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| SCIENTIFIC
CLASSIFICATION |
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| COMMON
NAME: |
pot-bellied
pig, Chinese pot-bellied pig, Asian pot-bellied
pig |
| KINGDOM: |
Animalia |
| PHYLUM: |
Chordata |
| CLASS: |
Mammalia |
| ORDER: |
Artiodactyla |
| FAMILY: |
Suidae |
| GENUS
SPECIES: |
Sus
(pig) scrofa (breeding sow) |
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| DESCRIPTION: |
The
pot-bellied pig has black skin with scarce hair,
short erect ears and a short snout. It also has
a sagging abdomen and the very loose skin gives
a wrinkled appearance. A true pot-bellied pig has
a straight tail that attaches high on the rump.
If the tails curls at all, this is a sign of cross
breeding. |
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| SIZE: |
Approximate
shoulder height of 35-45 cm (14-18 in) |
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| WEIGHT: |
Up
to 67.5 kg (150 lb.) |
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| DIET: |
Omnivores
- includes grasses, eggs, frogs, snakes, and fish |
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| GESTATION: |
Gestation
lasts approximately 114 days; usually has 6 piglets |
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| SEXUAL
MATURITY: |
Approximately
5-7 months |
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| LIFE
SPAN: |
10-20
years, is able to live to 30 years |
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| HABITAT: |
Inhabits
open woodlands |
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| POPULATION: |
GLOBAL |
Common |
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| STATUS: |
IUCN |
Not
listed |
| CITES |
Not
listed |
| USFWS |
Not
listed |
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| 1. |
Pigs'
skin lacks hair, so they are very sensitive to the
sun. In the wild they wallow in the mud to stay
cool and protect their skin. |
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| 2. |
Pigs use their snout for rutting and foraging. |
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| 3. |
Vietnamese pot-bellied's are a sub-species of the
common pig, probably descended from a Chinese ancestor. |
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| 4. |
Pigs
have poor vision but excellent senses of smell and
hearing. |
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| 5. |
In
the wild, they may form herds of considerable numbers,
one herd keeping its distance from others. Herd
members communicate with a variety of squeaks, grunts,
gurgles and other sounds, including different sneezes. |
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| 6. |
The
origin of the piggy bank in American society probably
dates back to ancient China. Emperor Huang-Ti invented
the Chinese calendar in 2367 B.C. and gave each
year an animal representative. The year of the pig
represents prosperity. |
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Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs are popular pets due
to their smaller size, lack of shedding, and tough
skin, which resists fleas and parasites. They can
be trained to the same extent as a dog and can even
be house broken.
Pigs
in general help turn over soil, promoting new
plant growth.
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|
|
Grzimek, B. Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia.
Vol. 13 New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold Co.,
1972. |
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Huckaby. L. Pot-bellied Pigs and Other Miniature
Pet Pigs. TFH Pub., NJ., 1992. |
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Honolulu Zoo. http://www.honoluluzoo.org/potbellied_pig.htm
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| Santa
Barbara Zoo. http://www.santabarbarazoo.org/animals/mammals/vietpig.html |
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