The Chacoan peccary or Tagua is a species of peccary found
in the dry shrub habitat or Chaco of Paraguay, Bolivia and Argentina.
About 3000 exist in the world. It is believed to be the closest living
relative to the extinct genus Platygonus. The Chacoan
peccary has the unusual distinction of having been first described in
1930 based on fossils and was originally thought to be an extinct
species. In 1975 the animal was discovered to still be alive and well in
the Chaco region of Paraguay.
Chacoan peccaries have received the nickname "pigs from green hell"
because of their wild, impenetrable habitats. The
Chacoan peccary is confined to hot, dry areas. Dominated by low-lying
succulents and thorny bushes, the Gran Chaco is approximately
140,000 square kilometers. There are a few scattered giant trees, but
the majority of the vegetation is thorny scrub vegetation. The Chacoan
peccary has developed adaptations like well-developed sinuses to combat
dry, dusty conditions.
Chacoan peccaries often travel in herds of up to twenty individuals. They are active during the day, especially in the morning when they are most apt to travel. Herds display
a general travel cycle within the homerange of 42 days. This allows the
individuals to monitor and show ownership over their areas. These social mammals communicate
by various sounds ranging from grunts to chatters of the teeth.
As a defensive strategy, members
of a herd may line up in a defensive wall; this makes the herds easy
targets for hunters. The Chacoan peccary produces a milky, odorous
substance that is used for marking trees, shrubs and similar. The
substance is secreted from glands located on the back, and is dispersed
by rubbing. Frequently bathing in mud or dust, Chacoan peccaries also
defecate at particular "stations". Source
0 comments:
Post a Comment