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These javelinas caused a scene in South Texas when a disagreement in the squadron escalated to a fight. A javelina squadron typically numbers between ten and twenty individuals and is led by a dominant matriarch who has to work to keep the others in line.
Despite looking similar to pigs, javelinas are actually a separate species entirely, identifiable by their small, rounded ears and short tails. Their teeth are also distinctive, short, and straight canine teeth.
The ones from this footage have a clear band of lighter hair around their chin and neck, making them collared javelinas, or peccaries, as they are also sometimes known.
Causing A Scene
The two javelinas at the very beginning of the footage appear to be having a strong disagreement, but given the lack of alarm from the others around them, this is likely a question of dominance within the squadron.
They bare their large teeth at each other, but despite their posturing, neither took the opportunity to bite down hard on the other. This kind of posturing is necessary to establish the social hierarchy of the squadron, with the matriarch disciplining the other members and forcing them into submission.
Take A Seat
This submission came quite suddenly when the misbehaving javelina might have taken things a little too far, leading to the matriarch attacking it with such ferocity that the defending javelina was forced to sit down.
Forced to the ground, the animal looked shocked at just how quickly it had lost the fight, and this time it stayed there, likely rethinking its decision after such a swift defeat.
A Strange Kind Of Communication
They make the habit of clacking their teeth together rapidly, in an unusual form of communication which is typical for them. This kind of noise can serve several purposes, such as warding off threats and warning others in the squadron of the threat’s presence.
The other javelinas seemed to be completely unbothered by the noise that these two were generating, which indicated that these two combatants, likely the matriarch and a misbehaving member of her squadron, were attempting to intimidate each other into submission.
Another way these animals communicate with each other is through smell. Although their small eyes mean they don’t have the best sight in the animal kingdom, their highly developed noses are brilliant at identifying individuals by smell.
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A Quick And Easy Fight
The peace didn’t last as long as the matriarch may have hoped. After some footage of young javelinas foraging for food, it appeared that another fight started up with startling rapidity, likely between the same two as before.
Perhaps one got too close to the other’s food, as this confrontation is considerably shorter, and the two quickly go back to feeding. Javelina are omnivorous, meaning there were plenty of options for both of them to enjoy after all.