Babirusa

The Babirusa or pig-deer, Babyrousa babyrussa, is a pig-like animal native to Sulawesi and surrounding islands of Indonesia. The sole member of its genus, it is typically categorized as belonging to the pig family.

Its habitat is the underbrush of tropical forests and canebrakes and the shores of rivers and lakes, where its mostly-hairless, mottled-grey-and-brown hide provide it with a degree of camouflage. Its diet consists of sometimes toxic shoots and leaves, which it counteracts by drinking from particular forest pools which contain the antidote, often traveling miles to do so.

The babirusa is known for its two pairs of tusks: both its upper and its lower pairs of canine teeth are greatly enlarged, and curve up and back towards the head; in fact, the upper canines of the male babirusa are so curved and enlarged that they emerge through the flesh, by way of holes, to pass through the top of the snout.

This species is on the endangered list.

Because it is split-hooved and has a three-chambered stomach (and was thus thought to be a ruminant for a long time), there was some dispute in Halakha (Jewish law) as to whether the babirusa pig is, in fact, kosher (permitted according to Jewish dietary laws). Eventually it was found that the animal is not a true ruminant, and thus remains 'treif' like other pigs.

Media

Image:Babirusa.jpg|Four-tusk babirusa from Indonesian region. Image:Babirusa skull.jpg|Babirusa skull on display at Field Museum.

References

Listed as Vulnerable (VU A1cd v2.3)

External links

ARKive - images and movies of the babirusas (Babyrousa spp)
http://www.thebigzoo.com/Animals/Babirusa.asp

Pigs | Endangered species | Fauna of Indonesia

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Media

References

External links