detected by humans, which earns the peccary the nickname of "skunk pig".

Species

Extant species

See also: List of suines

Three (possibly four) living species of peccaries are found from the Southwestern United States through Central America and into South America and Trinidad, each in their own genus.

The

rain forests. The collared peccary is well-adapted to habitat disturbed by humans, merely requiring sufficient cover. They can be found in cities
and agricultural land throughout their range.

Notable populations exist in the

suburbs of Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona, where they feed on ornamental plants and other cultivated vegetation.[15][16] There are also urban populations as far north as Sedona, Arizona, where they have been known to fill a niche similar to raccoons and other urban scavengers.[17]
In Arizona they are often called by their Spanish name "javelinas". Collared peccaries are generally found in bands of 8 to 15 animals of various ages. They defend themselves if they feel threatened, but otherwise tend to ignore humans.

A second species, the

xerophytic areas.[18]
The two main threats to their survival are deforestation and hunting.

The third species, the Chacoan peccary (Catagonus wagneri). It is found in the dry shrub habitat or Chaco of Paraguay, Bolivia, and Argentina. The Chacoan peccary has the distinction of having been first described based on fossils and was originally thought to be an extinct species. In 1975, the animal was discovered in the Chaco region of Paraguay. The species was well known to the native people.

A fourth as yet unconfirmed species, the

IUCN to treat it as a synonym.[24]

During the Late Pleistocene, two extinct peccaries, Mylohyus and Platygonus, were widespread across North America (and in the case of Platygonus, South America), but became extinct at the end of the Pleistocene around 12,000 years ago following the arrival of humans.[25]

Extinct genera

In addition, Tayassuidae have a well-attested

fossil record, and numerous extinct genera are known:[citation needed
]

Evolution

Although some taxa from the Old World like the European Miocene Taucanamo have been suggested to be members of Tayussidae, their assignation to the group is equivocal, with a 2017 phylogenetic analysis recovering Taucanamo outside the clade containing suids and peccaries. The oldest unambiguous fossils of peccaries are from the Early Miocene of North America, with the North American Eocene-Oligocene genus Perchoerus, also often considered an early peccary, recovered outside the clade containing peccaries and suids.[27]

Although common in South America today, peccaries did not reach there until about three million years ago during the Great American Interchange, when the Isthmus of Panama formed, connecting North America and South America. At that time, many North American animals—including peccaries, llamas and tapirs—entered South America, while some South American species, such as the ground sloths and opossums, migrated north.[28] Several species of peccary across the genera Platygonus and Mylohyus remained in North America until their extinction following the colonization of the continent by humans via Beringia at the end of the Pleistocene. Today, 2 of the 3 species are relegated to the Neotropical realm, but the collared peccary ranges into northern Mexico and the southwestern United States.

Domestication

Peccaries bear a familial resemblance to true pigs due to their common ancestry, and are in the same suborder as swine (Suina). They have been present in South America since prehistoric times.[29] The earliest scientific description of peccaries in the New World is in Brazil in 1547 and referred to them as "wild pigs".[30]

It has been documented that peccaries were tamed, penned, and raised for food and ritual purposes in the Yucatán, Panama, the southern Caribbean, and Colombia at the time of the Conquest.[31] Archaeological remains of peccaries have been found in Mesoamerica from the Preclassic (or Formative) period up until immediately before Spanish contact.[32] Specifically, peccary remains have been found at Early Formative Olmec civilization sites.[33]

The peccary is not readily suitable for modern captive breeding, lacking suitable characteristics for intensive or semi-intensive systems. Peccaries require a higher age before they are able to give birth (

parturition) and have a tendency towards infanticide.[34]

Relation with feral pigs

Recently established Brazilian boar populations are not to be confused with long-established populations of feral domestic pigs, which have existed mainly in the Pantanal for more than 100 years, along with native peccaries. The demographic dynamics of the interaction between feral pig populations and those of the two native species of peccaries (collared peccary and white-lipped peccary) is obscure and is still being studied. The existence of feral pigs could somewhat ease jaguar predation on peccary populations, as jaguars show a preference for hunting pigs when they are available.[35]

References

  1. ^ Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Arizona - informational web site at https://www.nps.gov/opi/learn/nature/javelina.htm
  2. ISBN 978-0-87719-126-1
    . many people confuse them with domestic pigs gone wild
  3. ISBN 978-0-313-38220-8
    .
  4. ^ Dillon, Brian B. (1988). "Meatless Maya? Ethnoarchaeological Implications for Ancient Subsistence". Journal of New World Archeology. 7: 60.
  5. ^ "Commercial farming of collared peccary: A Large-scale commercial farming of collared peccary (Tayassu tajacu) in North-Eastern Brazil". Pigtrop.cirad.fr (2007-04-30). Retrieved on 2012-12-18.
  6. ^ "Peccary". Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
  7. ^ "javelina"
  8. ^ A. B. H. Ferreira, Novo Dicionário da Língua Portuguesa, second edition (Rio de Janeiro: Nova Fronteira, 1986), page 1530
  9. ^
    ISBN 978-0-87196-871-5
    .
  10. ^ Jordano, Pedro (27 December 2016). "It takes guts to disperse seeds: the amazing physiologies of megafauna". The Red Notebook | Pedro Jordano. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  11. ISBN 978-0-89096-717-1
    .
  12. ^ a b "Peccary". San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance: Animals & Plants. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  13. ^ Roosmalen, M.G.M.; Frenz, L.; Hooft, W.F. van; Iongh, H.H. de; Leirs, H. (2007). "A New Species of Living Peccary (Mammalia: Tayassuidae) from the Brazilian Amazon". Bonner Zoologische Beiträge. 55 (2): 105–112.
  14. ^ "Javelina". Arizona's Wildlife. Arizona Game and Fish Department. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  15. ^ Friederici, Peter (August–September 1998). "Winners and Losers". National Wildlife Magazine. 36 (5).
  16. ISBN 978-0-89096-717-1
    .
  17. ^ "Unwelcome visitors: Javelinas and humans do not mix well". The Daily Courier. 25 January 2008. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  18. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T41778A44051115.en
    .
  19. ^ Moravec, J.; Böhme, W. (2009). "Second Find of the Recently Discovered Amazonian Giant Peccary, Pecari maximus (Mammalia: Tayassuidae) van Roosmalen et al., 2007: First Record from Bolivia" (PDF). Bonner zoologische Beiträge. 56 (1–2): 49–54. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 November 2014.
  20. ^ Lloyd, Robin (2 November 2007). "Big Pig-Like Beast Discovered". livescience.com.
  21. ^ "Giant wild pig found in Brazil". The Guardian. 5 November 2007. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  22. ^ Gongora, J.; Taber, A.; Keuroghlian, A.; Altrichter, M.; Bodmer, R.E.; Mayor, P.; Moran, C.; Damayanti, C.S.; González, S. (2007). "Re-examining the evidence for a 'new' peccary species, 'Pecari maximus', from the Brazilian Amazon" (PDF). Newsletter of the Pigs, Peccaries, and Hippos Specialist Group of the IUCN/SSC. 7 (2): 19–26.
  23. ^ Gongora, J.; Biondo, C.; Cooper, J.D.; Taber, A.; Keuroghlian, A.; Altrichter, M.; Ferreira do Nascimento, F.; Chong, A.Y.; Miyaki, C.Y.; Bodmer, R.; Mayor, P.; González, S. (2011). "Revisiting the species status of Pecari maximus van Roosmalen et al., 2007 (Mammalia) from the Brazilian Amazon" (PDF). Bonner zoologische Beiträge. 60 (1): 95–101.
  24. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-2.RLTS.T41777A10562361.en
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  25. S2CID 224865922
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  26. S2CID 129670001
    .
  27. S2CID 27963274
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  28. ^ McDonald, Greg (27 March 1999). "Pearce's Peccary – Platygonus Pearcei". Hagerman Fossil Beds' Critter Corner. Archived from the original on 5 August 2002 – via nps.gov.
  29. PMID 15579391
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  30. JSTOR 1006340
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  31. JSTOR 1006340
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  32. JSTOR 1006340
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  33. ISBN 9780292726246
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  34. ^ Rushton, Jonathan; Viscarra, Rommy; Viscarra, Cecilia; Basset, Frederick; Baptista, Rene; Huallata, Corsino; Brown, David (December 2004). "Captive breeding of wild species – a sceptical view of the prospects" (PDF). Wildlife Policy Briefing (9). Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 August 2014.
  35. ^ Furtado, Fred (13 February 2009). "Porco-monteiro: invasor ou vizinho?" [Wild pig: invader or neighbor?]. Ciencia Hoje.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tayassuidae.
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