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What the sources say

Common WarthogPhacochoerus africanus

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Common Warthog profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 34 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

Profile updated

Source
01

Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan

Phacochoerus africanus (common warthog). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.

The page saysKneels on calloused, padded wrist joints to graze short grass, then backs into a borrowed aardvark burrow, tusks facing out.
The source saysWarthogs commonly utilize aardvark holes for sleeping at night. ... They are specialized for grazing short grasses by being able to lower themselves close to the ground on their wrist joints, which are calloused and padded.Note: superpower stat; fragments reordered to match their order in the ADW page; backing in with tusks facing out is the sdz-warthog burrow claim ('They usually back into the burrow, so they can use their sharp tusks to scare off any animal that bothers them')
The page saysOpen and wooded savanna, grass-steppe and semi-desert across Sub-Saharan Africa, from Mauritania to Ethiopia south to Namibia and eastern South Africa
The source saysWarthogs (Phacochoerus africanus) are found outside forested areas in Africa, from Mauritania to Ethiopia and south to Namibia and eastern South Africa. ... Common warthogs are found in open and wooded savannas, grass-steppes, and semi-deserts in Africa.
The page saysMostly grass, plus roots, berries, young tree bark, rhizomes and bulbs dug up with snout and tusks, and occasionally carrion
The source saysCommon warthogs are primarily grazers but also feed on roots, berries, bark of young trees, and occassionaly carrion. ... Common warthogs use their snouts and tusks to excavate rhizomes and bulbs.
The page saysIt measures 90 to 150 centimeters from head to rump, stands 63.5 to 85 centimeters at the shoulder, and weighs 50 to 150 kilograms, with females 15 to 20 percent lighter than males.
The source saysCommon warthogs weigh 50 to 150 kg with females being 15 to 20 percent lighter than males. Head and body length is 900 to 1500 mm. Shoulder height ranges from 635 to 850 mm.Note: reviewer moved size to ADW: the SDZ page covers two species (P. africanus and P. aethiopicus), so its SIZE box is genus scope; ADW's figures are for P. africanus
The page saysLarge upper tusks, a lower pair and three pairs of facial warts give the common warthog (Phacochoerus africanus) a brawler's face.
The source saysCommon warthogs have large upper tusks that are 255 to 635 mm long in males and 152 to 255 mm long in females. ... warthogs have three pairs of facial wartsNote: 'a lower pair' is the lower tusks in the next claim ('The more dangerous lower tusks'); 'a brawler's face' is a figure of speech
The page saysA male's upper tusks run 25.5 to 63.5 centimeters, a female's 15.2 to 25.5. The lower tusks are the more dangerous pair.
The source saysCommon warthogs have large upper tusks that are 255 to 635 mm long in males and 152 to 255 mm long in females. ... The more dangerous lower tusks are rarely used, and injuries or fatalities are rare.Note: SDZ's 25-30 cm upper / 13 cm lower is unsexed and genus scope (the page covers P. africanus and P. aethiopicus); ADW gives sexed species ranges, stated as ranges not records
The page saysTo graze short grass, a warthog lowers itself onto the calloused, padded wrist joints of its front legs, and it will even shuffle along in that kneeling position.
The source saysThey are specialized for grazing short grasses by being able to lower themselves close to the ground on their wrist joints, which are calloused and padded.Note: 'front legs' and the shuffling are sdz-warthog: "Warthogs often kneel down on their front legs ... They even shuffle along in the kneeling position if there are plenty of tasty things in the area." The unsourced 'neck is short' and 'pig equivalent of a knee' were cut
The page saysIt digs up rhizomes and bulbs with its snout and tusks, and it also eats roots, berries, the bark of young trees and occasionally carrion.
The source saysCommon warthogs are primarily grazers but also feed on roots, berries, bark of young trees, and occassionaly carrion. ... Common warthogs use their snouts and tusks to excavate rhizomes and bulbs. ... Common warthogs eat their own dung and the dung of rhinoceroses, African buffalos, waterbucks, and francolins.
The page saysDuring drought, those same bulbs and rhizomes may double as a source of water.
The source saysRhizomes and bulbs may also provide water for common warthogs during periods of drought.
The page saysCommon warthogs range across open and wooded savanna, grass-steppe and semi-desert from Mauritania to Ethiopia and south to Namibia and eastern South Africa, avoiding rainforest and severe desert.
The source saysWarthogs (Phacochoerus africanus) are found outside forested areas in Africa, from Mauritania to Ethiopia and south to Namibia and eastern South Africa. ... Common warthogs are found in open and wooded savannas, grass-steppes, and semi-deserts in Africa. Common warthogs prefer open areas and avoid rainforest and severe desert.
The page saysFemales do, except when pregnant. Animal Diversity Web says common warthogs live in family groups called soundings, usually females and their young, of up to 18 members. Males usually leave after 2 years of age and live alone or in bachelor groups, and adult males join the females briefly to mate.
The source saysAdult males are usually solitary and join female groups briefly for mating. ... Common warthogs live in family groups called soundings. A sounding usually consists of females and their young. Males usually disperse after 2 years of age and become solitary or form bachelor groups. Females stay in a sounding except when they are pregnant. Soundings can consist of up to 18 members.Note: SDZ's 'groups of up to 40' is genus scope (its page covers P. africanus and P. aethiopicus); ADW gives the species figure; fragments ordered as on the ADW page (Reproduction before Behavior)
The page saysYes. Animal Diversity Web records common warthogs eating their own droppings, plus the dung of rhinoceroses, African buffalo and waterbuck.
The source saysCommon warthogs eat their own dung and the dung of rhinoceroses, African buffalos, waterbucks, and francolins.
The page saysIn the wild, Animal Diversity Web puts a typical lifespan at 7 to 11 years.
The source saysTypical lifespan Status: wild 7 to 11 years
The page saysand Animal Diversity Web says they are rarely used in fights between males.
The source saysFighting involves pushing and striking with the head and blunt upper tusks. The more dangerous lower tusks are rarely used, and injuries or fatalities are rare.
The page saysAnimal Diversity Web calls lions the predominant predators and says warthogs usually avoid attack by fleeing.
The source saysThe predominant predators of common warthogs are lions ... They are fast runners and usually avoid attack by fleeing.
The page saysThey avoid nocturnal predators by being active during the day and sheltering in burrows at night.
The source saysCommon warthogs avoid nocturnal predators by being active during the day and sheltering in burrows at night.
The page saysthey use the warning calls of red-billed and yellow-billed oxpeckers to avoid predators.
The source saysThey also use the warning calls of red-billed and yellow-billed oxpeckers to avoid predators.
The page saysWhere people disturb them, warthogs often become more active at night.
The source saysIn areas with human disturbance, warthogs often become more active nocturnaly.
The page saysA warthog has no subcutaneous fat and a sparse coat, which leaves it susceptible to extreme temperatures.
The source saysCommon warthogs do not have subcutaneous fat and the coat is sparse, making them suceptible to extreme environmental temperatures.
The page saystags: omnivore
The source saysPrimary Diet omnivore
The page saystags: burrowing
The source saysCommon warthogs use their snouts and tusks to excavate rhizomes and bulbs.

Source
02

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

Warthog. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.

The page saysTusked survivor that usually backs into a borrowed aardvark burrow, so its tusks face whatever comes calling.
The source saysInstead of digging their own burrows, they find abandoned aardvark holes or natural burrows for homes. ... They usually back into the burrow, so they can use their sharp tusks to scare off any animal that bothers them.Note: tagline; reviewer dropped 'tail-up' (the source raises the tail when running, not when backing in) and moved the ref to the source that states the backing-in
The page saysSan Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance says a warthog's facial warts are "just thick growths of skin" that "don't have any bones or cartilage."
The source saysA warthog's "warts" are not really warts, but just thick growths of skin. Even though the growths stick out, they don't have any bones or cartilage.Note: current SDZ page overrides the profile's old claim, sourced only to a 2005 ADW page, that the warts are cartilage; see report
The page saysRival boars ram heads and blunt upper tusks together at mating time, and the warts act as pads to cushion the blows so the fighters "rarely injure each other."
The source saysThe boars push and ram each other with their heads and their blunt upper tusks to see which is the most powerful. ... The warts act as pads to cushion the blows, so they rarely injure each other.
The page saysA running warthog holds its tail up, bushy tip hanging down, a signal that "may serve as a warning to other warthogs if danger is near."
The source saysWhen they walk, their tail hangs down, but when they run, their tail sticks up, with the bushy tip hanging down. This may serve as a warning to other warthogs if danger is near.Note: SDZ page is genus scope; adw-warthog states the same for P. africanus: "A common warthogs, when alarmed, run with its tail upright as an alarm for conspecifics."
The page saysInstead of digging its own den, it moves into an abandoned aardvark hole or a natural burrow, usually backing in so its sharp tusks face the doorway and can "scare off any animal that bothers them."
The source saysInstead of digging their own burrows, they find abandoned aardvark holes or natural burrows for homes. ... They usually back into the burrow, so they can use their sharp tusks to scare off any animal that bothers them.Note: the aardvark-burrow detail is also stated by adw-warthog: "Warthogs commonly utilize aardvark holes for sleeping at night."
The page saysSan Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, whose page covers both warthog species, names lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, painted dogs and eagles as predators and puts a fleeing warthog at up to 55 kilometers an hour.
The source saysLions, cheetahs, leopards, painted dogs, hyenas, and eagles all like to snack on a warthog when they get a chance. ... This allows them to run away from these potential predators, reaching speeds of up to 34 miles (55 kilometers) per hour.Note: reviewer rescoped: the SDZ page covers P. africanus and P. aethiopicus, so the predator list and the 55 km/h speed are genus scope and now say so; ADW's species-scope Known Predators list is lions, leopards and cheetah
The page saysWith grunting. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance says a boar performs a courtship "chant" of rhythmic grunts that sounds like an engine in need of a tune-up.
The source saysWhen a male warthog wants to attract a female, he does a courtship “chant” of rhythmic grunts that sounds like an engine in need of a tune-up.
The page saysBurrows protect it from temperature extremes, and it will even raise its young in one.
The source saysThis is where they raise their young, sleep, and hide from predators. ... Burrows also protect them from temperature extremes.
The page saysdangerLevel: Medium
The source saysThey usually back into the burrow, so they can use their sharp tusks to scare off any animal that bothers them.
The page saysWarthogs have to dash out of the burrow at top speed in case a predator is waiting
The source saysWhen they leave their burrow, they must dash out at top speed in case any predators are waiting for them!
The page sayscan reach 55 km/h
The source saysreaching speeds of up to 34 miles (55 kilometers) per hour

Source
03

Jong et al. 2016

Jong et al. (2016). Phacochoerus africanus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T41768A109669842.

The page saysLeast Concern
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC). Phacochoerus africanus (J.F. Gmelin, 1788), IUCN taxon 41768.Note: conservationStatus stat; category read through GBIF's copy of the Red List, as source-text/3f93a3f3520d8749.txt records; the assessment DOI is cited, not the GBIF API URL

Source
04

AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Human Ageing Genomic Resources

Phacochoerus africanus (Wart hog). AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Human Ageing Genomic Resources.

The page saysAnAge lists one captive warthog that reached 30.
The source saysMaximum longevity 30 years (captivity) ... One captive specimen lived for 30 years

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.