Warthog

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/warthog

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How many people live in Warthog?Widespread and generally not considered threatened, though local populations can fluctuate
2. What is the scientific name?Phacochoerus africanus (common warthog) and Phacochoerus aethiopicus (desert warthog)
3. What is the lifespan?Average 15 years in the wild, up to 20 years in captivity
4. Why do warthogs have warts on their faces?The warts are bone bumps covered by skin. They help protect warthogs when they fight and may show that a male is strong.
5. How do warthogs eat and protect themselves?Warthogs use their long tusks to dig up roots and tubers, which are their main food. The tusks also help them defend against predators, and their tough skin gives extra protection.

Suidae: The biological family encompassing pigs, hogs, and boars, characterized by their omnivorous diet and distinctive snouts.
Hyperostosis: A condition characterized by excessive bone growth, leading to the formation of bony bosses on the warthog's face.
Intraspecific Combat: Aggressive interactions that occur between members of the same species, often for dominance or mating rights.