Q&A NATURE’S WEIRDEST CREATURES
Pigs are charismatic, smart animals, but this little piggy takes the ginger biscuit. The red river hog, otherwise known as the ‘tufted pig’, is a wild member of the pig family, found in western and central Africa.
With its striking red coat, it’s the most colourful member of thetrotters. Its face is part ALF (the alien life form from the ’80s American sitcom), part Dobby the house elf (from the stories). Whiskers protrude from the base of a long, black snout, while its jet-black eyes are framed by bold white markings. The contrasting marks are a form of camouflage, called disruptive coloration, which breaks up the animal’s outline so it can blend in with the background.
