Warthogs, as one might guess from the name, are members of the Swine family and are related to pigs, boars and hogs. And as the name also suggests, warthogs have patches on their faces that look like warts but are just thick growths of skin. These patches act as padding for when males fight during mating season.
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The photo was taken during June 2016 at De Kleine Serengeti Game Lodge, Rust de Winter, Gauteng, South Africa.
A characteristic feature of the horns of adult male African buffalo (Southern and Eastern populations) is that the bases come very close together, forming a shield referred to as a “boss”. From the base, the horns diverge downwards, then smoothly curve upwards and outwards and in some cases inwards and or backwards. In large bulls, the distance between the ends of the horns can reach upwards of one metre (the record being 64.5 inches 164 cm). The horns form fully when the animal reaches the age of five or six years but the bosses do not become “hard” till 8 to 9 years old. In cows, the horns are, on average, 10–20% smaller, and they do not have a boss.
Info source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_buffalo
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The photo was taken during July 2017 in Rietvlei Nature Reserve, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa.
Neither graceful nor beautiful, warthogs are, however, remarkable animals. They are the only pigs able to live in areas without water for several months of the year. Warthogs are found in most of Africa south of the Sahara and are widely distributed in East Africa. They are the only pigs able to live in areas without water for several months of the year. By tolerating a higher-than-normal body temperature, the warthog is perhaps able to conserve moisture inside its body that might otherwise be used for cooling.
Info source: https://www.sa-venues.com/wildlife/wildlife_warthog.php
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The photo was taken during May 2018 in Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga, South Africa.
