The Chacoan Peccary (Catagonus wagneri) is an ungulate (hoofed) mammal.
The Chacoan Peccary has a rounded body with a large head, long snout (nose) and short legs – similar to a wild pig. Its nose looks like a pig’s nose. It has grey or brown bristly fur. It has longer, darker hair along its spine, and white fur on its shoulders. It has white hairs around its mouth. It has a third hind (back) toe.
It grows to 40-60 centimetres (16-24 inches) at shoulder height, and 90-139 centimetres (35-55 inches long). Its tail measures 6-8 centimetres (2-3 inches) long.
It is native to the Gran Chaco in the South American countries of Paraguay, Bolivia, and Argentina. It prefers hot, dry regions with low cactus plants and thorny bushes in scrublands. It has small feet to manoeuvre among spiny plants.
The Chacoan Peccary is diurnal, active during the day.
It is omnivorous, eating a varied diet of fruit, leaves, grass, and plants. It likes cactus plants. Its predators include the mountain lion, jaguar, crocodile, and python.
It is a social animal, and lives in herds of about 20 individuals.
The female is pregnant for 156-162 days, before giving birth to 1-4 young. The young are precocial, which means that they are born with fur and can run a few hours after birth.
The Chacoan Peccary lives, on average, for 13 years.
[Location of photographs:Parc Zoologique de Paris in Bois de Vincennes, France]
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM