Sus oliveri, Linnaeus, 1758

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2011, Suidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 2 Hoofed Mammals, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 248-291 : 284-285

11.

Mindoro Warty Pig

Sus oliveri

French: Sanglier de Mindoro / German: Mindoro-Pustelschwein / Spanish: Jabali de Mindoro

Taxonomy. Sus philippensis oliveri Groves, 1997,

Mayapang, Rizal, Mindoro Occidental, Philippines.

This species was recognized as a distinct subspecies of the Philippine Warty Pig (S. philippensis) in 1997, and four years later designated as a full species, owing to various distinct characteristics setting it aside from S. philippensis. Mindoro island is surrounded by deepwater channels, indicating that it has had no recent landbridge connection with any adjacent island in the Philippine Archipelago. It has thus been isolated and remained isolated during repeated Pleistocene sea-level changes for tens of thousands of years. Monotypic.

Distribution. Mindoro I in the C Philippines.

Descriptive notes. No body measurements are available for this species. Based on skull length measurements in three males specimens, S. oliveri appears to be similar in size to the Philippine Warty Pig, but readily distinguished from that species byits very elongated facial skeleton, which points more downward, especially anterior to the canines. The braincase is more elongated behind the zygomatic roots. The palate is also more elongated, but not to the extent seen in the Palawan Bearded Pig (S. ahoenobarbus). The only currently available skin of S. oliveri suggests that males have a black crown tuft mixed with straw-colored hairs. The preocular warts are well developed, and they have a straw-colored tuft on the lower jaw. A photo of an adult female recently taken by trophy hunters on Mindoro shows a well-developed, blackish-gray bristly mane that runs across the head and along the back. The coat is rather shaggy and blackish or blackish-gray all over. Unfortunately, the large ears, short snout, and absence of warts suggest that this might have been a feral or hybrid animal, which means that there is still no clear understanding of what a true Mindoro Warty Pig lookslike.

Habitat. Very few direct observations of the species in the wild have been recorded, mostly during annual Tamaraw (Bubalus mindorensis) census exercises in Mounts Iglit-Baco National Park. The species’ habitat preference therefore remains mostly unclear. It presumably favors remaining stands of forests and thickets where it can find shelter and food.

Breeding. Nothing is known.

Activity patterns. Nothing is known.

Food and Feeding. Nothing is known.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Nothing is known.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Endangered on The IUCN Red List because its extent of occurrenceis less than 5000 km? and its area of occupancyis less than 500 km?. Even though accurate records are lacking, the distribution range of S. oliveri is likely to be severely fragmented. Surveys conducted in the late 1990s indicated that Mindoro Warty Pigs are now mostly confined to higher elevations in the central and northwestern mountain ranges. There is also a continuing decline in the extent and quality of its habitat, and in the number of mature individuals because of overhunting. Hybridization with free-ranging domestic pigs introduced and maintained by hinterland communities is an additional and likely serious threat.

Bibliography. Groves (1997, 2001a, 2001b), Oliver (1995, 2008).

Figures

On following pages 10 Phılıppıne Warty Pıg (Sus phı/ıppensıs) Mındoro Wany Png (Sus olıven) 12 Pılawın Bearded Pıg (Sus ıhoanobırbus). 13 Bearded Psg (Sus barbatus), 14 Sulawesı Wany Pug (Sus celebensıs) 15 Javan Wany Pıg (Sus venucosusl. 16 Eurasıan Wıld Pıg (Sus scrola) 17 Pygmy Hog (Porcııla salvımı)

Distribution. Mindoro I in the C Philippines .