Chapter 25: White-lipped peccary Tayassu pecari (Link, 1795)271
In general, activity patterns are influenced by abiotic factors such
as seasonality, temperature, and water availability, and by biotic
factors including food and other resources availability and the
physiological condition of an individual, as well as by anthro-
pogenic activities, primarily hunting, habitat destruction, and
agriculture (Altrichter et al. 2002; Reyna-Hurtado et al. 2015).
Uncommon for forest-dwelling ungulates, the white-lipped
peccary is highly social and lives in large, cohesive groups.
The strong musky scent that is emitted from the dorsal gland
is used for communication and marking territories (Mayer &
Wetzel 1987; Sowls 1997). Individuals rub their lower jaw over
each other’s dorsal gland and then via autogrooming distribute
the scent across their bodies (Figure 25.5). These forms of
reciprocal grooming lead to herd-specific scent (Schmidt
1990). The white-lipped peccary is also very vocal, including
teeth- clicking, low grunts, woofs, loud barks, and high-
frequency squeals. Vocalization also enhances group cohesion
especially in dense understorey vegetation (March 1993). These
vocalizations can be heard over large distances and may be used
for communication, group cohesiveness, and during distress.
Schmidt (1990) also suggested that the white marking along
the lower jaw might help in conspecific recognition; however,
considering some dense forests and their low light condition,
its function remains unclear.
Analysis of the species’ time budget found that the white-
lipped peccary in a humid Costa Rican forest spent a similar
amount of daytime eating (30 per cent) and moving (30 per cent).
The rest of the day was spent resting (28 per cent), interacting
with conspecifics (3 per cent), and engaging in other activities.
During low food availability, Altrichter et al. (2002) recorded
a decrease in the time spent resting and more time foraging.
Monthly variation in time spent on social interactions and the
frequency of agonistic interactions seemed to be related to breed-
ing (Altrichter et al. 2002).
Peccaries in general, but especially the white-lipped pec-
cary, can function as ecosystem engineers (Jones et al. 1994)
because they create and maintain water/mud wallows in the
understorey, and their rooting and foraging activities alter soil,
litter, and vegetation which may have critical ecological effects
for other species (Silman et al. 2003; Keuroghlian & Eaton 2009).
Because of their frequent visits, the soil in the wallows becomes
compacted, thus the water remains longer than in naturally occur-
ring ponds (Beck et al. 2010). Wallows, especially those visited by
larger white-lipped peccary groups, tend to be much bigger in size
(i.e. 60 m^2 ) than those used by the smaller family units of collared
peccary (i.e. 10 m^2 ). Thus, wallows of the white-lipped peccary
can become critical breeding and foraging habitat for several
anuran species especially during the dry season. In addition,Figure 25.5 Two adult white-lipped
peccaries displaying reciprocal
grooming whereby excretions
from their dorsal glands are shared,
which may give a herd its specific
scent (photo by Brent Huffman/
UltimateUngulate). (A black and white
version of this figure will appear in some
formats. For the colour version, please
refer to the plate section.).02712:46:17