 |
Mammals: Pig
|
|
|
|
Domesticated pigs come in many shapes and sizes. Although stout with short legs, pigs are surprisingly fast. The Chinese domesticated the pig over 7,000 years ago, making it the first animal domesticated by humans.
Domesticated pigs can be found on all continents except Antarctica.
Pigs are omnivorous and scavengers and will eat almost anything.
Pigs are very social and communicate with each other in a language of calls, snorts, sniffs, and whistles.
Pigs don't have sweat glands; they wallow in mud or water to maintain a comfortable body temperature. Wallowing also protects them from sunburn and insect bites. They have been known to wallow in their own urine to keep cool.
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
Domesticated pigs are thought to be more intelligent than all mammals except primates and dolphins. In France, pigs are used to find truffles, the underground fungi used in French cuisine. In ancient Egypt, they were used to plant seeds, creating holes in the earth with their hoofs.
|
|
 |
|
