White-lipped Peccary - North America | Online Record Book Preview

Tayassu pecari

Senso, Pecarí labiado (Sp), Weissbartpekari (G), Pecari à lèvres blanches (F). Tayassu is of Indian origin, meaning "gnawer of roots." "Peccary" is from the Tupi (Brazil) pecari for "an animal which makes many paths through the woods."

DESCRIPTION Shoulder height 20-24 inches (51-61 cm). Weight 55-85 pounds (25-39 kg). Both sexes are similar in size.

Considerably larger than the collared peccary. General coloration is dark reddish-brown to grayish-black. The upper lips and lower jaw is white (hence the common name), as are the throat and rump.

BEHAVIOR Highly gregarious, in herds of up to 100 or more. More aggressive than the collared peccary, and with a larger proportion of meat in its diet. May take the offensive against predators if attacked. Less sedentary then the collared peccary. Both diurnal and nocturnal. In some areas, shares habitat with the collared peccary. Hunting is mainly accomplished by sitting in blinds at water holes located in the jungle.

HABITAT Dense tropical forest.

DISTRIBUTION Southeastern Mexico and Central America. Introduced in Cuba.

Also found in South America as far south as northern Argentina.

TAXONOMIC NOTES Two subspecies are listed in North America: ringens, from southern Mexico into northern Nicaragua and spiradens, from Nicaragua to Panama and extending into South America. We do not separate them.