Mammals
Red River Hog
Potamochoerus porcus
At night on the floor of a West African rainforest, a red river hog with a bright orange coat and tufted ears roots through the leaf litter, its white face markings glowing in the dark.
Overview
The red river hog, Potamochoerus porcus, is a Least Concern wild pig of the rainforests and swamps of West and Central Africa. Its reddish coat, white face markings, and tufted ears make it one of the most colourful and recognisable wild pigs in the world.
The brightest of the wild pigs
Few wild pigs are as vividly coloured as the red river hog, a forest dweller that spends the night rooting for food in family groups.
Status
Least Concern, though it is hunted for meat in many areas.
Red River Hog: common questions
Why is it called the red river hog?
It has a bright reddish-orange coat and lives in forests and swamps along rivers.
What does the red river hog eat?
It is an omnivore that eats roots, fruit, seeds, grasses, insects, and carrion, rooting for food with its snout and tusks.
Is the red river hog active by day?
No, it is mainly nocturnal and rests in dense vegetation by day.
Where is the red river hog found?
It lives in rainforest, swamp forest, and riverside thicket in West and Central Africa.