Wild boar

The wild boar, scientifically known as *Sus scrofa*, is one of the most widespread mammals on Earth.

It is also called the wild swine, common wild pig, or Eurasian wild pig. These animals are highly adaptable to many different habitats. Because they can live in so many environments, they are considered a species of "least concern" on the IUCN Red List. This means they are not currently at risk of extinction. While they are native to much of Eurasia and North Africa, they have been introduced to the Americas and Oceania.

Wild boars live in complex social structures. They live in matriarchal societies, which are groups led by related females. These groups include the females and their young, regardless of whether the offspring are male or female.

Adult males behave differently. They are usually solitary animals outside of the breeding season. Wild boars must also navigate various natural threats. In most of their natural range, the wolf is their primary predator. However, in the Far East, tigers hunt them. On the Lesser Sunda Islands, the Komodo dragon takes the role of the main predator.

Evolutionary studies provide clues about where these animals began. DNA studies suggest that wild boars originated on islands in Southeast Asia, such as Indonesia and the Philippines. From there, they spread across mainland Eurasia and North Africa.

Fossil evidence from the Early Pleistocene supports this history. During the late Villafranchian period, *Sus scrofa* began to displace a related species called *Sus strozzii*. This older species was a large suid that may have been adapted to swamps. As *Sus scrofa* spread, it outcompeted other suid species throughout the Old World. Their closest living relative is the bearded pig of Malacca.

Scientists recognize up to 16 different subspecies of the wild boar. These are organized into four regional groupings based on skull height and the length of the lacrimal bone.

The Western group includes subspecies like *S. s. scrofa* and the large *S. s. attila*. These often have high skulls and thick underwool. The Indian group includes *S. s. davidi* and *S. s. cristatus*. These subspecies can have long manes and specific snout markings. The Eastern group, such as the Japanese boar, often features a whitish streak from the mouth to the jaw.

Finally, the Indonesian group is represented by *S. s. vittatus*, known as the banded pig. This is the most basal group, meaning it has a more primitive cranial structure and smaller relative brain size.

Humans and wild boars have a deep connection spanning millennia. The wild boar is the ancestor of almost all domestic pig breeds.

Archaeological evidence shows that humans began domesticating pigs from wild boars as early as 13,000 to 12,700 BCE. This happened in the Near East within the Tigris Basin. Because of this long history, the terms for these animals are often mixed in English. For example, "boar" is sometimes used for males or uncastrated domestic pigs. The term "sow" refers to a female and has roots in Proto-Indo-European languages.

In modern times, the relationship between boars and humans has created new challenges. In parts of the Americas and Australia, wild boars have become an invasive species. This is partly because they have re-hybridized with feral pigs.

These boar-pig hybrids are now considered serious pests in those regions. Hunters also use specific terminology to identify boars based on their age. A piglet under 10 months is a "squeaker." A pig in its second year is part of a "sounder." Older animals are categorized as boars, old boars, or even "grand old boars" if they are over six years old.

Understanding the wild boar helps us see how species move and change. Their ability to spread across continents shows how successful a species can be when it adapts.

From their origins in Southeast Asian islands to their role as ancestors of farm animals, they are central to the history of mammals. Their classification into subspecies shows how geography shapes biology. By studying their skulls and bones, scientists can trace the path of evolution across the globe. This makes the wild boar a key subject for studying both natural history and human development.