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SPECIES PROFILE

Collared Peccary / Javelina (Pecari tajacu)

Pecari

IUCN STATUS

Least Concern

Collared Peccary / Javelina (Pecari tajacu) — Southwestern US from Texas to Arizona south through Central America to Argentina

CONSERVATION STATUS

Least Concern

CLASS

Mammalia

GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE

Southwestern US from Texas to Arizona south through Central America to Argentina

DIET

Omnivore

HABITAT

Desert scrub, thornscrub, and oak woodland throughout the Southwest; highly adaptable to urban edges

🔬 Classification

PHYLUM

Chordata

CLASS

Mammalia

ORDER

Artiodactyla

FAMILY

Tayassuidae

GENUS

Pecari

📋 Description

SIZE

75–100 cm body length; 14–30 kg

COLORATION

Salt-and-pepper grey coat with a whitish collar (the "necklace"); pig-like body but not a true pig; prominent tusks; short tufted tail

ADAPTATIONS

Specialised digestive system breaks down prickly pear cactus including spines; musky scent gland on rump used for communication; runs rapidly on slender legs

🌿 Ecology

HABITAT

Desert scrub, thornscrub, and oak woodland throughout the Southwest; highly adaptable to urban edges

DIET

Omnivore

GEOGRAPHIC RANGE

Southwestern US from Texas to Arizona south through Central America to Argentina

REPRODUCTION

Year-round breeding; 1–4 young born after 145-day gestation; young follow the herd within hours of birth

DIET DETAILS

Prickly pear cactus (including pads and spines) is the dietary staple; also roots, bulbs, berries, grubs, and small vertebrates

⚠️ Threats & Conservation

PRIMARY THREATS

Hunting in some states; vehicle collisions; habitat loss from urbanisation

💡 Interesting Facts

1

Javelinas are not pigs — they belong to a separate family (Tayassuidae) that split from pigs over 30 million years ago; they lack the pig's ability to sweat and have a limited temperature range.

2

Javelinas rub their rump scent glands on rocks and trees to mark territory; herds of 6–20 individuals stay cohesive by recognising each other's individual scent signatures.

🔭 Sighting Guide

📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT

Big Bend National Park near Terlingua, TX, has habituated Javelina herds around the Chisos Basin visitor area

Saguaro National Park East near Tucson, AZ, has Javelina herds frequently seen on desert trails

Catalina State Park near Tucson, AZ, has Javelinas visible near the picnic areas and trail heads

🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT

Year-round in Big Bend National Park and Saguaro National Park; most active at dawn and dusk; Chisos Basin campground has habituated herds.

🎯 SIGHTING TIPS

Year-round. Most active at dawn and dusk; herds are commonly seen around campgrounds in Big Bend and Saguaro National Parks.