| **T**his genus of pig was traditionally believed to be of a single species, //Babyrousa babyrussa//, and a few sub-species. In 2002, analysis taken out on skulls of babirusa indicated that the species can be split into four species in all – the Moluccan babirusa [//B. babyrussa//], the Sulawesi Babirusa [//B. celebensis//], the Togian Babirusa [//B. togeansis//], and the Bola-Batu Babirusa [//B. bolabatuensis//], which is known only from fossilized remains, and thus is believed to be extinct. Of the genera contained within the pig family, the Babirusa is believed to be the most evolutionarily distinct – perhaps diverging from the rest of the pig family some 13 million years ago. The name ‘babirusa’ comes from Malay words ‘babi’ and ‘rusa’ – the two together translating to ‘deer-pig’, in reference to the large tusks possessed by the boars. The three living species of babirusa are known to inhabit seven islands of Indonesia in all – four of which are tiny islands of the Gulf of Tomini [Una-Una. Togean Island, Walea Kepulauan, and Pulau Malenge, the latter of which is less than 10 kilometres across], as well as three comparatively larger islands – Ujung Pandang, Taliabu and Buru. The fossil record of the babirusa is not comprehensive as to the animal’s natural history, though fossils have been found around the same location the animal lives today. | **T**his genus of pig was traditionally believed to be of a single species, //Babyrousa babyrussa//, and a few sub-species. In 2002, analysis taken out on skulls of babirusa indicated that the species can be split into four species in all – the Moluccan babirusa [//B. babyrussa//], the Sulawesi Babirusa [//B. celebensis//], the Togian Babirusa [//B. togeansis//], and the Bola-Batu Babirusa [//B. bolabatuensis//], which is known only from fossilized remains, and thus is believed to be extinct. Of the genera contained within the pig family, the Babirusa is believed to be the most evolutionarily distinct – perhaps diverging from the rest of the pig family some 13 million years ago. The name ‘babirusa’ comes from Malay words ‘babi’ and ‘rusa’ – the two together translating to ‘deer-pig’, in reference to the large tusks possessed by the boars. The three living species of babirusa are known to inhabit seven islands of Indonesia in all – four of which are tiny islands of the Gulf of Tomini [Una-Una. Togean Island, Walea Kepulauan, and Pulau Malenge, the latter of which is less than 10 kilometres across], as well as three comparatively larger islands – Ujung Pandang, Taliabu and Buru. The fossil record of the babirusa is not comprehensive as to the animal’s natural history, though fossils have been found around the same location the animal lives today. |
| | An average babirusa is somewhat average-sized for a species of wild pig - measuring about a metre in length and just over a half-metre in height. The general body shape of the babirusa has been likened to a barrel, with slender legs and a somewhat arched back. Compared to most other species of wild pig, babirusa are comparatively hairless, with musculature and skin-folds clearly visible. The folded skin of the babirusa may be grey or pinkish in colouration - but is rather variable on the colour of dirt or clay where the animal lives - babirusa commonly wallow in dirt or clay, as do all other species of pig. Features possessed by other species of pig are evident in babirusa - notably split hooves, prominent snout, and a relatively short tail. Female babirusa are tuskless, though the male animal's curled tusks can grow to about a third of the animal's total body length, ocassionally growing into the skull itself. Should this not occur, it is believed that the tusks aid males when in combat with other males. Babirusa also differ from much of the pig family in that the skull of the babirusa lacks a rostral bone to strengthen the tissue plate of the snout's rhinarium - meaning that, in the exception of loose, moist ground, babirusa do not root the earth as do other pigs. |
