The remains of wild boars are found in archaeological layers that are tens of thousands of years old. 13,000 years ago they had already begun to be domesticated in the Middle East. Previously, these animals were distributed throughout Europe, Africa and Asia. Conquistadors brought domestic pigs to America, where some of them went wild. Wild boar is a very prestigious hunting trophy. The domestic pig is a product of human labor. Wild boar and domestic pig, who is better?
Appearance of animals
Anyone can tell the difference between a wild boar and a domestic pig by their appearance. However, from the ancestor, the tame descendants inherited the characteristic features of the species: a snout, 2 pairs of fingers on each hoof, a powerful torso.
Pig
The body length of the animal usually does not exceed 1.5 m. The body is dense, on short thin legs with hooves. The wool is liquid, the skin shines through it. The weight of different breeds varies greatly: it can be 45 kg, maybe 150 kg.
A pig's eyes are small. The ears are large, flexible and mobile, in some breeds they droop, falling over the eyes. The neck is poorly defined, very short. The muzzle is cone-shaped with a round base (neck) and a slightly cut off top (piglet). The pig also digs well for them, just like its free relative. It is not for nothing that there are so many crosses between wild and escaped domestic animals that have survived in nature.
The sow has 5-8 pairs of nipples. She gives birth to 10-16 piglets, which weigh 600-1000 g at birth.
Boar
Females and males differ greatly in appearance. The boar is larger, weighing from 100 kg to 200 kg. A pig weighs approximately 80-150 kg. The upper and lower fangs of the male are immediately noticeable; they serve him for battles with competitors for the female and for defense against predators. In the opposite sex, these organs are much less developed. Protecting itself and its offspring, the pig tries to knock down the enemy with its front hooves. The mass of the animal plays a major role in this case.
The boar is covered with thick, rather long, dark, coarse hair. Under the upper bristles, a thick, soft undercoat grows in winter. The color of the bristles is black-brown with yellowish tint. In combination with a brownish-gray down insulation, the color of the animal looks like gray-black-brown.
The lower part of the boar's muzzle is elongated and ends in a rough snout. With it, the animal is able to dig through frozen soil to a depth of 30 cm. The ears of a wild boar are completely different from the ears of a domesticated descendant.They are densely covered with fur. The ears are wide, elongated, stand straight, pick up sounds well, and do not interfere with the eyes. The eyes are small.
The tail is 20-25 cm long, straight, with a tassel of longer hair at the end. The length of the boar's body reaches 175 cm. Height is 1 m. It is difficult for the animal to maneuver its massive body on relatively short legs. But it moves quickly, swiftly.
Piglets are born with a protective striped color. Their average birth weight is 850 g. The sow has five pairs of teats, although birthing 12 piglets is rare. More often than not there are four or six of them.
What is the difference between a pig and a wild boar?
It is interesting to see how human efforts, a carefree and more comfortable lifestyle have changed the appearance of a pet.
| Organs | What is the difference | |
| Boar | Pig | |
| Body | Longer and denser. | Shorter and weaker. |
| Head | Elongated and narrower, like the whole body, covered with thick hair. | Shorter and rounder. |
| Legs | Thicker and longer. | Thinner and shorter. |
| Ears | Erect, pointed, longer. | Droopy, partially covering the eyes. |
| Bristle | Thicker and longer, forms a ridge on the back. | Depends on the breed. More bald than hairy. |
| Color | Gray-black-brown body. The muzzle, lower legs and tail are black. The color of the bristles is affected by habitat and age. | Varied, even variegated. |
| Fangs | Large and dangerous, especially in males. | They are well developed, but they cannot kill you, they can bite your hand. |
| Tail | Straight, ends with a tassel. | Naked, twisted into a spiral. |
A wild boar runs 2-2.5 times faster than a domestic boar. Pigs are often friendly in character. Recently, these animals have become fashionable as pets and live in apartments. The boar is ferocious and quarrelsome.
