Red river hog

Scientific name: Potamochoerus porcus

How weight is recorded: Carcass weight

Field notes

Appearance

Stocky, muscular build with distinctive reddish-brown to chestnut coat; older males darken significantly. White facial markings, erectile mane along spine, and prominent ear tufts are characteristic; males develop pronounced tushes and frontal knob.

Size and weight

Males 45–75 kg, females 35–50 kg; body length 100–150 cm; shoulder height 65–80 cm.

Habitat

Red river hogs favour dense woodland, riverine forest, and thick scrub in tropical and subtropical regions, typically from sea level to 2,500 m elevation. They prefer areas with permanent or seasonal water sources and rich leaf litter for foraging.

Distribution

West and Central Africa from Senegal to South Africa; absent from Sahara and arid zones; most common in moist forest and woodland mosaic.

Diet

Omnivorous; roots, tubers, fallen fruit, insects, and carrion; seasonal preference for mast (nuts, fruit) when available; active soil turning for grubs and fungi.

Behaviour

Primarily nocturnal and crepuscular; solitary or in small family groups; mark territory with dung middens and mud wallows; move considerable distances between favoured feeding areas.

Hunting tips

Look for deep, radiating hoof prints in soft soil near water and wallow sites; fresh dung middens and disturbed earth indicate active feeding areas. Approach waterside thickets at dawn or dusk when hogs visit to drink and feed. Move slowly into wind through dense cover, pausing frequently to listen for snorts and movement; use salt or mineral licks as ambush points.

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 5 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.