Species Spotlight: Collared Peccary

Introduction of the Species

The Collared Peccary does not usually get the same attention as monkeys, macaws, or frogs, which is a mistake. It has character, attitude, and just enough scruffy charm to earn a place in any Costa Rica wildlife portfolio.

Physical Description

This stout, pig-like mammal has coarse gray-brown fur, a compact body, and a pale collar across the shoulders that gives it its name. It often looks like it got dressed in a hurry and then decided that was good enough.

Native Habitat

Collared Peccaries are adaptable and occur in dry forest, tropical forest, scrub, and woodland. In Costa Rica they can be seen in places where forest cover and feeding opportunities come together.

Where They Are Found in Central and South America

They range from the southern United States through Mexico and Central America and into much of South America. In Costa Rica, they are one of the more realistic mammal subjects photographers may encounter on foot or from vehicles.

Food and Eating Habits

They feed mostly on roots, fruits, seeds, tubers, and other plant material, though they can be opportunistic feeders. They often travel in groups, using scent and sound to stay connected.

Known Lifespan

Wild individuals can live up to about 15 years, though average wild lifespan appears to be lower.

Join Us in Costa Rica

Costa Rica is not just about bright birds and neon frogs. It is also about real rainforest moments, and seeing a group of peccaries moving through the forest floor is one of them. On our Costa Rica photo workshop, we photograph the full story of the ecosystem, from tiny poison frogs to mammals like the Collared Peccary that give the forest its heartbeat.