Head to head
Pygmy Hog vs Wild Boar
Pygmy Hog
VS Wild Boar
The pygmy hog and wild boar are at opposite ends of the wild pig world, one the smallest and rarest and the other among the most widespread and abundant mammals.
| Pygmy Hog | Wild Boar | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Porcula salvania | Sus scrofa |
| Size | The smallest wild pig, standing only about 25 cm at the shoulder | Typically 50 to 100 kg, with large boars over 200 kg |
| Range | Tall grassland in Assam in northeastern India | Native to Europe, North Africa, and much of Asia, and feral across the Americas, Australia, and many islands |
| Diet | Roots, tubers, insects, and small animals | Roots, tubers, nuts, fruit, insects, eggs, small animals, carrion, and crops |
| Nest or litter | Builds a roofed nest of cut grass in which it shelters and gives birth | Averages 4 to 6 piglets, up to 12, sometimes twice a year |
| Human story | The focus of a captive-breeding and reintroduction programme | Feral hogs are among the most destructive invasive animals, causing billions of dollars of damage |
| Population | Only a few hundred animals in the wild | Very large and expanding across its native and introduced ranges |
| Conservation status | Critically Endangered, with an increasing population | Least Concern, with an increasing population |
Pygmy Hog vs Wild Boar: common questions
Which is the smallest wild pig?
The pygmy hog, which stands only about 25 cm at the shoulder.
Which one builds a nest?
The pygmy hog, which builds a roofed nest of cut grass in which it shelters and gives birth.
Where do the pygmy hog and wild boar live?
The pygmy hog lives only in tall grassland in Assam in northeastern India, while the wild boar is native to Europe, North Africa, and much of Asia.