Topic summary

Sus (genus)

Sus (genus)

Sus () is the genus of domestic and wild pigs, within the even-toed ungulate family Suidae. Sus includes domestic pigs (Sus domesticus) and their ancestor, the common Eurasian wild boar (Sus scrofa), along with various other species. Sus species, like all suids, are native to the Eurasian and African continents, ranging from Europe to the Pacific islands.

Juvenile pigs are known as piglets. Pigs live in complex social groups and are considered one of the more intelligent mammals, as reflected in their ability to learn.

With around 1 billion of this species alive at any time, the domestic pig is among the most populous large mammals in the world. Pigs are omnivores and can consume a wide range of food. Pigs have biological similarities to humans and are therefore frequently used for human medical research.