White-lipped Peccary
Tayassu pecari
Conservation Status
Near ThreatenedMammalia · Artiodactyla · Tayassuidae
About
The white-lipped peccary is a species of peccary found in Central and South America and the only extant member of the genus Tayassu. Multiple subspecies have been identified. White-lipped peccaries are similar in appearance to pigs, but covered in dark hair. The range of T. pecari, which extends from Mexico to Argentina, has become fragmented, and the species's population is declining overall. They can be found in a variety of habitats. Social animals, white-lipped peccaries typically forage in large groups, which can have as many as 300 peccaries.
Fun Fact
White-lipped peccaries form herds of 50-300 individuals that move through the forest like a living wave, and they produce a musky odour so strong that indigenous hunters can smell a herd before seeing it.
Quick Facts
Habitat
Tropical rainforests
Diet
Omnivore
Lifespan
12-15 years
Threats
- Deforestation
- Habitat Fragmentation
- Poaching