Collared Peccary
Tayassu tajacu

A sleepy Javelina yawns while resting in his only partially shaded hole.

The Collared Peccary is a relatively common sight in Tucson and the surrounding Sonora desert areas. The name it is best known by is Javelina (pronounced "hav-a-lee-na"). It is sometimes mistaken for a feral pig, though it has several distinct differences, it also shares some apparent similarities that cause the confusion. It has the distinction of being the only wild, native, pig-like ungulate in the southwestern deserts. The Javelina is not a very attractive animal. It can also be quite destructive and is therefore not high on the popularity list of most Tucson residents.

Let's start with the basics on this opportunistic desert denizen. It has large, broad head and shoulders tapering to slightly smaller hindquarters. It's coloration is blackish or grayish on the body, though exposure to the intense desert sun can have a bleaching, lightening affect on the color. Javelina (Javelina is both singular and plural for this animal) have a light yellow tint on the hair on their cheeks. As their name suggests, they have a collar, albeit quite irregular in shape, which is yellowish to whitish and goes from one shoulder to the other. They have a very coarse, bristly hair that runs from their head down the middle of their backs. When the Javelina wishes to, it can "get its hackles up" – meaning to raise these stiff hairs straight up, thereby intimidating adversaries, and appealing to a potential mate. When the Javelina does raise these hairs, the uncovered scent glands involuntarily discharge a potent, skunk-like odor. On young Javelina, this area is usually a black stripe. It has a small, unobtrusive tail, a pig-like nose, and its canine teeth can grow to tusk length. These teeth will only barely stick out of the lips of the Javelina, unlike certain species of boar, which can have very formidable, razor sharp tusks protruding many inches. Rarely do the tusks of the Javelina grow beyond 1½" in length. Interestingly, this mammal has two hooves on each foot, but four toes on its front feet, while only three on its hind feet. Adult males reach a height of 20 – 24 inches, and a length of 35 – 40 inches. The tails can be as short as ¾", or can grow to just over two inches. Due to the varied conditions these animals live in, the weight of the Javelina ranges from about 30 – 60 pounds. This desert ungulate has a life span of 15 – 20 years.

The warthog is a much larger, and more fearsome relative of the Javelina.

The Javelina is of the class Mammalia; order Artiodactyla; family Tayassuidae; genus and species Tayassu tajacu. It lives in both wet and dry forests, as well as chaparral and grasslands. Its range is from the southwestern United States to Texas, and from Central America to South America. The Javelina is a true omnivore and its limitless diet includes roots, seeds, cacti, insects, fruits, and even small invertebrate animals. Yes, that list included cactus. Watching a hungry Javelina chow down on a juicy prickly pear cactus is a noteworthy sight. Another interesting tidbit about this animal is the fact that it is an excellent swimmer, and is very at ease in water.

Family groups of up to 12-15 Javelina come together in herds of as many as 40-60 animals each. Each family group, for the most part, confines its activities to its own territory, These family territories are within the boundaries of the herd's territory. Using scent glands located on the back and under the eyes, the animals mark their ground. There are numerous group social behaviors, one of which is when the animals rub against each other – most likely passing scent and increasing recognition. The Javelina has a special chamber in its stomach that allows them to digest large quantities of cellulose, which is in all plant matter, but is in very high abundance in straw and wood. Oddly, in spite of its high cellulose diet and ungulate status, it chews its food like a human – moving its mouth up and down as opposed to in a circular motion, as is customarily the case with hoofed animals.

Males reach breeding age at about ten months – females even sooner. Breeding can occur at any time of the year – whenever a female is in estrous. Herd females are always bred by the dominant male of the herd, though when more than one female is in estrous, some of the subordinate males may also breed. After a five month gestation period, the female will give birth to as many as three young. The young will be attended to by both of the parents. This includes both the duties of bringing food and providing protection from voracious predators such as mountain lions. Coyotes do not usually attack Javelina, though they will sometimes get one of the young. Coyotes are not ordinarily pack hunters, and the size and temperament of the herding Javelina make it a lofty dinner aspiration for the coyote.

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