A hardy and distinctive wild pig adapted to the arid and semi-arid landscapes of the Horn of Africa, especially in Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti, and northern Kenya. Once thought to be extinct in the wild, it was rediscovered in the late 1990s. At first glance, it resembles its cousin, the common warthog (Phacochoerus africanus), but closer inspection reveals a suite of unique traits: it has longer, forward-projecting facial warts, large upward-curving tusks that emerge more horizontally, a broader, flatter snout, and distinctive tufts of hair—called ear tassels—at the tips of its ears, which are absent in the common warthog. Its coarse coat is generally sparse and gray-brown, with a mane running down its back that often stands erect when alarmed.

Life in the harsh terrain of the desert warthog’s range requires a mix of resilience and resourcefulness. These animals graze mainly on grasses during the wet season, but as the land dries, they turn to roots, tubers, bulbs, and fallen fruit—digging into hard soil with their strong tusks and snouts. When feeding, they often kneel on their padded forelegs, a habit that creates thick calluses over time. Water is a precious resource in their habitat; they obtain much of their moisture from plants but will travel considerable distances to visit waterholes during the dry season.

Socially, desert warthogs live in small family groups called sounders, typically composed of females and their young, while males are more solitary or form loose bachelor groups. Their raised, tufted tails act as a visual flag for group members to follow when running through tall grass. Compared to the more adaptable common warthog, desert warthogs are more restricted in their range and tied to specific dryland habitats, making them both ecologically specialized and vulnerable to habitat degradation.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Ethiopia

2015

Kenya

2015

Somalia

2015

South Africa

Official estimate

EX

Extinct since 1870s