Suina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Suina |
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| Potamochoerus porcus | |
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Suina
Gray, 1868
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Suidae |
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Suina (say: Soo-EE-nah) is a group of animals that includes pigs, hogs, and peccaries. These animals are part of a larger group called even-toed ungulates. This means they have an even number of toes on each foot, usually two or four. Scientists believe Suina might be some of the oldest types of even-toed ungulates.
Contents
What Animals Are in Suina?
The Suina group mainly includes two important families of animals:
- Suidae: This family includes all the different kinds of pigs and hogs you might know. They live all over the world.
- Tayassuidae: This family is made up of peccaries. Peccaries look a lot like pigs but are found mostly in the Americas.
Some older studies used to think that Hippopotamidae (hippos) were also part of the Suina group. However, newer research shows that hippos are actually more closely related to whales and dolphins than to pigs.
Where Do Suina Animals Live?
Pigs and hogs from the Suidae family live in many different places around the world. You can find them in Europe, Asia, and Africa. Peccaries, on the other hand, are mostly found in North, Central, and South America.
How Are Suina Animals Different?
Even though pigs and peccaries look similar, they have some differences. For example, peccaries have tusks that grow straight down, while pig tusks curve outwards. Peccaries also tend to be a bit smaller than many types of pigs. Both groups are known for their strong snouts, which they use to dig for food.
Related Animals
- Cetartiodactyla: This is a larger group of animals that includes all even-toed ungulates, as well as whales and dolphins.
Images for kids
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Cladogram showing the position of Suinamorpha
See Also
In Spanish: Suina para niños
