Pig
The domesticated omnivore that shaped human history.
The pig (Sus domesticus), also called swine or hog, is an omnivorous, domesticated, even-toed, hoofed mammal. It is named the domestic pig when distinguishing it from other members of the genus Sus. Some authorities consider it a subspecies of Sus scrofa (the wild boar or Eurasian boar); other authorities consider it a distinct species.
Quick Facts
- Scientific name
- Sus scrofa domesticus
- Family
- Suidae
- Diet type
- Omnivore
- Social structure
- Complex Herds (Sounders)
- Conservation status
- Domestic: Domesticated; Wild Ancestor: Least Concern
Lore & Background
Pigs have featured in human culture since Neolithic times, appearing in art and literature for children and adults, and celebrated in cities such as Bologna for their meat products.
Reader's Guide
Pigs are farmed primarily for meat, called pork. The animal's skin or hide is used for leather. China is the world's largest pork producer, followed by the European Union and then the United States. Around 1.5 billion pigs are raised each year, producing some 120 million tonnes of meat, often cured as bacon. Some are kept as pets.
Did You Know?
- Pigs were domesticated independently twice during the Neolithic, in the Near East around the Tigris Basin, and in China.
- Pigs possess both apocrine and eccrine sweat glands, although the latter are limited to the snout.
- Pigs are among four mammalian species with mutations in the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor that protect against snake venom.
- The genome of the pig has been sequenced; it contains about 20,000 to over 22,000 protein-coding genes.
Elsewhere in Living Planet
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced