What is that weird piglike critter I just saw? Well, I am glad you asked. Those are javelina or collared peccary (Pecari tajacu), and they’re not even in the same family as pigs. They’re not rodents either… Javelina are one of three peccaries in the Tayassuidae family, while feral pigs/ hogs (Sus Scrofa) are in the Suidae family. Another important distinction between the two is that javelina are a native species and a game animal in Texas, while pigs are a nuisance animal brought over from Europe in the 1500s. Javelina have one of the largest distributions of any ungulate but only occur in limited areas of the United States, including Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas – lucky us right!
I admit that javelinas look a lot like small pigs, but there are some notable differences. Adult javelina stand about 18 inches tall and weigh approximately 40 pounds. They only have three toes on their hind feet and a scent gland on their back that secretes a strong odor. Both males and females have large, sharp, and straight upper and lower canine teeth they use for defense. They have a keen sense of smell, which makes up for their poor eyesight and hearing. Javelina are sexually monomorphic too, which is a fancy way of saying the males and females look alike.
Javelina live in groups called squadrons – cool I know! Squadrons can range from 10 to 50 individuals and tend to form a territory, with territory size dependent on resources like food, water, and cover. Javelina have a complex stomach and are primarily herbivores eating cacti, mesquite beans, forbs, and other succulents. Research has shown that prickly pear cactus makes up 80% of the javelina diets during certain times of the year.
Javelina can breed yearround and can start reproducing when they’re 11 months old. Their gestation period is about 145 days, and they typically give birth to 2 offspring. Babies are commonly called “reds” because they are red when young. Reds are mobile within just a few hours of birth, which helps them avoid predators. Predation can be an issue for juveniles, but adults have few predators, with humans likely being the most common source of mortality.
Javelina are often misunderstood and confused with feral hogs, which gives them an undeserved bad reputation in many areas. They are also understudied, so we don’t know much about them, but we are trying to change that. Texas A&M University and partners are kicking off an extensive javelina study in 2024 to better understand javelina ecology, ensuring populations and habitat are managed appropriately. What a cool critter and an essential part of the Texas ecosystem. We are lucky to have them!