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Collared Peccary


Collared Peccary
Photo Information
Copyright: Michael Halliday (pompey) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 146 W: 4 N: 745] (2768)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-10-02
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Canon EOS 300 D, Canon EF 75-300/4.0-5.6 III, Skylight
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/250 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2005-10-05 12:21
Viewed: 2483
Points: 12
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The collared peccary lives in family groups and small herds (called 'sounders') in a variety of habitats, ranging from tropical rainforest to desert. It is a versatile animal that wallows in mud and is a good swimmer, but is also able to survive in arid regions and through drought, provided that succulent plants are available.

Peccaries are usually herbivorous but will also eat small animals. Their diet varies according to habitat; in a grassland or forest area it will consist mainly of leaves, grass, roots and fruit, whereas a peccary living in the Arizona desert will partake mostly of fruits and sprouts of opuntias (prickly pear cacti).

The scent gland, a few centimetres in front of the animal's tail, secretes a milky substance used to mark territory and probably to reinforce family and group bonds. Peccaries are often seen rubbing the sides of their heads on each other's glands. The milky substance can also be sprayed out of the gland or rubbed onto grass and tree roots. When the peccary is using its gland, the bristles on its back stand up and spread apart to expose it and release the scent.

Collared peccaries are not aggressive and usually avoid people. If threatened by an enemy such as a jaguar, they may attack as a group, opening their jaws wide to show their tusks, and making a loud 'clacking' noise. The long tusks also serve as tools for digging roots and bulbs from hard-baked soil, and give the collared peccary its other name, javelina, from the Spanish word for 'javelin'.

Photographed at Marwell Zoological Park in Hampshire.
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • carper Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2009 W: 122 N: 2581] (8426)
  • [2005-10-05 13:34]

very nice shot Michael,
well composed shot, I like the little ones, but I don't like the big ones, very good shot, good job,
gr. Jaap

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1488 W: 72 N: 1428] (4748)
  • [2005-10-05 14:38]

Lovely capture Michael. This is just too cute! Well composed, exposure is spot on and sharp details. Well done & TFS!

Regards,
Pieter

  • Great 
  • Libor Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 169 W: 1 N: 25] (1101)
  • [2005-10-06 0:08]

:o) very lovely shot :o)
good work

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3102 W: 233 N: 6304] (21553)
  • [2005-10-06 3:12]

Those baby peccaries are adorable, Michael. Have never seen anything like that. Nice family portrait. Well done and TFS. : )

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2156 W: 322 N: 4258] (16906)
  • [2005-10-06 13:17]

Michael, how I enjoy pov in this shot. I like composition too.

A lovely scene; I had never seen one of them.

The little one on the right is facing us.

Nice shot Michael!
It's very interesting subject not often seen on TN, so it's good to see that shot.
I like the POV very much but I think it would've been better to show only the mother with one child (the left part) or just the cute little chap on the right.
I'm not sure if I make myself clear, but I have feeling that the photo doesn't have main subject and it's a bit disturbing.
Anyway, I like it very much
VERY WELL DONE & TFS

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