Peccary
Collared peccary
- White-lipped Peccary ( Tayassu pecari )
- Collared peccary ( Pecari tajacu )
- Riesenpekari ( Pecari maximus)
- Chaco peccary ( Catagonus wagneri )
The peccaries, New World pigs or peccaries ( Tayassuidae ) form one with the genuine or Old World pigs closely related family of even-toed ungulate. The name comes from the peccary language of the Brazilian Tupi Indians and means " animal, which makes many paths through the forest ."
Features
Externally similar to the Old World peccaries pigs. The name peccaries they wear after a Hauteinstülpung with a large, hidden by hair gland in the posterior third of the back, from which a musky secretion can be splashed. In particular Weißbartpekaris spread so a strong odor. While the gross body shape and nature of the proboscis are clearly like pigs, peccaries have a large number of characteristics that identify them as a separate family: they have slender, long legs; short tail contains six to nine (instead of 20-23) vertebrae; the means toes are fused together as in ruminants; the canines are shorter and do not protrude out of the mouth as tusks, but are very well trained to dagger-like weapons. Because of their power they can even attach to their natural enemies, Jaguar and Puma, are dangerous. Weißbartpekaris occur in Rotten of up to 300 animals, peccaries than 20 animals.
Dissemination
Peccaries live mainly in South and Central America; and the southwestern United States is one of their area of distribution. They were once quite separate from the real pigs; now, however, wild boar and feral pigs have been exposed in North America and make the peccaries the habitat contest. To serve the food peccaries tubers, grasses, seeds, small animals, eggs and fruit. Wild peccaries ransack sometimes agricultural fields.
System
Today, the three peccary species are usually divided into three genera:
- White-lipped Peccary ( Tayassu pecari, also Bisampekari )
- Collared peccary ( Pecari tajacu )
- Chaco peccary ( Catagonus wagneri )
White beard and collared peccary are also sometimes associated with both the common genus Tayassu.
In June 2004, a fourth - peccary species was on the Rio Aripuanã in Brazil by the Dutch biologist Marc van Roosmalen discovered the Riesenpekari. It is the largest of all peccaries 1.34 m in length and 40 kg of weight. 2007, it was scientifically described and given the name Pecari maximus.
Although peccaries are a purely American family today, they seem to have originated in the Oligocene in Europe, according to the fossil evidence. In the Miocene they reached Asia, Africa and North America. Only in North America they survived the Pliocene; to South America they reached only when about 3 million years ago the land bridge of Panama.
Use
For the commercial exploitation in particular the peccary leather is known. This is considered to be extremely supple, durable and warm. It is used for example for the production of high-quality leather gloves. Pekarifleisch is considered particularly tasty and is traditionally living in the Amazon region of many indigenous peoples and settlers consumed.