Notes on the Nest for Reproduction of Ryukyu Wild Boar, Sus riukiuanus
1977 Volume 7 Issue 2 Pages 111-113
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1977 Volume 7 Issue 2 Pages 111-113
The authors had an oppotunity to observe a fresh nest containing four youngs of the Ryukyu wild boar, Sus riukiuanus KURODA, 1924, on October 23th, 1975, at Iriomote Island, Okinawa Prif., Japan. The nest was found in grassland of the tall miscanthus, Miscauthus floridulus, at the foot of Mt. Nakama in the east of the island. It was made of many stems and blades of these grass mowed by their mother pig. The external form was similar to the large muskrat mound, 60cm in height, 1.8m in diameter. The mound contained a main entrance, an estimated emergency exit and a nest chamber. The main entrance was measured 30×30cm in height and width, and seemed to be used generally by the family. The other one was about 7cm in width and was estimated to be an emergency exit. The nest chamber was about 35 cm in height and 65 cm in diameter, and no bedding was found in it.
The young mother pig was dead outside of the nest near the entrance. The youngs were found in the nest silently, but when we approached the nest they ran away through the small exit of the mound, not the main entrance.
