The Palawan bearded pig (Sus ahoenobarbus) is a pig species found only in Southeast Asia. It is the largest wild pig in the Philippines. Until recently, it was considered a subspecies of the Bornean bearded pig (Sus barbatus).
The coloration of the Palawan bearded pig is dark gray to black. The neck, trunk, and limbs are covered in sparse black hair. The tail has a feather-like "brush" of long hair at the tip. The area around the eyes, forehead, and end of the snout is black in color. There is also a tuft of pale hair in front of each eye. The Palawan bearded pig doesn't have facial warts.
Palawan bearded pigs are found in the Philippines, where they occur on the archipelago of islands formed by Balabac, Palawan, and the Calamian Islands. Palawan bearded pigs inhabit moist montane and lowland forests, mangrove forests, and wetlands near forest areas. They also frequently visit cultivated areas.
Little is known about the behavior of Palawan bearded pigs due to the lack of study. They are active during the night. During the day they typically rest in shallow depressions which they dig in sheltered areas. Palawan bearded pigs are social animals and usually spend time in small groups of 2-3 individuals.
Palawan bearded pigs are omnivores. They eat fallen fruits, various plants, roots, fungi, invertebrates, small vertebrates, and crops.
The information about the reproductive habits of Palawan bearded pigs is scarce.
The major threats to this species include hunting, habitat loss, and hybridization with domestic pigs.
According to the IUCN Red List, the Palawan bearded pig is locally common throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. Currently, this species is classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are decreasing.
