Chapter 12: Bushpig Potamochoerus larvatus (F. Cuvier, 1822)123
Taxonomy
Over a century ago, Gray (1868) had already differenti-
ated between two species of Potamochoerus: the bushpig
(Potamochoerus africanus) and the red river hog (Potamochoerus
porcus), reflecting the two major groupings of Potamochoerus
inhabiting southern and eastern as against central and west-
ern Africa, respectively. These two main groups, each with
species status and subspecific subdivisions, were again recog-
nized by Lönnberg (1910); altogether distinguishing five spe-
cies (Potamochoerus choeropotamus: south-eastern Africa;
Potamochoerus hassama: Ethiopia; Potamochoerus larvatus:
Madagascar; Potamochoerus intermedius: central-north Africa;
Potamochoerus porcus: central and western Africa) and 20 sub-
species (Lönnberg 1910; Von Boetticher 1933).
In his review of the distributional ecology of African suids, Von
Boetticher (1933), also recognizing 20 subspecies, considered all
to belong to a single species (Potamochoerus porcus Linnaeus).
Only 13 subspecies, belonging to a single species (Potamochoerus
porcus), were retained in the taxonomic revision by Haltenorth
(1963). It was subsequently recognized that the bushpig and the
red river hog were distinctly different species, Potamochoerus
larvatus (F. Cuvier, 1822) and Potamochoerus porcus (Linnaeus,
1758), respectively (Grubb 1993). Until that time, the results of
studies relating to the bushpig were published using the species
designation Potamochoerus porcus, which was subsequently
reserved for the red river hog (e.g. Breytenbach & Skinner 1982;
Jones 1984; Seydack 1990; Seydack & Bigalke 1992).
Some species-differentiating features were obtained from
Groves and Grubb (2011): bushpig – coat with bristly, long, rela-
tively sparse body hairs, also forming a dorsoventral crest. Head
contrasting in colour with the body. Body colour often polychro-
matic within single populations. Red river hog – coat reddish-
orange with a white dorsal line (not bristly) beginning from
behind the head. Face with a black mask, but with a white muz-
zle, white eye-rings, and long white cheek whiskers. Ears elon-
gated with long terminal tufts. Pelage bristly only on the snout
and much of the face; but short, soft, and dense on the body and
the forehead. Relatively small in comparison with P. larvatus,
as reflected in skull length metrics: 327–405 mm (males) and
269–378 mm (females). Grubb (1993) recognized two clearly dis-
tinct subspecies of Potamochoerus larvatus on the African conti-
nent: the white-faced bushpig P. l. hassama (eastern Africa) and
the southern bushpig P. l. koiropotamus (from Angola to southern
Africa). Groves and Grubb (2011) settled for two distinct sub-
species (similar to those of Grubb 1993): P. l. hassama (Heuglin,
1863) and P. l. larvatus (F. Cuvier, 1822). Distinguishing features:
P. l. hassama – white face often with blackish markings in females
and young males. The coat colour of adult males is black or off-
white. Size relatively small (skull length: 341–377 mm in males
and 327–353 mm in females). P. l. larvatus – face generally grey,
with a broad blackish band over the muzzle. The coat colour of the
body is usually brown or reddish-brown, grading into a darker
colour on the belly and limbs; sometimes entirely blackish or off-
white in males. Skulls larger: 367–415 mm in males and 345–395
in females (vide Groves & Grubb 2011). Grubb (1993) noted that
the white-faced bushpig (P. l. hassama) inhabits densely vegetated
highland areas. Coat colour characteristics of P. l. hassama and
of P. l. larvatus (southern Africa: choeropotamus-form) appear
to be similar. It is noteworthy in this context that male bushpigs
(P. l. larvatus) in South African forests and thickets (P. l. choero-
potamus-form) have strikingly white faces, accentuating display
structures on the head against shady or darker backgrounds in
densely vegetated habitat.Subspecies and Distribution
Historical Distribution
According to assessments of historical records (Skead 1986), the
distribution of bushpigs in southern Africa has not been altered
to any great extent. They may have been locally exterminated or
driven back by the encroachment of human developments. The
situation appears to be similar for Africa in general (not verified
on a local level).Present Distribution
Potamochoerus larvatus hassama: Ethiopia, southern Sudan,
eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi,
Kenya, Uganda, and northern Tanzania (Groves & Grubb 2011)
(Figure 12.1).
Potamochoerus larvatus larvatus: lower Congo River (left
bank), Katanga, Tanzania (north at least to Kikosa), Angola, and
southwards into northern Namibia (Caprivi) and South Africa.
South-eastern South Africa and (introduced) in Madagascar
and on Mayotte (vide Groves & Grubb 2011). In Botswana they
occur only in northern and north-eastern parts; but through-
out Zimbabwe. In South Africa they are found in north-eastern
parts of the country, including Swaziland, to southern KwaZulu-
Natal and again in the forests and thickets of the southern and
eastern Cape (Seydack 2013) (Figure 12.1).Density
Population density estimates in southern Cape forests (South
Africa) ranged between 0.3 and 0.5 ind. /km^2 (Seydack 1990,
2013). For another South African location, the Hluhluwe-
iMfolozi Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, a population den-
sity of 0.22 ind. /km^2 was recorded (Mentis 1970). Gaidet et al.
(2003) provided a population density estimate of 0.36 bushpigs/
km^2 (Zambezi Valley, Zimbabwe).Descriptive Notes
In general appearance, the bushpig can be described as a
medium-sized, thickset suid, with the head characterized by an
elongated muzzle, a naked disc-like snout, cheek beards, and
terminal ear tassels (Figure 12.2). Some records of body dimen-
sions are available. Head and body length: males: 1256 (1100–
1540) mm (n = 80), females: 1207 (1090–1410) mm (n = 74);
tail length (Smithers & Wilson 1979): males: 402 (335–432) mm
(n = 6), females: 361 (305–432) mm (n = 4); body mass: males: 72.3
(55.0–96.0) kg (n = 84), females: 68.9 (54.0–85.0) kg (n = 104).
The above body metrics were recorded for southern and east-
ern Cape bushpigs (South Africa; Seydack 1983, 1990, 2013).
Mean body mass records from eastern Zambia were slightly.01412:38:17