Collared PeccaryDicotyles tajacuWhere and when to see them

The collared peccary is a compact, hoofed mammal of the Americas, recognisable by its coarse dark coat and pale shoulder collar. Although piglike in appearance, it belongs to a separate family with distinctive teeth, scent glands and social habits. Its remarkable ecological flexibility allows it to occupy humid tropical forest, dry woodland and desert scrub. Family groups can be important seed consumers and agents of soil disturbance.

Size

80-105 cm body length

Weight

15-30 kg

Lifespan

10-15 years

Status

Least Concern

Peccaries usually live in cohesive groups that maintain contact through grunts, scent marking and mutual rubbing. They forage with their snouts close to the ground, digging and turning litter for food. Activity shifts with temperature and disturbance, often concentrating around cooler hours in hot environments. Groups may rest together in shade or dense cover. When alarmed, they can clack their teeth and defend themselves rather than immediately retreat. They maintain well-defined home ranges, which they mark with a dorsal scent gland. Group sizes typically range from 5 to 15 individuals, though larger aggregations can occur where resources are abundant.

• Peccaries are not members of the pig family.
• A gland on the lower back produces scent used in social communication.
• Their canines are comparatively straight rather than curling outward like many pig tusks.
• In arid habitats, cactus pads can supply both nourishment and water.

There is no universal viewing season across its broad range. Drier months often improve trail access in tropical reserves, while extreme heat reduces daytime activity in northern Mexico. Local rainfall, water availability and protection from hunting are more useful predictors than calendar dates alone. In Costa Rica, the dry season (roughly December to April) generally offers easier trail conditions for viewing. For Mexico, early morning or late afternoon observations are often best to avoid peak heat, especially in northern regions.

Habitats range from tropical rainforest and seasonally dry forest to thorn scrub and semiarid grassland mosaics. Dense shelter, accessible food and water influence local use. Coastal forests can support populations, but many practical viewing opportunities require inland reserve visits. They are highly adaptable and thrive in both arid scrublands and humid tropical forests. In Costa Rica, they are commonly found in lowland forests and dry forest fragments, while in Mexico, they occupy a wide variety of habitats including deserts and mountain foothills.

Roots, tubers, fruits, seeds and green vegetation form most of the diet. In dry regions, succulent plants provide food and moisture. Peccaries also consume invertebrates and occasional small animal material, with the balance changing according to habitat and seasonal availability. Their strong snouts are well-adapted for rooting up underground plant parts. They play a significant ecological role as seed dispersers and soil aerators in many ecosystems.

Common name

Collared Peccary

Scientific name

Dicotyles tajacu

Animal group

Mammals

Size

80-105 cm body length

Weight

15-30 kg

Lifespan

10-15 years

Status

Least Concern

Identification

A pale shoulder collar and relatively small body distinguish it from the larger white-lipped peccary, whose contrasting white markings concentrate around the mouth. The collared peccary's body is covered in coarse, grizzled gray to blackish hair. Unlike pigs, they have a short, almost vestigial tail and a small, pointed head.