Sus scrofa domesticus

Sus scrofa domesticus Skull Replica measures 14.7 inches. Sus scrofa domesticus Skull Replica is museum quality polyurethane cast. 2-part skull (separate cranium & jaw).

Hog or Sus scrofa domesticus skulls have a distinctive high, sloping crest to the rear, formed by the supraoccipital and parietal bones and an additional, separate prenasal bone at the tip of the snout.

The cranial bones in the skull protect the brain while the facial bones protect the respiratory and digestive organs housed in the skull.

The mandible bone makes up the pig’s lower jaw and is the force behind chewing. Pigs also have a bone called the hyoid that supports the weight of the tongue.

The Sus scrofa domesticus, or Domestic Swine often called a pig when distinguishing from other members of the genus Sus, is an omnivorous, domesticated, even-toed, hoofed mammal.

It is variously considered a subspecies of Sus scrofa (the wild boar or Eurasian boar) or a distinct species.

The pig’s head-plus-body length ranges from 3 to 6 ft, and adult pigs typically weigh between 110 and 770 lb, with well-fed individuals even exceeding this range.

The size and weight of Sus scrofa domesticus largely depends on their breed. Compared to other artiodactyls, a pig’s head is relatively long and pointed.

Most even-toed ungulates are herbivorous, but pigs are omnivores, like their wild relative. Pigs grunt and make snorting sounds.

Hogs possess both apocrine and eccrine sweat glands, although the latter appear limited to the snout and dorsonasal areas.

Pigs, however, like other “hairless” mammals (e.g. elephants, rhinos, and mole-rats), do not use thermal sweat glands in cooling.

Sus scrofa domesticus or Pigs are also less able than many other mammals to dissipate heat from wet mucous membranes in the mouth through panting. Their thermoneutral zone is 16 to 22 °C (61 to 72 °F).

At higher temperatures, pigs lose heat by wallowing in mud or water via evaporative cooling, although it has been suggested that wallowing may serve other functions, such as protection from sunburn, ecto-parasite control, and scent-marking.

Hogs are one of four known mammalian species which possess mutations in the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor that protect against snake venom.

Mongooses, honey badgers, hedgehogs, and pigs all have modifications to the receptor pocket which prevents the snake venom α-neurotoxin from binding. These represent four separate, independent mutations.

The genome of the Hog has been sequenced and contains about 22,342 protein-coding genes

Hogs have small lungs in relation to their body size, and are thus more susceptible than other domesticated animals to fatal bronchitis and pneumonia. Sus domesticus or Pigs have a maximum life span of about 27 years.

When used as livestock, Sus scrofa domesticus are farmed primarily for the production of meat, called pork. A group of pigs is called a passel, a team, or a sounder.

The animal’s bones, hide, and bristles are also used in products. Pigs, especially miniature breeds, are kept as pets.

In some developing and developed nations, the pig is usually raised outdoors in yards or fields. In some areas, pigs are allowed to forage in woods where they may be taken care of by swineherds.

In industrialized nations such as the United States, Sus scrofa domesticus or pig farming has switched from the traditional pig farm to large-scale intensive pig farms. This has resulted in lower production costs but can cause significant cruelty problems.

As consumers have become concerned with the humane treatment of livestock, demand for pasture-raised pork in these nations has increased.