Collared Peccaries

Collared peccaries are also known as javelinas, thanks to their long, pointed tusks that resemble javelins. Another pseudonym is musk hog, as they frequently rub their oil glands against rocks and tree trunks to mark and defend territory. Their musky odor is always evident, and people often smell a peccary long before they see it. They are much more common than the white-lipped peccary, Costa Rica’s other peccary species. Though pig-like in appearance and behavior, the peccary is not classified in the pig family. Rather, they are members of the Tayassuidae Family, while true pigs are part of the Suidae Family.

Last updated: Nov 1, 2023