Young warthogs (Phacochoerus aethiopicus) display suspicious light colored bristels at their cheeks. In our view these seem to mimic the prominent tuskers of the adult...(?) I would greatly appreciate to learn about the specific (or even interspecific) function in social (or Camouflage) context - arguing that the hairy Imitation of tuskers may play some role in social interaction between piglets.
Just an idea; could anyone add some facts? The first glance upon literature (Somers et al,1995) does not deal with this character...
Attached document might help but I think there is very limited information on piglets
http://rcin.org.pl/Content/12351/BI002_2613_Cz-40-2_Acta-T40-nr22-257-281_o.pdf
Mlamuleli:
Thanks a lot - that is one of the only three informations about social life in warthogs I found so long - welcome to the Club!
But perhaps someone will look after now?
Greetings to South Africa,
Ernst-Hermann
If you are dealing with common warthogs, their name is Phacochoerus africanus! A quick look at warthog pictures (Google Image) shows that many adults also display prominent whiskers whereas they also have large tusks. Thus "mimicking" adults by displaying whiskers may not be related to tusks only. Previous studies with behavioral aspects have indeed never suggested that hair development could be a sign of dominance among piglets (Bigourdan 1948, Geigy 1955, Simpson 1964, Frädrich 1965, Cumming , Mason 1990, Plesner Jensen 1994), but many suggest that the most vigorous sucklings rank higher in the "teat order" and that later fighting among piglets and juveniles are the most significant elements leading to hierarchy. Your hairy idea should be substantiated first by convincing observations in order to take shape.
If you are dealing with common warthogs, their name is Phacochoerus africanus! A quick look at warthog pictures (Google Image) shows that many adults also display prominent whiskers whereas they also have large tusks. Thus "mimicking" adults by displaying whiskers may not be related to tusks only. Previous studies with behavioral aspects have indeed never suggested that hair development could be a sign of dominance among piglets (Bigourdan 1948, Geigy 1955, Simpson 1964, Frädrich 1965, Cumming , Mason 1990, Plesner Jensen 1994), but many suggest that the most vigorous sucklings rank higher in the "teat order" and that later fighting among piglets and juveniles are the most significant elements leading to hierarchy. Your hairy idea should be substantiated first by convincing observations in order to take shape.
Jean Pierre:
of course you are right: it is just a hairy idea based on the observation, that these bristles - though they (still?) occur in adults - are much more prominent in youngsters.
Thanks for this lesson,
Ernst-Hermann
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