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A warthog with curved tusks kneeling at the edge of a water hole.
Photo: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Common Warthog

Phacochoerus africanus

A wild African pig with curved tusks and bumpy face "warts" that roots for food and shelters in old aardvark burrows.

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About the Common Warthog

Common warthogs live across sub-Saharan Africa in savannas, grasslands and even semi-deserts. They use their strong snouts to root in the soil for grass, roots and tubers, and their excellent sense of smell tells them where to dig. Warthogs don't dig their own burrows; they move into old dens, often ones made by aardvarks. They roll in mud, which works like sunscreen and keeps away parasites.[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name
Phacochoerus africanus[1]
Size
Body about 3 to 5 feet long.[1]
Weight
110 to 250 pounds.[1]
Lifespan
Up to about 15 years in the wild.[1]
Diet
Omnivore. Mostly grass, tubers and roots, plus leaves, fruit, insects and carrion.[1]
Habitat
Savannas, grasslands, steppes and semi-deserts.[1]
Where it lives
Sub-Saharan Africa, from Mauritania to Ethiopia and south to Namibia and eastern South Africa.[1]
Group life
Females and young live in groups called sounders. Males are usually solitary.[1]
Babies
Pregnancy lasts 160 to 170 days. Usually two or three piglets, born in a burrow.[1]
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2016).[2]

Fun facts

  • A warthog's "warts" are really bumps of skin called tubercles.[1]
  • Warthogs move into burrows dug by other animals, such as aardvarks.[1]
  • Rolling in mud gives warthogs sunscreen and helps keep parasites away.[1]
  • Warthogs greet friends by rubbing faces together.[1]

Vocabulary

tusk
A very long tooth that grows out of an animal's mouth.
root
To dig in the ground with the nose to find food.
sounder
A family group of pigs or warthogs.
tuber
A thick underground part of a plant that stores food, like a potato.
parasite
A living thing that lives on or in another and harms it.

See it in person

Sources

  1. [1] Zoo Atlanta. “Common Warthog.” https://zooatlanta.org/animal/common-warthog/ (accessed 2026-10-02)
  2. [2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Phacochoerus africanus (Common Warthog).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/41768/109669842 (accessed 2026-10-02)

Facts last checked 2026-10-02.

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