Collared Peccary

Scientific name	Pecari tajacu
Other names	Javelina – Spanish for Javelin refers to the sharp tusks.
Global distribution	Central Arizona and Texas to northern Argentina
Habitat	Great variety of habitats – desert scrub, arid woodland and rainforest Shelters in a thicket or under a large boulder. Limestone caves may be used in winter time.
Conservation status	Widespread and hunted. It is on the Appendix 2 of CITE
Physical characteristics	Body size male	Head and body 750 – 1,000 mm Shoulder height 440 – 500 mm
	Weight	14-30 kg
	Colouring	Dark grey and there is a whitish collar on the neck
	Hair	Hair can be made erectile when excited.
	Piglet colouring	Young are reddish and have a dark stripe on the back
	Tail	6-9 tail vertebrae (Suids 20-23)
	Legs	15-55 mm
Two male Collared Peccaries
Female side			Rear view	Front view

Anatomy	Peculiarities		Legs are long and slim and the hooves are small. There are four digits on the forefoot, the two lateral ones being reduced and do not touch the ground. There are two functional digits on the hind foot. There is a vestigial median digit on the back of the hind foot in Pecari and Tayassu but not in Catagonus. The third and fourth foot bones are united at their proximal ends (as in ruminants – but not suids). Elongated snout. The rostrum is narrow and slightly more convex dorsally, the infraorbital canals are rounded. The stomach is two chambered but more complex than in Suids but none ruminating.
Detail of snout		General view of skull Detail of upper canine
Track of peccary			Detail of front feet			Detail of hind foot – lateral dew claw visible no medial
	Glands		Scent gland 75 mm in diameter and 125 mm thick on the rump in front of the tail. Emits a specific odour.
	Dental formulae		(i 2/3, c 1/1, pm 3/3, m 3/3) x 2 = 38 Upper canines form tusks, directed downwards not outwards or upwards as in Suidae, and they are generally shorter. Tusks average length is 40 mm. There is a space between the canines and premolars The premolars increase in size to first to last. The molars have square crowns with four cusps. The molars have well developed cingula but the cusps are not closely connected.
Behaviour points	Maturing age		May breed in their first year
	Mating ritual
	Seasonal breeding		Throughout the year. In Arizona mating usually in February and March and give birth in the summer
	Oestrus period		Average 24 days and oestrus lasts 4 days
	Gestation period		Around 145 days
	Litter size and lactation		1-4, usually 2. Piglets 500-900 g born in a thicket. Piglets can run within hours of birth
	Lactation		2 pairs of mammae Milk is lower in fat than Suidae Young reach the teats from the rear of the sow instead of standing parallel to one side
	Weaning age		6-8 weeks
	Family groups		Gregarious – group size of 2 to 50 but usually 5 to 15, with groups of both sexes and all ages. Several groups or sounders may group together. Hierarchy is present, dominant animal male
	Population density
	Cooling behaviour		Use wallows and dust bowls. Will huddle together in a self-excavated depression, especially when cold.
Mud wallow					Dry sleeping depression
	Senses		Poor vision and fair hearing but excellent sense of smell.
	Range		Fairly sedentary – do not wander farm from its place of birth. It is capable of 35 km/hr
			Keeps close to a water hole or stream
			0.5 – 8.0 sq km – peripheral areas may be shared, central area exclusive.
			Territorial marking with the dorsal scent gland
			Track through forest at times in single file
Diet				Mainly vegetarian, cactus fruit, berries, tubers, bulbs and rhizomes, But will take grubs, snakes and small vertebrates.
Diseases/ disorders				It does not seem to be harmed by rattlesnake bites.
Age				24 years and 8 months reported