Pigs thy order is Artiodactyla!

I will commence my blog with how pigs are classified and which other creatures they are related to.

Pigs are from/classified from the order Artiodactyla. These animals are even toed hoofed mammals. Most animals from this order have four toes. The weight is borne by the two toes that form the hoof. Because of this they look like they are walking on their tip toes. The two smaller toes are called dew claws. In the order of Artiodactyla there are 10 families, and 220 species!

This order includes pigs, hippotamuses, camels, moose, deer, caribou, giraffes, okapi, wild cattle,goats, sheep, buffalo, bison. The majority of these animals have four stomachs except for pigs and hippos who only have one stomach.

The reason why most members of this order have four stomachs because they must quickly eat their meal and scamper off to a place where there are safe and they complete digestion when resting.

There are two families where pigs are placed in. New World Pigs and Old World Pigs. The scientific term for New World Pigs is family Tayassuidae. The scientific term for Old World Pigs is family Suidae. There are differences between the two families.

New World Pigs have a few physical differences. New World pigs have three toes on their hind hooves. The upper tusks tend to grow downwards. They also have a musk gland on their back close to their rump. Strangely enough they have divided stomachs. They have a rather stocky build. At the shoulders they reach 20 inches the maxium height is 24 inches. Habtitats vary from rain forests to deserts. They prefer places with places to hide. They tend to congregate in groups when traveling and gather from 10-20 pigs; herds can even reach to 100 pigs.

Old World pigs have a flat, disk-like nose to root. They have four toes; and only two that are used. Unlike New World Pigs they have larger upper and smaller lower tusks. The upper tusks grow upward. The smaller lower tusks that turn out slightly. The stomach has two parts. They have bristly hair and thick skin. Pigs do not possess good vision but they compensate for excellent sense of smell and hearing.

Pigs are omnivores. They primarily eat vegatables, but they will consume smaller animals and corpses of deceased animals. This is true as my pig attempted to eat a dead toad. :/

They prefer land, but they do wallow and they can swim, quite well as a matter of fact.

Sources:

Simon, Noel and Nicole Duplaix. World Guide to Mammals. New York: Crown Publishers, INC. 1976.

Whitaker, O. John. National Aubudon Society Field Guide American Mammals. New York: Chanticleer Press. 1996.