The javelina, also known as the collared peccary, is common across the American Southwest and Central America. It is often mistaken for a wild pig due to its stout body and snout, sharing a superficial resemblance to true swine. However, the javelina is not a pig, but a member of a completely separate family of mammals. Understanding its classification, physical features, and lifestyle is necessary to appreciate its unique place in nature.
Taxonomy: Separating Peccaries from Swine
The primary difference between a javelina and a true pig is their biological classification at the family level. Both belong to the order Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates), but their evolutionary paths diverged about 40 million years ago. Pigs, including domestic hogs and wild boars, are members of the family Suidae, often referred to as swine. Javelinas belong to the family Tayassuidae and are properly called peccaries.
Pigs are considered Old World species, originating in Eurasia and Africa. Peccaries, conversely, are New World species that evolved exclusively in the Americas. This geographic and evolutionary isolation resulted in the distinct biological differences observed today.
Key Anatomical Distinctions
Physical anatomy provides clear evidence of the evolutionary split between peccaries and swine. The tusks, which are elongated canine teeth, offer a noticeable difference. A javelina’s tusks grow vertically and are relatively short, sharpening against each other as the mouth opens and closes. True pigs, such as wild boars, have tusks that curl outward and often upward, protruding from the sides of the mouth.
Feet and Size
The structure of their feet is another defining feature, especially on the hind legs. Javelinas possess only two functional toes on their hind feet, missing the outer dewclaw found on pigs. True pigs have four functional toes on each foot, including two prominent dewclaws on the rear. Javelinas are also smaller, typically weighing 35 to 60 pounds, while feral hogs often exceed 100 pounds.
Internal Differences
A significant distinction lies in their digestive systems. The javelina has a more complex, three-chambered stomach, characteristic of some herbivores, despite its omnivorous diet. True pigs have a simpler, single-chambered stomach. Furthermore, a female javelina has only two pairs of mammary glands, compared to the multiple pairs found on a female pig.
Geographic Range and Social Behavior
The javelina’s natural habitat is restricted to the Americas, ranging from the American Southwest (Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas) south to Argentina. The javelina is a native species, contrasting with true pigs (feral hogs) which were introduced by European settlers and are considered invasive.
Peccaries are highly social animals that live in structured family groups called herds or squadrons, typically consisting of six to twenty individuals. They travel and forage together, relying on group defense against predators like mountain lions and bobcats. This social structure is maintained using a prominent dorsal scent gland located on their lower back. The javelina uses this musk gland to mark territory and identify other herd members, a characteristic not shared by true pigs. Although omnivores, their diet often includes a heavy reliance on prickly pear cactus, which they are uniquely adapted to process.