Mammals
Visayan Warty Pig
Sus cebifrons
In a patch of forest on Negros, a male Visayan warty pig raises a long crest of hair along his neck, his face studded with three pairs of fleshy warts, one of the rarest wild pigs on Earth.
Overview
The Visayan warty pig, Sus cebifrons, is a Critically Endangered wild pig found only on a few islands in the central Philippines. Its facial warts, breeding-season crest, and tiny remaining range make it one of the most distinctive and most threatened pigs in the world.
A pig with a crest and warts
During the breeding season, male Visayan warty pigs grow a dramatic crest and facial warts that make them among the most striking wild pigs.
Status
Critically Endangered, with a decreasing population.
Visayan Warty Pig: common questions
Why is it called the Visayan warty pig?
Males grow three pairs of fleshy warts on the face, and it lives in the Visayan islands of the Philippines.
Why does the male grow a crest?
Males grow a long crest of hair that stands up along the back and neck in the breeding season.
Why is the Visayan warty pig critically endangered?
Most of its forest has been cleared, and it is hunted and interbreeds with domestic pigs.
Where is the Visayan warty pig found?
It lives in a few forest remnants on the islands of Negros and Panay in the central Philippines.