Warthogs can be very vicious and there is a case on record where one ripped a leopard open with its tusks in self-defence.
Both male and female have tusks and these are kept sharp as the bottom ones continually rub against the top ones.
In times of drought and in areas where food is scarce, warthogs will dig up roots and bulbs using their tusks and noses.
Because they are so small and the grass is normally higher than them, they erect their tails when running so that the others in the family can see where the leader is going and can follow.
The warts on their faces (females have two and the males have four) are in fact growths of skin and not actual warts.
From foraging around finding food, they will develop calluses on the joints of their front knee from kneeling on the ground.
When they are attacked, they will go hind first into an old antbear hole so that their tusks point towards the opening and can thus defend themselves.
Due to the fact that they are in such close contact with the grass, they are infested with ticks and in order to get rid of them, they will wallow in a mud pool and as the mud dries, the ticks become encased in it. The warthogs then rub against a tree or rock it break the mud off and the ticks with it.
Leopard and lion are their biggest enemies although when they are still very small, they also fall prey to eagles and jackal.
Both male and female have tusks and these are kept sharp as the bottom ones continually rub against the top ones.
In times of drought and in areas where food is scarce, warthogs will dig up roots and bulbs using their tusks and noses.
Because they are so small and the grass is normally higher than them, they erect their tails when running so that the others in the family can see where the leader is going and can follow.
The warts on their faces (females have two and the males have four) are in fact growths of skin and not actual warts.
From foraging around finding food, they will develop calluses on the joints of their front knee from kneeling on the ground.
When they are attacked, they will go hind first into an old antbear hole so that their tusks point towards the opening and can thus defend themselves.
Due to the fact that they are in such close contact with the grass, they are infested with ticks and in order to get rid of them, they will wallow in a mud pool and as the mud dries, the ticks become encased in it. The warthogs then rub against a tree or rock it break the mud off and the ticks with it.
Leopard and lion are their biggest enemies although when they are still very small, they also fall prey to eagles and jackal. 