Common warthog

Scientific name: Phacochoerus africanus

How weight is recorded: Carcass weight

Field notes

Appearance

Robust build with greyish-brown coat and a prominent mane along neck and back. Both sexes bear long, upright tusks; males are noticeably larger and heavier-jawed.

Size and weight

Males weigh 100–150 kg, females 45–75 kg; body length ranges 130–210 cm.

Habitat

Warthogs favour open grasslands, savannas, and acacia scrubland from sea level to around 3000 metres elevation. They depend on water sources and soft soil for digging.

Distribution

Widespread throughout sub-Saharan Africa, from open savannas to scrubland in East and Southern Africa.

Diet

Primarily grazers feeding by day; they also dig for roots, tubers, bark, and insects when grass is scarce.

Behaviour

Diurnal herd animals moving in small family groups led by a female. They retreat to dug burrows or natural shelters at dusk.

Hunting tips

Scout soft-ground areas near water holes and grazing grounds for fresh tracks and dug wallows. Follow recent dung sign and worn paths to feeding zones. Stalk into wind during early morning or late afternoon grazing periods across open terrain.

Carcass weight

This species is logged by carcass weight — the animal weighed dressed, the way hunting teams normally report it.

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 14 countries in Huntify.

Names in other languages

These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.