Warthog Diet

Warthogs live in savannas, semi-deserts, and grass-steppes throughout sub-Saharan Africa. While warthogs are mostly grazers, they do take advantage of a few other types of food sources.

  1. Typical Foods

    • According to Animal Diversity Web, warthogs supplement their grass diet with berries, tree bark, roots, rhizomes, bulbs and sometimes carrion. The African Wildlife Foundation adds that during the rainy season, warthogs may also eat small invertebrates such as earthworms.

    Physical Adaptations

    • Warthogs are well adapted to eating particularly short grasses. According to the Oakland Zoo, this is because they have calloused and padded knees that allow them to kneel and move about close to the ground, while their high-set eyes allow them to keep a watch out for predators. The warthog's tusks and snout are excellent tools to dig up roots, rhizomes and bulbs.

    Crop Raiding

    • Warthogs have also been known to raid agricultural fields growing wheat, rice, and beans.

    Diet in Captivity

    • As the San Francisco Zoo notes, warthogs in captivity are typically fed a diet featuring grains, alfalfa, vegetables and fruits.

    Role in Other's Diets

    • A Warthog's primary predators are lions, leopards and cheetahs. Humans also hunt warthogs for meat.