Pigs vs. Hogs

#pigs #hogs #imPIGnorate #imHOGnorate

The pig family, also known as the Porcine or Suidae family, includes eight genera and sixteen species. The most commonly-known species include warthogs, boars, and what we will discuss today: pigs and hogs. Many people use pig and hog interchangeably to refer to the same animal, but despite popular belief, there is, in fact, a difference.

Where does the confusion come from? Well, most of the members of the Porcine family have either "pig" or "hog" in their name and they look very similar. Per further inspection, however, you'll being to see many differences in their physical features. The main difference is their contrast in size. Typically, hogs are much bigger, weighing over 120 pounds. They have big ears to match their big bodies, though, their eyes are small and their snout is flat, as opposed to a pig's cartilaginous snout. In terms of their market value, pigs are actually not often sold because of their young age and small size, whereas, hogs are usually market-ready. Despite these technical differences, pigs and hogs have very similar natures and behaviors, so it is common to make these mistakes. Next time, we can discuss the differences between them and babirusas, another member of the wonderful swine family.