Phacochère

The phacochère is a Mammifère about the Artiodactyles and of the family of the Suidés.

This wild pig measurement 1,40 m of length and 75 cm with the garrot.

The male weighs up to 100 kg and the female 75 kg.

It has long a mane on the top of the backs and two defenses directed to the top, reaching 60 cm at the old individuals. They are in particular used to him to be defended against its predatory that it can seriously wound (lion, lycaon, man.)

Only one Espèce ( Phacochoerus africanus ) is universally recognized in the kind Phacochoerus , but some authors divide it into two species. In this classification:

Phacochoerus africanus is the common phacochère
Phacochoerus aethiopicus is called “phacochère of the Cape”, or “phacochère of Somalia It lives in the Savane S of Africa.

It is omnivorous but mainly herbivorous, and nourishes Herbe S, of bay S, bark S, and roots. The male phacochère lives as a recluse in forest or in savanna, whereas on the contrary, the female lives in family with her small. In one day, the male phacochère sleeps several hours, grazes somewhat and drives out the insects. As for the female, it deals with its small, nourishes them, protects them from the enemies.

A phacochère saw on average 24 years.

Reproduction

The female phacochère (Viviparous) has a 175 days gestation. It is confined in a burrow, generally borrowed from a Oryctéropede. Two to seven small phacochères is born on a litter from plants brought by the mother who covers the entry of branches can be to limit the cold the night, the small ones being protected only by one fine and scattered sleeping bag. The temperature of the burrow is of 25 with 30°C, with a water content reaching 90%!

Threaten

It is an animal which is in constant regression, because of the hunting and the retreat as of its habitats, and perhaps because of the pesticides. The swine-fever (conveyed by a tick) has little effect on the phacochère, but it is often killed for fear it does not transmit it to the pigs of breeding. The phacochères, Hylochère S and Potamochère S are often continued for this reason, as for the fact that they can be tank of the blood parasite responsible for the disease of the sleep, the Trypanosome.

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