We all know pigs as cute, pink animals with curly tails.However, you must have heard of boars being described as wild pigs, and wondered about the difference between the two. Is it simply a matter of wild vs. domesticated?What sets all these types of pig apart? Though a boar (Sus scrofa) is indeed a type of pig, both contain a variety of sub species and are genetically quite different. They do however share a common ancestor, and belong to the same genus Sus.There are however several differences between these two animals, which sets them apart. If you like this article, check out wild boar facts and cockroach vs waterbug from Kidadl. What is the difference between a pig and a boar?Though pigs and boars do share a common ancestor and are often mistaken for each other, there are quite a few differences between the two which set them apart. The wild boar (Sus scrofa) is the ancestor of the domesticated pigs we see today, and come under the sub species Sus scrofa domesticus. Pigs have been domesticated by humans since as early as 8000 BC for their meat, and this has caused the emergence of many subspecies of pig all over the world, with the largest of these being the giant forest hog (Hylochoerus meinertzhageni).There are several terms used by farmers and hunters to differentiate between different types of pigs. ‘Swine’ is a generic term for all pigs, ‘piglet’ being the term for juvenile or baby swines. ‘Boar’ can be either a male wild or domestic swine who is able to mate and ‘sows’ are adult female pigs. ‘Hog’ refers to older swines. These words are mostly used by farmers with regards to domesticated pigs, with wild boars simply being called as boars or feral pigs.Pigs are usually round and pot-bellied, with jiggly protruding stomachs and short legs. Domestic pigs are usually portrayed as smooth and pink, and they have short snouts with round pink noses. They move their body from side to side while walking, and can be described as walking in a ’trot’ on their little hooves. They have quite short tails with triangular, erect ears, with their mouths being small and sensitive. Though they have bad eyesight, they have a great sense of smell and are quite intelligent. An adult pig can weigh up to 120 lb (54.4 kg).Boars, in contrast, can come across as quite disheveled. They usually come in dull colors such as black, brown or grey and have coats made out of thick, coarse hair. Their snouts are longer, and they have razor sharp teeth in their large mouths. They have a more muscular, solid body and their ears are rounder. They have longer limbs, and look quite ungainly when they run. Unlike pigs, male boars are aggressive and tend to get into physical fights with other boars quite a lot. Though depicted as so sometimes, they do not have tusks. The tusks belong to warthogs, another type of wild swine which is neither boar or pig. They are found in their natural habitats of scrublands, grasslands, wetlands, rain forests, temperate forests, and savannas, whereas pigs are mostly found on plains or in farms.In terms of diet, both pigs and boars are omnivorous in nature and will feed on a variety of leaves, fruits, nuts, seeds, insects and meat. However, domestic pigs are usually fed by farmers, whereas boars hunt and forage among the forest floor to eat their fill for the day.Pigs are also known to live for far longer than boars, probably due to their careful diet and domesticated upbringing. Pigs can live for around 15-20 years, whereas boars have been observed to survive for only 4-8 years in the wild.Can a pig become a boar?Surprisingly even after generations of being domesticated to become the tame pigs we see today, pigs can begin to resemble wild boars with time. Feral pigs have been observed to become almost indistinguishable in appearance after two generations in the wild. They start growing thicker, bristlier coats, with their legs, tail and snout becoming more elongated.Though both wild boars and domesticated pigs are descendants of the Eurasian wild boar (Sus scrofa), these animals still remain genetically different. Though they do begin to resemble wild boars more in a physical sense, these pigs are instead called as feral pigs, and attempts to domesticate them again will no doubt bring them back to square one.Due to their similar origins, domestic as well as wild pigs and wild boars can procreate with one another quite easily, with their offspring tending to resemble boars. They also contain the genes of boars, and continuous mixed breeding among the two types of swine could lead to the offspring all being more closely related to wild boars than to pigs, especially if they are brought up in the wild.Does boar taste like pork?No, though similar in appearance, wild boar and pig meat can tend to taste quite different. Being a wild animal, boars meat tends to be gamier and darker, most probably due to the higher content of iron. It is described to taste like a cross between pork and beef, and is quite juicy. Boar can be used in a variety of dishes, and is a good substitutes in recipes that use beef. It is also said to be healthier than pork, offering lower cholesterol levels without compromising on taste and succulence. According to hunters, wild boars are usually more dangerous to hunt than bears due to their aggressive nature and tendency to charge at intruders, which can cause a lot of injury.Wild boar meat is mainly hunted as game from wild pigs, whereas pork comes from domesticated pigs and is produced by farms for large scale consumption. The preference of taste depends on the consumer, people who enjoy beef are more likely to enjoy wild boar meat as food.Are boars smarter than pigs?Pigs are considered quite smart, with their intelligence being higher than that of dogs and even toddlers! They are considered to be the fourth most intelligent animals on the planet. Pigs have been observed to have great object-location memory as well as a good sense of direction, and can find their way home from miles away. They are also known to have feelings, and can feel a wide range of emotions ranging from happiness and joy to fear and loneliness. A domestic pig can make a great pet if brought up with love and care, and can exhibit traits similar to dogs. They are very social animals as well, and can be easily trained to do simple tasks and tricks.Wild boars surprisingly are said to be as intelligent as domestic pigs. They are known to sense danger as well as try to make attempts to evade it, and learn from these encounters as seen when faced with similar ones in the future.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Boar Vs Pig: Fascinating Animal Differences Facts Simplified For Kids then why not take a look at Why Do Cats Puke, or Purrrfect Facts About The Ragamuffin Cat Kids Will Love?
We all know pigs as cute, pink animals with curly tails.
