Galapagos Species Database
The Galapagos Species Database shares the information about the species from our Natural History Collections.
Sus scrofa
Chancho, cerdo, Cerdo, chancho, puerco, marrano, porcino, cochinito, lechón., Pig, wild boar
Medium-sized mammal with compact body and large head, its eyes are small, the neck is thick and can not fold up, the legs are short, does not present sweat glands so regulates its temperature taking mud baths, skin color varies from gray to black or brown, although there are pigs with white skin to pink. Sexually dimorphic, males are generally larger than females, An adult male can measure from 0.9 to 2 m. length (without tail), and from 0.55 to 1.1 m tall at the shoulder. The average weight is 50 to 90 kg, although there are races that can reach 300 kg. Females can measure between 0.8 to 1.35 cm in length and an average weight of 45 kg. The tusks of adult males grow continuously, the upper tusks are bent upwards, are their lethal weapons for defense. The tusks of the females are short and do not protrude. Pigs have a jaw adapted to eat vegetables, but are usually omnivorous and their diet can include eggs and juvenile tortoises and turtles, endemic reptiles and seabirds. The sense of smell of pigs is highly developed, in Europe they are used to find truffles. The males are usually solitary, while the females with their young and sub-adults live in groups called sounders. Herds usually have around 20 animals, although there have been groups of up to 50. The herds include three breeding females, one of which is the dominant female. They are most active at night.
Domain
Eukaryota
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Artiodactyla
Family
Suidae
Genus
Sus
Species
scrofa
Taxon category: Accepted
Syn. No valid, Sus domesticus, Erxleben, 1777
Taxon origin: Introduced - established
Preference for an altitude zone in Galapagos: Coastal zonera - humid zone
Habitat preferences: Wild boars are adapted to temperate and semi-tropical environments. They live in forested areas, but are adapted to different habitats where can find vegetation for camouflage and food. In Galapagos they are found from coastal areas at beaches where sea turtle nesting, to wet transition zone, usually associated with areas of dense vegetation and tortoise nesting areas.
Feeding preferences: Wild boars forage early in the morning and in the late afternoon or night, they are scavengers, omnivores and eat almost anything they find. In Galapagos wild board feed mainly on fruits like guava, passion fruit, avocado and even wild blackberries, during the nesting season of terrestrial and marine turtles, pigs are kept near nesting areas, because they feed on the eggs of these species and even infants. Also attack the nests of seabirds such as Galapagos petrel, blue footed boobies, etc.
Trophic role: Omnivorous
Reproduction mode: Exclusively sexual
Reproductive biology: During periods of mating, males and females looking to fight with other males for the right to mate with females of the sounders. The age of puberty for sows ranges from 6 to 24 months of age depending on environmental and nutritional factors. Mating can last about 45 minutes. Pregnancy lasts approximately 115 days and a sow will leave the group to construct a mound-like nest out of vegetation and dirt, 1–3 days before giving birth. The process of giving birth to a litter lasts between 2 and 3 hours, and the sow and piglets remain in, or close to, the nest for 4–6 days, then returning to the group. During lactation the piglets will cross suckle between other lactating sows, the litter size is 5 to 10 piglets. After three to four months piglets are fully weaned and ready to ready to start eating solid foods.
Distribution origin: The original range of the species covers Europe, Asia and North Africa. It has been introduced in the Americas, Austria, New Zealand and several Pacific islands.
Natural enemies: Feral pigs are a food source for tigers in the places they live together, however they avoided attacking adult males, in many cases, males have wounded tigers to death in self-defense. Wolves are also predators of boars; mostly feed on piglets, striped hyenas feed on adult males. Young piglets are important prey for several species, including large snakes, such as the reticulated python, large birds of prey, and various wild felids; in Australia they are consumed by dingos. Piglets are preferred prey of most predators, they are less aggressive, adult males usually are just caught by surprise. In Galapagos, hawks capture and kill small piglets, in the past wild dogs also hunted the young of S. scrofa
Economic Use: The main economic use of S. scrofa includes trade and consumption of its meat. Is possible to use all of the pig’s meat, viscera and skin. Worldwide, there are many people who are dedicated to breed these animals for the sale and production of derivatives. The meat and the skin are used to make bags, shoes and a glove, etc, and bristles to make brushes. They are also the primary source of edible saturated fat, although currently lean meat breeds are preferred. They also provide quality raw material for the production of ham and sausage. In some European countries raise and train pigs to search for truffles in the field, these pigs have a very high economic value. In Galapagos only meat is used and marketed, in Isabela island wild boar meat is highly prized and valued economically.
Disease vector: Pigs can carry parasites as Trichinella causing trichinosis, Taenia or bacteria such as Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes and pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli, all dangerous to humans.
Mode of introduction: Intentional
Introduction Pathway: Intentional
Subpathway: Animals for breeding
Introduced status: Naturalized
Invasive status: Invasive
Impact in Galapagos: The presences of S. scrofa affect directly several species in the Galapagos Islands. Wild pigs are devastating the nests of tortoises and turtles, attack the nests of birds such as boobies, Galapagos petrel, moorhen, also eat hatchling turtles and are capable of causing serious ecological damage to forests, removing plants and trees when they are rooting and looking for food on the ground.
Impact elsewhere: Introduced in many parts of the world, causing damage to crops, reserves and properties. By rooting, uproot large areas of native vegetation and spread weeds, disrupting ecological processes such as succession and species composition. Pigs can carry parasites as Trichinella causing trichinosis, Taenia or bacteria such as Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes and pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli, all dangerous to humans.
Control History in Galapagos: In the Galapagos Islands, there is no eradication program of this species, the main reason is because it can cause a social problem, much of the population, especially in Isabela Island depend on hunting of this species for food. The Galapagos National Park made control of this species; hunting is occasional use dogs and firearms. The only place where an eradication program was conducted on Santiago Island, which is uninhabited, goat meat baits poisoned with warfarin was used, which were strategically placed to avoid the hawks consume it, also worked with specialized hunters and trained dogs, eradication was achieved in October 2004. By occasional hunting was eradicated in northern Isabela, Baltra, Spanish, South Plaza, Santa Fe, Marchena, Rabida and Pinta. In the rest of the islands where S. scrofa occurs only control is carried out.
Known Pest elsewhere: The problematic nature of feral hogs has to be considered a highly invasive and dangerous species in various parts of the world.
Prevention options: Management of this invasive species is complex; eradication programs often are rejected by communities who value them for their food and economic resources.
Year of first record: 1832
Year of introduction: 1832
Map of specimen collection localities or observation records for this species in our collections database.
Distribution: Santa Cruz, San Cristóbal, Florena y el sur de Isabela. Erradicados del norte de Isabela, Baltra, Española, Plaza Sur, Santa Fe, Marchena, Rábida, Pinta y Santiago.
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- Wolf, T. (1892) Geografía y Geología del Ecuador. Publicada Orden Supremo Gobierno Repúblia. Leipzig, Quito, (Part 5, El Archipiélago de Galápagos) p. 469-493.
- Hoeck, H.N. (1984) Introduced fauna. In: Perry, R. (ed.): Key environments: Galápagos. Pergamon Press, Oxford, p. 233-246.
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- Hickin, N. (1979) Animal life of the Galapagos. Ferundune Books, Faringdon, U.K., 236 pp.
- Coblentz, B.E (1978) The Effects of Feral Goats (Capra hircus) on island Ecosystems. Biol. Conserv. Applied Science Publishers Ltd. England. Pp 279 -286.
- Chimer, C. Coleman, M.C., Parkes, J.P. (1995) Diet of feral coat and feral pogs on Auckland Island, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Ecology Vol. 19 No. 2. Pp 203-207
- Challies, C.N. (1975) Feral pigs (Sus scrofa) on Auckland Island: status, and effects on vegetation and nesting sea birds. New Zealand Journal of Zoology Vol 2: 479 - 490.
- Coblentz, B. E. Baber, D. W. (1987) Biology and Contro of Feral Pigs on Isla Santiago, Galapagos, Ecuador. Journal of Applied Ecology: 24, 403-41 8
- Carrión, V. (2014) Conversaciones personales
- IUCN (2015) The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2015-4. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 20 November 2015.
Feeding type: Polyphagous