Knowra Babirusa Babirusa A large wild pig of the genus Babyrousa native to Indonesian islands. Males are known for upper canine tusks that grow upward through the snout and may curve toward the forehead.
Suidae : The family of even-toed ungulates that includes pigs, hogs, and peccaries. Babirusas are unusual members of this family, despite their distinctive island adaptations.
Babirusa tusk : An enlarged canine tooth of a babirusa, especially the male’s upper tusk that grows through the snout. Its unusual growth pattern gives the animal its most recognizable feature.
North Sulawesi babirusa : A babirusa species, Babyrousa celebensis, native to Sulawesi and nearby islands. It is the best-known species and the form most often pictured as a babirusa.
Endangered species : A species facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild. Several babirusa populations are threatened by habitat loss and hunting.
Artiodactyla : The mammalian order of even-toed ungulates, including pigs, deer, cattle, and whales. This broader lineage places babirusas among hoofed mammals.
Sexual dimorphism : Differences in appearance or size between males and females of the same species. Male babirusas develop more conspicuous tusks than females.
Togian babirusa : A babirusa species, Babyrousa togeanensis, native to the Togian Islands of Indonesia. Its island range illustrates the genus’s geographic subdivision.
Habitat fragmentation : The division of continuous habitat into smaller, isolated patches. Fragmented forests can restrict movement and isolate babirusa populations.
Canine tooth : A pointed tooth positioned between the incisors and premolars in many mammals. Babirusa tusks are enlarged upper and lower canine teeth.
Omnivore : An animal that obtains food from both plant and animal sources. Babirusas eat a varied diet that includes fruits, leaves, and small animals.
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