Babirusa

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Babirusa
Hirscheber1a.jpg
A male North Sulawesi babirusa; only the adult males possess the distinctive tusks.
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Suidae
Subfamily: Babyrousinae
Thenius, 1970
Genus: Babyrousa
Perry, 1811
Type species
Babyrousa quadricornua [1]
Perry, 1811
Species

3-4, See text.

The babirusas, also called deer-pigs (Malay : babi rusa [2] ), are a genus, Babyrousa, in the swine family found in the Indonesian islands of Sulawesi, Togian, Sula and Buru. [3] All members of this genus were considered part of a single species until 2002, the babirusa, B. babyrussa, but following that was split into several species. This scientific name is restricted to the Buru babirusa from Buru and Sula, whereas the best-known species, the north Sulawesi babirusa, is named B. celebensis. [4] The remarkable "prehistoric" appearance of these mammals is largely due to the prominent upwards incurving canine tusks of the males, which pierce the flesh in the snout. [5]

Contents

All species of babirusa are listed as threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). [6]

Classification

The genus is monotypic within the subfamily Babyrousinae, or alternatively considered to form a tribe, Babyrousini, of the subfamily Suinae. To date, only one fossil skull has been found to suggest a larger ancestor. [7]

All members of the genus were considered part of a single species, the babirusa or pig-deer, B. babyrussa. They were split into several species, this scientific name is restricted to the Buru babirusa from Buru and the Sula Islands, whereas the best-known species, the north Sulawesi babirusa, is named B. celebensis. [4] The split, which uses the phylogenetic species concept, is based on differences in size, amount of hair on the body and tail-tuft, and measurements of the skull and teeth. [4]

Species

ImageNameDistribution
Buru babirusa (B. babyrussa), also known as the hairy or golden babirusaSula Islands of Mangole and Taliabu.
Bola Batu babirusa (B. bolabatuensis)Sulawesi.
Babirusa (29411754088).jpg North Sulawesi babirusa (B. celebensis), also known as the Sulawesi babirusaSulawesi
Babyrousa togeanensis.jpg Togian babirusa (B. togeanensis)Togian Islands

B. babyrussa beruensis was described as an extinct, Pleistocene subspecies from southwestern Sulawesi before babirusas were split into multiple species.

Description

Skull of a male North Sulawesi babirusa (37 cm or 15 inches long). Babyrousa celebensis - Crane.jpg
Skull of a male North Sulawesi babirusa (37 cm or 15 inches long).

Babirusas are notable for the long upper canines in the males. The upper canines of males emerge vertically from the alveolar process, penetrating through the skin and curving backward over the front of the face and towards the forehead. [8] [9] The lower canines also grow upwards. The canines of females are either reduced or absent. [8] The structure of the male's canines varies by species. In the golden babirusa, the upper canines are short and slender with the alveolar rotated forward to allow the lower canines to cross the lateral view. [8] The Togian babirusa also has the same characteristics and the upper canines always converge. The North Sulawesi babirusa has long and thick upper canines with a vertically implanted alveolar. This caused the upper canines to emerge vertically and not cross with the lower canines. [10]

Babirusas also vary by species in other characteristics. The golden babirusa has a long, thick pelage that is white, creamy gold, black or gold overall, and black at the rump. [8] The pelage of the Togian babirusa is also long but not as that of the golden babirusa. The Togian babirusa has a tawny, brown, or black pelage that is darker on the upper parts than in the lower parts. [8] The North Sulawesi babirusa has very short hair and appears bald. The female babirusa has only one pair of teats. [11]

Biology and ecology

Two babirusas fighting in Indonesia. Babirusa berkelahi - edited.jpg
Two babirusas fighting in Indonesia.
North Sulawesi babirusa skeleton (Museum of Osteology) Babirusa Skeleton.jpg
North Sulawesi babirusa skeleton (Museum of Osteology)

Babirusas are native to Sulawesi, some of the Togian Islands, the Sula Islands, and Buru. [8] In Sulawesi, they range from the Minahasa Peninsula to the provinces of South Sulawesi and Southeast Sulawesi. Although they are present on both Sulawesi and Sula, they are not found on the large islands between the two, the Banggai Archipelago. It has been hypothesized that the unusual distribution may be due to their being transported by humans as gifts bestowed by native royalty. [12] The preferred habitat of babirusa is tropical rainforest along river banks. [8] It appears that they have been confined to the higher grounds in the interior despite occurring in lowland areas near coasts in the past. [8] They are active during the daytime. Like all pig species, babirusa has an omnivorous diet with an intestinal tract similar to that of the domestic pig. [13] The stomach diverticulum of a babirusa is enlarged which may indicate that it is a ruminant but evidence shows otherwise. [8] Because it does not have a rostral bone in the nose, a babirusa does not dig with its snout like other pigs do except in mud and swampy grounds. The diet of the babirusa includes leaves, roots, fruits and animal material. The strong jaws of a babirusa are capable of easily cracking hard nuts. [8]

Males tend to live solitarily while adult females can be found in groups with young. [14] Groups of females and young may number up to 84 individuals, most of which contain no adult males. Males rarely travel in pairs or trios. [14] There are almost never more than three adult females in a group. [15] The tusks of the adult males are used in intraspecific fighting. The upper tusks are for defense while the lower tusks are offensive weapons. [16] If a male babirusa does not grind his tusks (achievable through regular activity), they can eventually keep growing rarely to penetrate the individual's skull. [17]

Female babirusa cycle lengths are between 28 and 42 days and estrus last 2–3 days. [8] The litter size for a babirusa is usually one or two piglets. [8]

Relationship with humans

In Indonesia, the striking appearance of the babirusa has inspired demonic masks. [18]

The Balinese Hindu-era Court of Justice pavilion and the "floating pavilion" of Klungkung palace ruins are notable for painted babirusa raksasa (grotesques) on the ceilings. [12]

Prehistoric paintings of babirusa found in caves on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia have been dated back at least 35,400 years (to the ice age Pleistocene epoch). Adam Brumm  [ d ], who co-authored the 2014 study dating the paintings, said "The paintings of the wild animals are most fascinating because it is clear they were of particular interest to the artists themselves." [19]

The babirusa has sparked debate among Jewish scholars and animal researchers about whether it is considered kosher, or permissible to be consumed by Jews, according to Jewish dietary laws. The debate centers around whether the animal chews its cud, which is a requirement according to the Old Testament for an animal to be considered kosher. Some experts, like J. David Bleich, a professor of Jewish law and ethics at Yeshiva University, believe that the babirusa does not meet the physical criteria to be considered kosher, challenging the assertion that the babirusa chews its cud by citing a report from 1940 that found that true rumination could not take place in the animal's stomach. However, he also notes that Jews can eat any food that is not expressly forbidden and that "the babirusa's resemblance to a pig in appearance and taste is not sufficient grounds for banning its consumption as kosher meat." Others, such as Fuller Blazer, an animal husbandry professor at the University of Florida, believe that the animal is kosher due to its cloven hoof and cud chewing. Additionally, it has been noted that the babirusa is an endangered species and that most Muslims, who face similar dietary restrictions, would avoid eating the meat of any animal whose status in religious law is uncertain. [20] [21]

Conservation status

Babirusas are protected in Indonesia and killing them is illegal in most cases. However, poaching remains a significant threat to the babirusa. Additionally, commercial logging operations threaten the babirusa by habitat loss, and also reduce cover, making the babirusa more exposed to poachers. [18] All extant species of babirusa are listed as vulnerable or endangered by the IUCN. [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sulawesi</span> One of the Greater Sunda Islands of Indonesia

Sulawesi, also known as Celebes, is an island in Indonesia. One of the four Greater Sunda Islands, and the world's 11th-largest island, it is situated east of Borneo, west of the Maluku Islands, and south of Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago. Within Indonesia, only Sumatra, Borneo, and Papua are larger in territory, and only Java and Sumatra have larger populations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tusk</span> Elongated front teeth of certain mammal species

Tusks are elongated, continuously growing front teeth that protrude well beyond the mouth of certain mammal species. They are most commonly canine teeth, as with narwhals, chevrotains, musk deer, water deer, muntjac, pigs, peccaries, hippopotamuses and walruses, or, in the case of elephants, elongated incisors. Tusks share common features such as extra-oral position, growth pattern, composition and structure, and lack of contribution to ingestion. Tusks are thought to have adapted to the extra-oral environments, like dry or aquatic or arctic. In most tusked species both the males and the females have tusks although the males' are larger. Most mammals with tusks have a pair of them growing out from either side of the mouth. Tusks are generally curved and have a smooth, continuous surface. The male narwhal's straight single helical tusk, which usually grows out from the left of the mouth, is an exception to the typical features of tusks described above. Continuous growth of tusks is enabled by formative tissues in the apical openings of the roots of the teeth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suidae</span> Family of mammals belonging to even-toed ungulates

Suidae is a family of artiodactyl mammals which are commonly called pigs, hogs or swine. In addition to numerous fossil species, 18 extant species are currently recognized, classified into between four and eight genera. Within this family, the genus Sus includes the domestic pig, Sus scrofa domesticus or Sus domesticus, and many species of wild pig from Europe to the Pacific. Other genera include babirusas and warthogs. All suids, or swine, are native to the Old World, ranging from Asia to Europe and Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Sulawesi babirusa</span> Species of mammal

The North Sulawesi babirusa is a pig-like animal native to Sulawesi and some nearby islands in Indonesia. It has two pairs of large tusks composed of enlarged canine teeth. The upper canines penetrate the top of the snout, curving back toward the forehead. The North Sulawesi babirusa is threatened from hunting and deforestation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wallacea</span> Biogeographical region

Wallacea is a biogeographical designation for a group of mainly Indonesian islands separated by deep-water straits from the Asian and Australian continental shelves. Wallacea includes Sulawesi, the largest island in the group, as well as Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores, Sumba, Timor, Halmahera, Buru, Seram, and many smaller islands. The islands of Wallacea lie between the Sunda Shelf to the west, and the Sahul Shelf including Australia and New Guinea to the south and east. The total land area of Wallacea is 347,000 km2 (134,000 sq mi).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red river hog</span> Species of pig

The red river hog or bushpig, is a wild member of the pig family living in Africa, with most of its distribution in the Guinean and Congolian forests. It is rarely seen away from rainforests, and generally prefers areas near rivers or swamps.

The Sula Islands Regency is one of the regencies in North Maluku province of Indonesia. It was originally formed on 25 February 2003, when it encompassed the three large islands comprising the Sula Archipelago, together with minor adjacent islands. However, the largest and most westerly of the three, Taliabu, was split off from the Sula Islands Regency on 14 December 2012 to form a separate regency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lore Lindu National Park</span> National parks of Indonesia

Lore Lindu National Park is a protected area of forest on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, in the province of Central Sulawesi. The Indonesian national park is 2,180 km2 covering both lowland and montane forests. It provides habitat to numerous rare species, including 77 bird species endemic to Sulawesi. The national park is designated as part of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves. In addition to its rich wildlife, the park also contains megaliths dating from before 1300 AD.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Celebes warty pig</span> Suid from Sulawesi (Sus celebensis)

The Celebes warty pig, also called Sulawesi warty pig or Sulawesi pig, is a species in the pig genus (Sus) that lives on Sulawesi in Indonesia. It survives in most habitats and can live in altitudes of up to 2,500 m (8,000 ft). It has been domesticated and introduced to a number of other islands in Indonesia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bogani Nani Wartabone National Park</span>

Bogani Nani Wartabone National Park is a 2,871 km2 (1,108 mi2) national park on Minahassa Peninsula on Sulawesi island, Indonesia. Formerly known as Dumoga Bone National Park, it was established in 1991 and was renamed in honour of Nani Wartabone, a local resistance fighter who drove the Japanese from Gorontalo during World War II. The park has been identified by Wildlife Conservation Society as the single most important site for the conservation of Sulawesi wildlife and is home to many species endemic to Sulawesi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sulawesi stripe-faced fruit bat</span> Species of bat

The Wallace's or Sulawesi stripe-faced fruit bat is a species of megabat in the family Pteropodidae. It is endemic to Sulawesi and the nearby Togian Islands of Indonesia. Cave paintings resembling these bats have been found in Australia, where bats of this kind are not otherwise known.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buru babirusa</span> Species of mammal

The Buru babirusa is a wild pig-like animal native to the Indonesian islands of Buru, the two Sula Islands of Mangole and Taliabu. It is also known as the Moluccan babirusa, golden babirusa or hairy babirusa. Traditionally, this relatively small species included the other babirusas as subspecies, but it has been recommended treating them as separate species based on differences in their morphology. As also suggested by its alternative common names, the Buru babirusa has relatively long thick, gold-brown body-hair – a feature not shared by the other extant babirusas.

Babyrousa bolabatuensis, the Bola Batu babirusa, is a species of babirusa from the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. It was first described in 1950 as a subspecies of Babyrousa babyrussa, then the only recognized species of babirusa, and raised to species rank by Colin Groves and Erik Meijaard in 2002. At present the Bola Batu babirusa is only known for certain from subfossil remains from the southern arm of Sulawesi. Based on a single skull from central Sulawesi it has been suggested that babirusas from this part of Sulawesi represent an extant population of the Bola Batu babirusa, and this was followed in the third edition of Mammal Species of the World. However, the most recent major review also found similarities between the central Sulawesi specimen and the Togian babirusa, leading them to conclude that it represents an undescribed taxon and that the taxonomic position of central Sulawesi babirusas only can be determined through additional specimens. Subfossil remains from the south-western arm of Sulawesi, where now likely extinct, have been classified as Bola Batu babirusas, but these were considered unclassifiable in 2002, as were extant populations from the eastern arm of Sulawesi and Buton due to the lack of specimens. Due to these uncertainties, the IUCN Red List provisionally synonymized B. bolabatuensis under the northern Sulawesi species, B. celebensis, pending clarification of the taxonomy of Sulawesi babirusas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Togian babirusa</span> Species of mammal

The Togian babirusa, also known as the Malenge babirusa, is the largest species of babirusa. It is endemic to the Togian Islands of Indonesia, but was considered a subspecies of Babyrousa babyrussa until 2002. Compared to the better-known north Sulawesi babirusa, the Togian babirusa is larger, has a well-developed tail-tuft, and the upper canines of the male are relatively "short, slender, rotated forwards, and always converge". The Togian babirusa is omnivorous, feeding mainly on roots and fallen fruit but also worms and invertebrates. Unlike other pig species, the Togian babirusa does not root at the ground with its snout when foraging, but instead can be seen pawing at the ground to uproot plants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hyrax</span> Small, herbivorous mammals in the order Hyracoidea

Hyraxes, also called dassies, are small, thickset, herbivorous mammals in the order Hyracoidea. Hyraxes are well-furred, rotund animals with short tails. Typically, they measure between 30 and 70 cm long and weigh between 2 and 5 kg. They are superficially similar to pikas and marmots, but are more closely related to elephants and sea cows.

B. celebensis may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caves in the Maros-Pangkep karst</span> Cave and archaeological site in Indonesia

The caves in the Maros-Pangkep karst are situated in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, and contain paintings from the Paleolithic considered to be the earliest figurative art in the world, dated to at least 43,900 years ago.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sulawesi lowland rain forests</span> Ecoregion in Sulawesi, Indonesia

The Sulawesi lowland rain forests is a tropical moist forest ecoregion in Indonesia. The ecoregion includes the lowlands of Sulawesi and neighboring islands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sulawesi montane rain forests</span> Ecoregion in Sulawesi, Indonesia

The Sulawesi montane rain forests is a tropical moist forest ecoregion in Indonesia. It includes the highlands of Sulawesi.

References

  1. ↑ Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M., eds. (2005). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN   978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC   62265494.
  2. ↑ Skeat, Walter W. (1901). A Concise Etymological Dictionary of the English Language. Clarendon Press. p.  35 . Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  3. ↑ Grubb, P. (2005). "Order Artiodactyla". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 637. ISBN   978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC   62265494.
  4. 1 2 3 Meijaard, E., & C. Groves. (2002). Proposal for taxonomic changes within the genus Babyrousa. Asian Wild Pig News 2 (1), 9-10.
  5. ↑ "Babyrousa babyrussa". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  6. 1 2 "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Version 2010.1". 2010. Retrieved 18 April 2010.
  7. ↑ Ian Metcalfe, Faunal and floral migrations and evolution in SE Asia-AustralasiaCRC Press, 2001. ISBN   978-90-5809-349-3. 416 pages: pp338.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 MacDonald, A. A. 1993. The Babirusa (Babyrousa babyrussa). In: W. L. R. Oliver (ed.), Pigs, Peccaries, and Hippos: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan, IUCN, Gland, Switzerland.
  9. ↑ Nasoori, A (2020). "Tusks, the extra-oral teeth". Archives of Oral Biology. 117: 104835. doi:10.1016/j.archoralbio.2020.104835. PMID   32668361. S2CID   220585014.
  10. ↑ Groves, C. 1980. Notes on the systematics of Babyrousa (Artiodactyla, Suidae). Zoologische Mededelingen 55:29–46.
  11. ↑ BBC (2010). Babirusa. Downloaded 18 April 2010.
  12. 1 2 Umberto Albarella, Keith Dobney, Anton Ervynck: 2007. Pigs and humans: 10,000 years of interaction Oxford University Press 2007. ISBN   978-0-19-920704-6. 454 pages: pp20.
  13. ↑ Langer, P. (1988): The Mammalian Herbivore Stomach – Comparative Anatomy, Function and Evolution. Gustav Fischer, Stuttgart and New York: 136-161.
  14. 1 2 Patry, Maurice; Leus, Kristin; Macdonald, Alastair A (1995) "Group Structure and Behaviour of Babirusa (Babyrousa babyrussa) in Northern Sulawesi", Australian Journal of Zoology, 43:643-655.
  15. ↑ Patry M , Leus K Macdonald AA (1995) Group structure and behaviour of babirusa (Babyrousa babyrussa) in northern Sulawesi. Australian Journal of Zoology 43, 643-655.
  16. ↑ J. MacKinnon, (1981) "The structure and function of the tusks of babirusa", Mammal Review, 11(1):37-40.
  17. ↑ "Babirusas can get impaled by their own teeth: that most sought-after of objects does exist! (babirusas, part VIII)". Tetrapod Zoology.
  18. 1 2 "Sulawesi babirusa (Babyrousa celebensis)". ARKive . Archived from the original on 11 April 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  19. ↑ Sample, Ian (9 October 2014). "35,000-year-old Indonesian cave paintings suggest art came out of Africa". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 November 2015. "The paintings of the wild animals are most fascinating because it is clear they were of particular interest to the artists themselves", said Brumm.
  20. ↑ Dart, John (19 February 1985). "This Little Piggy Not Likely to Be on Kosher Menus". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  21. ↑ "Scholar Questions Whether The Babirusa Chews Its Cud". AP NEWS. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
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