Pig (disambiguation) facts for kids
Pigs are amazing mammals that belong to the Sus genus. They are known for their snouts, curly tails, and often playful nature. When people say "pig," they usually mean the common farm animal, but the word can also refer to many other things, from wild animals to movies and even computer programs!
What is a Pig?
Pigs are part of a large family of animals. The most common pig we know is the Domestic pig, which is scientifically called Sus scrofa domestica. These are the pigs raised on farms around the world.
Different Kinds of Pigs
There are many types of pigs and their relatives. They live in different parts of the world and have unique features.
Domestic Pigs and Wild Boars
The Domestic pig is a type of pig that humans have raised for thousands of years. They are descendants of the Wild boar, also known as the Eurasian Wild Boar (Sus scrofa). Wild boars live in forests and are much more independent than farm pigs.
Other Pig Relatives
The Sus genus includes the wild boar and other related species found in Southeast Asia. These animals are all part of the Suinae subfamily, which also includes other pig-like creatures from Africa. The larger Suidae family includes all these pigs and some ancient, extinct pig relatives. Even wider, the Suina group includes pigs and peccaries, which are sometimes called "New World pigs."
Ancient Pigs
Long ago, there were huge, powerful animals called Hell pigs or terminator pigs. These were a family of extinct mammals that looked a bit like giant, scary pigs. They are no longer alive today.
Pigs as Pets
While domestic pigs can be pets, a very popular small animal often called a "pig" is the Guinea pig. Despite its name, the guinea pig is actually a type of rodent, not a true pig. They are known for being friendly and are common household pets.
Pigs in Pop Culture
The word "pig" is used in many movies, TV shows, songs, and games. It can be part of a title or a character's name.
Movies and TV Shows
Many films have "Pig" or "Pigs" in their titles. Some examples include Daddy's Deadly Darling (a 1972 horror movie), Psy (a 1992 movie), and Pig (a 2010 horror movie). There is also a fun animated TV show called Pig Goat Banana Cricket.
Music
The word "pig" also appears in many song and album titles. For example, there's the album Pigs from 1996 and the song "Pigs (Three Different Ones)" by Pink Floyd from 1977. The musical project PIG (musical project) is another example.
Games
In the world of games, "Pig" can refer to a simple dice game called Pig (dice). It's also a variation of the card game Spoons and a version of the basketball game H-O-R-S-E, where players spell P-I-G instead of H-O-R-S-E.
Pigs in Science and Technology
Beyond animals, "pig" is used in many scientific and technical terms. These uses often describe something that looks like a pig or performs a specific task.
Machines and Tools
The Humber Pig is a type of British military vehicle. In pipeline maintenance, a "pig" (pipeline inspection gauge) is a tool used to clean or inspect the inside of pipes. A "distillation pig" is a special piece of laboratory glass used to collect liquids.
Materials and Genes
Pig iron is a basic type of iron that is made during the smelting process. A "lead pig" is a container made of lead shielding. It is used to safely store and move special materials that need to be kept safe. In genetics, PIGS (genetics) refers to a specific human gene.
Computer Programming
In computer science, Pig (programming language) is a special language. It is used with a system called Hadoop to process very large amounts of data.
Other Meanings of "Pig"
The word "pig" can also be found in other interesting places and contexts.
Places and Stories
There is a place called Pig, Kentucky in the United States. Also, a famous author named Roald Dahl wrote a short story titled "Pig."
Symbols and Nature
In the Chinese zodiac, the Pig is one of the twelve animal signs. People born in the Year of the Pig are often thought to be kind and honest. The Pine Island Glacier, a large glacier in Antarctica, is sometimes called PIG for short. The Pisabo language is an indigenous language from Peru, and its ISO 639-3 code is "pig."
