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Chapter 17: Palawan bearded pig Sus ahoenobarbus (Huet, 1888)Taxonomy
A monotypic species restricted to the Palawan Faunal Region,
Philippines, differing genetically from S. barbatus, with which
it was formerly lumped (Lucchini et al. 2005). The latter study
indicates closer relationship to the Visayan warty pig S. cebifrons,
whereas the morphology and presence of 38 chromosomes
(versus 36 chromosomes present in pig species in the oceanic
Philippines; Oliver 1995) indicate a closer relationship with
S. barbatus. Hybridization between S. barbatus and S. cebifrons
may be one possible explanation for the similarities; however,
until further research is undertaken, the phylogeny of the species
remains unresolved (Meijaard et al. 2011).
Sanborn (1952) tentatively suggested that two subadult
specimens from Busuanga may belong to a distinct form cala-
mianensis, although measurements were not markedly different
from subadult specimens from Palawan.
Distribution
The species is endemic to the Palawan Faunal Region in the
Philippines at the north-eastern edge of Sundaland. It is recorded
from the main island of Palawan, as well as some of its larger
satellite islands: Balabac, Bugsuk, Busuanga, Calauit, Coron,
Culion, Dumaran, Linapacan, Pandanan (Esselstyn et al. 2004;
Widmann et al. 2008; Meijaard et al. 2011; Figure 17.1). It is also
recorded from some smaller islands close to the main island of
Palawan, but it is unclear if these are permanently inhabited.
Fossil records from the late Pleistocene exist from Quezon in
southern Palawan (Reis & Garong 2001), as well as from El Nido,
northern Palawan, from the late Pleistocene to late Holocene
(Piper et al. 2011).Descriptive Notes
Body length 1–1.6 m, shoulder 1 m, weight up to 150 kg. The hair
is thin, bristly, and blackish-brown over most of the animal, but
adults have a distinct mane of longer whitish hairs extending from
crown to rump, a characteristic ‘beard’ of long white hairs on the
cheeks and jowls, extending in a band across the snout; the latter
contrasting with black hairs around the eyes, forehead and more
anterior parts of the snout, providing a ‘mask-like’ appearance.
Infants lack manes and beards and are generally far less distinctly
marked, except for three horizontal bands of orange-coloured hair
extending from their necks to their hind-quarters; the lower band
also being much broader and therefore extending over most of the
lower sides of their bodies’ (Meijaard et al. 2011).Figure 17.1 Palawan bearded pig distribution (source: IUCN 2008, Red List of Threatened Species). (A simplified black and white version of this figure will appear in some
formats. For the colour version, please refer to the plate section.)
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