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| Peccaries Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Collared peccary, Dicotyles tajacu | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Suborder: | Suina |
| Family: | Tayassuidae Palmer, 1897 |
| Type genus | |
| Tayassu Waldheim, 1814 | |
Peccaries (javelinas or skunk pigs) are pig-like ungulates of the family Tayassuidae. They live in Central and South America. including Trinidad.
Peccaries are between 90 and 130 cm (2 ft 11 in and 4 ft 3 in) in length, and a full-grown adult usually weighs about 20 to 40 kg (44 to 88 lb). They are the closest relatives of the family Suidae, which contains pigs and relatives. These are in the order Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates).
Peccaries live in herds. They eat roots, insects, and a lot of other foods. They can identify each other by their strong odors. A group of peccaries that travel and live together is called a squadron. A squadron of peccaries usually has between six and nine members.[1]
Peccaries first came into existence in North America during the Miocene and moved into South America during the Pliocene–Pleistocene as part of the Great American Interchange.
Many people confuse them with domestic pigs gone wild. There are domestic "razorback" hogs in many parts of the United States.[2] The two may have ranges that overlap.
The Maya kept herds of peccaries, using them in rituals and for food.[3] They are kept as pets in many countries as well as being raised on farms as a source of food.[4]
References
[change | change source]- ↑ Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Arizona - informational web site at https://www.nps.gov/opi/learn/nature/javelina.htm
- ↑ Susan L. Woodward; Joyce A. Quinn (2011). Encyclopedia of Invasive Species: From Africanized Honey Bees to Zebra Mussels. ABC-CLIO. p. 277. ISBN 978-0-313-38220-8.
- ↑ Dillon, Brian B. (1988). "Meatless Maya? Ethnoarchaeological Implications for Ancient Subsistence". Journal of New World Archeology. 7: 60.
- ↑ "Commercial farming of collared peccary: A large-scale commercial farming of collared peccary (Tayassu tajacu) in North-Eastern Brazil". Pigtrop.cirad.fr (2007-04-30). Retrieved on 2012-12-18.