Scientific Classification
- Common Name
- pot-bellied pig, Chinese pot-bellied pig, Asian pot-bellied pig
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammalia
- Order
- Artiodactyla
- Family
- Suidae
- Genus Species
- Sus (pig) scrofa (breeding sow)
Fast Facts
- Description
- The pot-bellied pig has black skin with scarce hair, short erect ears and a short snout. It also has a sagging abdomen and the very loose skin gives a wrinkled appearance. A true pot-bellied pig has a straight tail that attaches high on the rump. If the tails curls at all, this is a sign of cross breeding.
- Size
- Approximate shoulder height of 35 to 45 cm (14 to 18 in.)
- Weight
- Up to 67.5 kg (150 lbs.)
- Diet
- Omnivores - includes grasses, eggs, frogs, snakes, and fish
- Incubation
- Gestation lasts approximately 114 days; usually has 6 piglets
- Sexual Maturity
- Approximately 5 to 7 months
- Life Span
- 10 to 20 years, is able to live to 30 years
- Range
- Southeast Asia
- Habitat
- Inhabits open woodlands
- Population
- Global: Common
- Status
- IUCN: Not listed
CITES: Not listed
USFWS: Not listed
Fun Facts
- Pigs' skin lacks hair, so they are very sensitive to the sun. In the wild they wallow in the mud to stay cool and protect their skin.
- Pigs use their snout for rutting and foraging.
- Vietnamese pot-bellied's are a sub-species of the common pig, probably descended from a Chinese ancestor.
- Pigs have poor vision but excellent senses of smell and hearing.
- In the wild, they may form herds of considerable numbers, one herd keeping its distance from others. Herd members communicate with a variety of squeaks, grunts, gurgles and other sounds, including different sneezes.
- The origin of the piggy bank in American society probably dates back to ancient China. Emperor Huang-Ti invented the Chinese calendar in 2367 B.C. and gave each year an animal representative. The year of the pig represents prosperity.
Ecology and Conservation
Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs are popular pets due to their smaller size, lack of shedding, and tough skin, which resists fleas and parasites. They can be trained to the same extent as a dog and can even be house broken.
Pigs in general help turn over soil, promoting new plant growth.
Bibliography
Grzimek, B. Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia. Vol. 13 New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold Co., 1972.
Huckaby. L. Pot-bellied Pigs and Other Miniature Pet Pigs. TFH Pub., NJ., 1992.
Honolulu Zoo. http://www.honoluluzoo.org/potbellied_pig.htm
Santa Barbara Zoo. http://www.santabarbarazoo.org/animals/mammals/vietpig.html
