Kingdom animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Artiodactyla
Family suidae
Gender sus
Species sus scrofa
SubspeciesSus scrofa domesticus
Domestic pigs are mammals descended from Eurasian wild boars, domesticated for a long time, probably around the time that the domestication of dogs occurred.
Due to kinship, pigs and wild boars are significantly similar, and can breed with each other, generating fertile offspring. However, over the years, some significant changes have occurred in domestic pigs, many resulting from artificial selection, aiming at the domestication and highlighting of certain properties of its beef. Currently, there are about a billion domestic pigs around the world.
Although the name given to these animals is widely used in a pejorative way, they are contradictorily targeted for food; and increasingly have been used in research, as the physiology and nutritional requirements of pigs and humans are very similar. The digestive tract, teeth, liver, heart; and susceptibility to certain diseases, such as arthritis; are some of these similar characteristics – in addition to the omnivorous diet. Therefore, they are considered model animals for the study of human diseases.
Some researchers point out that the animals in question are so intelligent that, in this regard, they can outperform dogs; and match dolphins, elephants and great apes. They have excellent memory, complex social structures, with a maximum limit of approximately 30 members; well-developed communication codes and, surprisingly, they reserve a single place in their environment for all individuals in the group to defecate and urinate.
The vocalization of domestic pigs is similar to that of wild boars; and it does not present itself as the only form of communication. Equipped with nine glands that secrete odoriferous substances, these animals use them to identify individuals from the same group. As they do not have sweat glands, when the temperature is around 25ºC or more, they go to burrows dug in the ground, or to mud, to reduce the sensation of heat.
As for reproduction, dominant males usually form harems with about ten females. Homosexual relationships can also occur, usually involving the subjugation of one individual over another.
Isn't it terribly interesting?
By Mariana Araguaia
Biologist, specialist in Environmental Education
