How big does a Buru babirusa get? Here is an overview over the average adult age:
A grown Buru babirusa (Babyrousa babyrussa) reaches an average size of 95 cm (3′ 2″).
When born, they have an average size of 0 cm (0′ 0″). During their lifetime of about 24 years, they grow from 715 grams (1.58 lbs) to 92.33 kg (203.54 lbs). Talking about reproduction, Buru babirusas have 1 babies about 1 times per year. The Buru babirusa (genus: Babyrousa) is a member of the family Suidae.
As a reference: Humans reach an average body size of 1.65m (5′ 5″) while carrying 62 kg (137 lbs). A human woman is pregnant for 280 days (40 weeks) and on average become 75 years old.
The Buru babirusa (Babyrousa babyrussa) is a wild pig-like animal native to the Indonesian islands of Buru, the two Sula Islands of Mangole and Taliabu. It is also known as the Moluccan babirusa, golden babirusa or hairy babirusa. Traditionally, this relatively small species included the other babirusas as subspecies, but it has been recommended treating them as separate species based on differences in their morphology. As also suggested by its alternative common names, the Buru Babirusa has relatively long thick, gold-brown body-hair – a feature not shared by the other extant babirusas.In absence of detailed data on B. babyrussa, it is generally assumed that its habitat and ecology are similar to that of B. celebensis (north Sulawesi babirusa). Furthermore, as all babirusas were considered conspecific under the scientific name B. babyrussa until 2001, data collected before that is consistently listed under the name B. babyrussa, though the vast majority actually refers to B. celebensis (by far the best known species of babirusa). Babirusas tend to occupy tropical rainforests, river banks and various natural ponds rich in water plants. They are omnivorous and feed on various leaves, roots, fruits, invertebrates and small vertebrates. Their jaws and teeth are strong enough to crack any kind of nuts. Babirusas lack the rostral bone in their nose, which is a tool used by other wild pigs for digging. Therefore, they prefer feeding on roots in soft muddy or sandy soils. Cannibalism was reported among babirusas, feeding on the young of their own species or other mammals. North Sulawesi babirusas form groups with up to a dozen of individuals, especially when raising their young. Older males might live individually.The north Sulawesi babirusa reach sexual maturity when they are 5–10 months old. Their estrous cycle is 28–42 days, and the gestation period lasts 150–157 days. The females have two rows of teats and will give birth to 1–2 piglets weighing 380–1050 grams and measuring 15–20 cm, which they will nurse until the age of 6–8 months. The lifespan is about 24 years.The restricted habitat of the Buru babirusa, with the total area within 20,000 km², and its gradual loss due to logging persuaded the International Union for Conservation of Nature to declare the species as vulnerable. Hunting by the local population is another cause of concern. Whereas it is unpopular among Muslim communities for religious reasons, it is widely hunted by the indigenous people of Buru, which are predominantly Christian. The meat of Buru babirusa has low fat (only 1.27% compared to 5–15% for domestic pigs) and is regarded as a delicacy. It is also preferred by the locals to the meat of other wild pigs or deer in terms of texture and flavor. The establishment of two protected areas on Buru, Gunung Kapalat Mada (1,380 km²) and Waeapo (50 km²), partly aim at preserving the habitat of the Buru babirusa. This species also enjoys full protection under Indonesian law since 1931.
Animals of the same family as a Buru babirusa
We found other animals of the Suidae family:
- Wild boar with a size of 1.35 meter (4′ 6″)
- Bushpig with 2 babies per litter
- Visayan warty pig with a size of 1.35 meter (4′ 6″)
- Giant forest hog with a size of 2.03 meter (6′ 8″)
- Pygmy hog with a size of 59.9 cm (2′ 0″)
- Bornean bearded pig with a size of 1.35 meter (4′ 6″)
- Common warthog with a size of 1.36 meter (4′ 6″)
- Javan warty pig with a size of 1.25 meter (4′ 2″)
- Celebes warty pig with 3 babies per litter
- Desert warthog with 3 babies per litter
Animals with the same size as a Buru babirusa
Not that size really matters, but it makes things comparable. So here are a couple of animals that are as big as Buru babirusa:
- Smooth-coated otter with a size of 78.8 cm (2′ 8″)
- Siberian musk deer with a size of 90 cm (3′ 0″)
- Springbok with a size of 1.06 meter (3′ 6″)
- Thomson’s gazelle with a size of 88.5 cm (2′ 11″)
- Japanese macaque with a size of 82.7 cm (2′ 9″)
- Black musk deer with a size of 90 cm (3′ 0″)
- Dhole with a size of 98.8 cm (3′ 3″)
- Proserpine rock-wallaby with a size of 100 cm (3′ 4″)
- Golden jackal with a size of 83 cm (2′ 9″)
- Striped hyena with a size of 1.11 meter (3′ 8″)
Animals with the same litter size as a Buru babirusa
Here is a list of animals that have the same number of babies per litter (1) as a Buru babirusa:
- Rusty pipistrelle
- Neotropical pygmy squirrel
- Australian sea lion
- Southern three-banded armadillo
- Shining thicket rat
- Ogilby’s duiker
- Blyth’s horseshoe bat
- Anoa
- Dusky pademelon
- Banteng
Animals with the same life expectancy as a Buru babirusa
Completely different animals, but becoming as old as a Buru babirusa:
- North American river otter with an average maximal age of 25 years
- Bontebok with an average maximal age of 21.67 years
- East Caucasian tur with an average maximal age of 22 years
- Gayal with an average maximal age of 26.17 years
- Fat-tailed dwarf lemur with an average maximal age of 19.25 years
- South American fur seal with an average maximal age of 21 years
- Eurasian otter with an average maximal age of 22 years
- Red deer with an average maximal age of 26.75 years
- Gemsbok with an average maximal age of 20 years
- Scimitar oryx with an average maximal age of 20.42 years
Animals with the same weight as a Buru babirusa
As a comparison, here are some other animals that weight as much as the Babyrousa babyrussa:
- Spotted seal with a weight of 99.02 kilos (218.3 lbs)
- Guanaco with a weight of 95.5 kilos (210.54 lbs)
- Eld’s deer with a weight of 94.7 kilos (208.78 lbs)
- Jaguar with a weight of 84.26 kilos (185.76 lbs)
- Hirola with a weight of 78.6 kilos (173.28 lbs)
- Juan Fernández fur seal with a weight of 95 kilos (209.44 lbs)
- Desert warthog with a weight of 75.61 kilos (166.69 lbs)
- Sitatunga with a weight of 75.28 kilos (165.96 lbs)
- Atlantic humpback dolphin with a weight of 100 kilos (220.46 lbs)
- Wild boar with a weight of 84.49 kilos (186.27 lbs)