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Warthog portrait


Warthog portrait
Photo Information
Copyright: Peter van Zoest (PeterZ) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2384 W: 94 N: 5493] (17500)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-07-17
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Nikon D70, AF Nikkor 70-300mm f4-5.6 G, Digital JPEG
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/640 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-06-30 8:49
Viewed: 861
Points: 62
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This week I saw that a photo of this warthog was my most popular photo. I got another photo of this animal, a portrait. A photo from 2005, taken in the Addo Elephant N.P. in South Africa.

The warthog (Phacochoerus africanus, "African Lens-Pig") is a wild member of the pig family that lives in Africa. The common name comes from the four large wart-like tusks found on the head of the warthog, which serve the purpose of defense when males fight. They are the only widely recognised species in their genus, though some authors divide them into two species. On that classification, P. africanus is the common (or northern) warthog and P. aethiopicus is the desert warthog, also known as the Cape or Somali warthog.

Subspecies
Northern warthog (Phacochoerus africanus africanus)
Eritrean warthog (Phacochoerus africanus aeliani)
Central African warthog (Phacochoerus africanus massaicus)
Southern warthog (Phacochoerus africanus sundevallii)

Description
Warthogs range in size from 0.9 to 1.5 metres in length and 50 to 150 kg (110-330 pounds) in weight. A warthog is identifiable by the two pairs of tusks protruding from the mouth, which are used as weapons against predators. The upper canine teeth can grow to 9 inches (23 cm), and are of a squashed circle shape in cross section, almost rectangular, being about 4.5 cm deep and 2.5 cm wide. The tusk will curve 90 degrees or more from the root, and the tusk will not lie flat on a table, as it curves somewhat backwards as it grows. The tusks are used for digging, for combat with other hogs, and in defence against predators -- the lower set can inflict severe wounds.
Warthog ivory is taken from the constantly growing canine teeth. Each warthog has a pair of teeth in each jaw with the lower teeth being far shorter than the upper teeth. Both pairs grow upwards, with the upper teeth being by far the more spectacular in appearance. The lower pair, however, are the more dangerous: the teeth are straight, sharply pointed, and keep a keen edge by the upper pair rubbing against the lower pair. The tusks, more often the upper set, are worked much in the way of elephant tusks with all designs scaled down. Tusks are carved predominantly for the tourist trade in East and Southern Africa.

Ecology
Although warthogs are commonly seen in (and associated with) open grasslands, they will seek shelter and forage in denser vegetation. In fact, warthogs prefer to forage in dense, moist areas when available. The common warthog diet is omnivorous, composed of grasses, roots, berries and other fruits, bark, fungi, eggs, dead animals, and even small mammals, reptiles and birds. The diet is seasonably variable, depending on availability of different food items. Areas with many bulbs, rhizomes and nutritious roots can support large numbers of warthogs. Warthogs are powerful diggers, using both heads and feet. When feeding, they often bend the front legs backwards and move around staying on the knees. Although they can dig their own burrows, they commonly occupy abandoned aardvark burrows. The warthog commonly enters burrows "back-end first", with the head always facing the opening and ready to burst out as needed.

Warthogs are fast runners and quite capable jumpers. They will often run with their tails in the air. Despite poor eyesight, warthogs have a good sense of smell, which they use for locating food, detecting predators and recognizing other animals.
Although capable of fighting, and males will aggressively fight each other during mating season, a primary defense is to flee by means of fast sprinting. The main warthog predators are humans, lions, leopards, crocodiles, and hyenas. Cheetahs are also capable of catching small warthogs.
Warthogs have been observed allowing banded mongooses groom them to remove ticks.

Longevity
Wild warthogs can live up to 15 years, and captive warthogs may live as long as 18. The typical gestation period is 5 or 6 months and the litter is 2 to 8 piglets, although 2 to 4 is more typical. Piglets are weaned at 3 or 4 months of age, reaching sexual maturity at 18 to 24 months. Females may give birth twice or, in extremely rare cases, up to five times per year.

(source: Wikipedia)
rajwades, siggi, maurydv, nasokoun, haraprasan, nglen, DarioM, efsus, eqshannon, boreocypriensis, Royaldevon, Gert-Paassen, Silvio2006, jaycee, marhowie, goldyrs, Argus, roges, bahadir, Noisette, anel, CeltickRanger, tuslaw, Miss_Piggy has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

hi neighbour. grt portrait with grt composition

Ha Peter,
Warthog-dag in TrekNature?
Net bij je buur Erwin Kruger(what's in a name) geschreven dat ik automatisch aan Kruger denk als ik deze kerels zie.
Maar Zuid-Afrika is blijkbaar ietsje groter dan Kruger(het park dan).
Plezant beest om te observeren en niet zo evident om een goede pose te bekomen.
De groeten!
Annick

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1370 W: 56 N: 4704] (16174)
  • [2009-06-30 9:55]

Hello Peter,
Superb portrait of the Warthog. Very neat and sharp details. The POV and DOF are great as is the natural lighting. Very nicely composed and presentation.
Best regards Siggi

Hello Peter,
a superb portrait of the Warthog taken from an excellent frontal POV with good sharpness and very beautiful natural colours, well composed.
TFS
Best regards
Maurizio

hello Peter
imposing aspect, very good portrait with possible detail,great capture
TFS thanks for sharing
Nasos

Hi Peter,
A nice portrait capture of this Warthog. Very good sharp details and very good composition. Thanks a lot for sharing.

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2907 W: 34 N: 8619] (32124)
  • [2009-06-30 10:43]

Hi Peter. What a fantastic looking animal. He i s having a good look at you . Not the most beautiful animal as far as looks go. This one looks healty . You capture it with fine detai land natural colours. well done TFS.
Nick..

Hi Peter
Very nice portrait. Nice sharp capture with great focus.

Greetings from Herzegovina
Dario

  • Great 
  • efsus Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 435 W: 10 N: 729] (3178)
  • [2009-06-30 12:20]

Merhaba Peter,
Müthiş bir portre sunmuşsun dostum. Oldukça ürkütücü bir görüntüye sahip bu hayvanın çok başarılı bir karesine imza atmışsın. Tebrikler.

Hüseyin

Welcome Back Kotter...his students were called warthogs....I love it and I knew what it was right off which is remarkable for me since I have never seen one in person..only images..Well done Peter!
Bob

Hi Peter,
A superb portrait capture of a male Warthog with fine composition. Wonderful eye-contact!
TFS and cheers,
Bayram

Cia Peter. Perfect wonderful shaprned portrait. Good light. Compliments for the capture.

Roberto

Hello Peter,

It is unusual to see this type of animal head on.
You have given us a fine, detailed shot of the face, showing us its features, its colour tones and its textures. Positioned nicely off-centre.


Kind regards,
Bev :-)

Hallo Peter,

ondanks de zelfde kleur achtergrond toch duidelijk verschil.
Goede detailering en prachtige natuurlijke kleuren van deze portret opname van het Wrattenzwijn geloof ik.

Gert

Ciao Peter, beautiful portrait of ugly creature with good details and excellent sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2009-06-30 16:30]

Hi Peter,

I haven't thought of Warthogs since I was in Africa! A fine capture of this animal who would not win a beauty contest. Colors, details and textures are superb. The white tusks contrast well with all of the browntones. I love the composition.

Jane

Good framing and details Peter, you did the ugly sucker nicely ;-}
TFS!

I agree with Howard, Peter!
You've made this ugly chappie look quite good, actually!
Bravo!
Goldy

Good paotrait of this warthog, I love that eye contact and those tusks, Must have been massive. The colors are typical of an African habitat.

Hi Peter

Great portrait of this interesting hog
Great composition and POV

Chris

  • Great 
  • zetu Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 645 W: 15 N: 1577] (6149)
  • [2009-07-01 5:38]

Hello Peter
Nice portrait. Excellent details. Well done.
regards
Razvan

I cannot say very beautiful this time, but impressive it is :) TFS Ori

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3808 W: 190 N: 11328] (34927)
  • [2009-07-01 11:47]

Hello Peter,
I'm not surprised this photo is popular, as it is a fine close frontal portrait of a Warthog, showing its 'beautiful' features with fine sharpness, colours and lighting. A nice one from your archives and thanks for sharing it.
Best regards,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • roges Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 595 W: 0 N: 507] (3040)
  • [2009-07-01 12:24]

Hi Peter !
Een andere uitzonderlijke macro.
Ik hou van hoe je gemaakt en gespeeld met mooie kleuren en een uitstekend contrast.
De beschrijving die is erg goed.
Een mooie avond
Adrian

Hello Peter, wonderful shot of this warthog with wonderful details.
TFS and greetings,
Bahadır

Hello Peter
it's not exactly a "nice" portrait but a very impressive one, you have captured this Warthog with beautiful sharp details, i like his look at you
Have a good night
Jacqueline

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1722 W: 0 N: 3901] (15676)
  • [2009-07-03 4:33]

Hello Peter,
The warthogs are so special creatures that I'm not amazed that pictures of them are very popular. It's strange, but they almost have some kind of human expression. I also remember a picture from Annick on this site. This one has a very special, a little bit circumspect expression.
Thanks and kind regards
Anne

hello Peter

excellent portrait photo of the Warthog, fine POV, beautiful luminosity,
excellent sharpness and details, and what a expression on his eye-contact,

TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • tuslaw Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 501 W: 20 N: 1381] (4827)
  • [2009-07-07 19:59]

Terrific shot Peter!
I suppose some would say this is a face only a mother could love, but to another warthog I'm sure this is a handsome fellow.
Extremely fine detail showing the coarse texture of it's hide. Great exposure with very natural colors!! TFS. Excellent notes!
Ron

hallo Peter
bedankt voor je berichten
deze kop mag er wezen ,ik hou wel van die wratten zwijnen,zo brutaal
een goed schot met veel details
groetjes lou

Hallo Peter
I cannot help but to get the feeling that this fellow is following me with his eyes and I dare not leave your gallery without a well deserved smiley. The "dry" expression on this warthog's face gives real meaning to this image. A lovely portrait. I cannot wait for October when we will be going on a 3 week vacation to the Kruger and this time I aim to get a decent shot of one of these guys. Thanks for sharing, this one was a pleasure to look at. Kind regards.
Anna

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