Warthog

At the Detroit Zoo

The Detroit Zoo is home to five warthogs. Piglets Daphne and Violet were born in April 2013. The babies' mother, Lilith, and her twin sister, Rebecca, are named for characters from the television series "Cheers". Daphne is named for a character from the sitcom's spin-off "Frasier". The father is Linus, whose namesake is a character from the "Peanuts" comic strip, as is Violet's. The warthogs share their African Grasslands habitat with two common elands near the Africa Train Station.

Description
The warthog has a large head, flat face, protruding facial warts and four sharp tusks. It can be shades of grey, brown and black. It has a thick mane that runs down its back and it is sparsely covered by little hairs on its body. It also sports a small tuft of hair at the end of its tail.

Scientific name: Phacochoerus africanus
Continent: Africa
Habitat: Savannahs, grasslands and woodlands
Size: 3-5 feet long
Weight: 110-330 pounds
Diet: The warthog is a herbivore and eats grasses, roots, herbs and fruits.
Reproduction: Gestation 175 days; three to four piglets
Lifespan: 11 years
Conservation Status: Least Concern

FUN FACTS

A warthog can go without water during Africa's dry season (which can last for several months).

If threatened, a warthog is able to run at speeds over 30 mph.

Female warthogs are quite social when they're young and usually stay in groups of up to 40, which are called sounders.