The javelina, scientifically known as Pecari tajacu, is a highly social mammal native to the Americas, often referred to by the common names collared peccary or musk hog. While they bear a superficial resemblance to domestic pigs and wild boars, they belong to an entirely separate biological family. This frequent confusion about their identity extends to the terminology used for their sexes. Understanding the proper names for the male, female, and young javelinas requires examining their unique biological classification.
Classification and Physical Characteristics
Javelinas are taxonomically distinct from true pigs, belonging to the New World family Tayassuidae, whereas pigs are part of the Old World Suidae family. This evolutionary separation occurred millions of years ago. Adult javelinas are compact animals, typically weighing between 35 and 60 pounds, and their bodies are covered in thick, coarse, grizzled salt-and-pepper hair.
A defining feature is the faint band of lighter hair around the neck, which gives the species its other common name, the collared peccary. Unlike the curved tusks of true pigs, the javelina’s canine teeth are short, straight, and point downward, serving as weapons for defense and tools for foraging. They also possess only three toes on their hind feet, an anatomical feature that differentiates them from Old World swine.
The Proper Terminology for Javelinas
The nomenclature used for javelinas largely mirrors that of true swine. A male javelina is properly referred to as a boar, though this term is sometimes reserved for the dominant male within a family unit. A female javelina is called a sow, and their young are known as pups or javelinas. Newborns are sometimes informally called “reds” due to their reddish-brown coat. A cohesive group of these animals is called a squadron or a herd.
Unique Biological Features
The javelina’s most distinguishing biological trait is the prominent dorsal musk gland located near the rump, which accounts for the common name “musk hog.” This gland emits a strong, pungent odor that is fundamental to their survival and social organization. The musky substance is actively used to mark their territory.
Javelinas engage in a unique social behavior where members rub their heads and necks against the gland of a herd mate, a process sometimes referred to as a “javelina handshake.” This scent-rubbing action mixes the individual odors into a signature group scent, allowing herd members to recognize each other. Their reliance on scent is underscored by a highly developed sense of smell that compensates for their weak vision. They also possess a multi-chambered stomach, allowing them to effectively digest the tough, fibrous plants that dominate their arid diets.
Social Structure and Habitat
Javelinas are extremely social animals that form stable, mixed-sex family units called squadrons, which typically consist of 6 to 20 individuals. These cohesive groups forage, sleep, and travel together, with the social structure providing enhanced defense against predators like mountain lions and coyotes. Their extensive native range stretches from the American Southwest, including Arizona and Texas, southward through Mexico and Central America to Argentina.
The species is highly adaptable, thriving in diverse habitats from tropical rainforests to arid desert scrublands. Javelinas are opportunistic omnivores, with their diet consisting largely of roots, tubers, and succulents such as prickly pear cactus. When threatened or cornered, a squadron will exhibit defensive behaviors, including teeth clattering, bristling their coarse mane, and making short, loud mock charges.