A black Guinea hog standing in a barn yard. — Photo: Drew Avery, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Guinea Hog

Sus scrofa domesticus (Guinea hog breed)

A small, black American heritage pig breed known for its intelligence and calm temperament.

🐐 Farm Animals 🐗 Pigs and Hogs

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About the Guinea Hog

Guinea hogs, also called American Guinea hogs or Guinea forest hogs, are a small American heritage breed of domestic pig. They are solid black with long, coarse hair, upright ears and long, slightly curved tails. Males weigh 200 to 375 pounds and females 120 to 350 pounds. They eat grasses, nuts, fruit and roots, plus rodents, snakes, fish and bugs when they find them.^[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name: Sus scrofa domesticus (Guinea hog breed)^[1]
Weight: Males 200 to 375 pounds; females 120 to 350 pounds.^[1]
Lifespan: 10 to 15 years.^[1]
Diet: Omnivore. Mostly grasses, nuts, fruit and roots.^[1]
Habitat: Farms and pastures.^[1]
Where it lives: United States (heritage breed).^[1]
Group life: Social groups. Active during the day.^[1]
Babies: About 8 piglets per litter, up to two litters a year.^[1]
Conservation status: Domestic breed. Not assessed by the IUCN.^[1]

Fun facts

Mud works as a pig's sunscreen.^[1]
Guinea hog piglets weigh only about a pound at birth.^[1]
Pigs root, or dig with their snouts, to find food.^[1]

Vocabulary

heritage breed: An old breed of farm animal kept going for many generations.
root: To dig in the ground with the snout.
litter: A group of babies born at one time.
breed: A group of domestic animals with a certain look, developed by people.
omnivore: An animal that eats both plants and other animals.

See it in person

Oakland ZooOakland, California · Children's ZooSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗

These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.

Sources

[1] Oakland Zoo. “Guinea Forest Hog.” https://www.oaklandzoo.org/animals/guinea-forest-hog/ (accessed 2026-10-02)

Facts last checked 2026-10-02.

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