You’re probably here because you need a quick answer for a biology quiz or you’re just curious about that pink, curly-tailed animal at the local farm. If you want the short version: Sus scrofa domesticus is the scientific name of pigs. But honestly, if you stop there, you’re missing the weird, messy, and actually kind of fascinating story of how these animals got that name in the first place. Biology is rarely as neat as a textbook makes it look.
Pigs aren't just one thing. When we talk about the scientific name of pigs, we are usually talking about the domestic variety. But that name is hitched to a much wilder relative. It’s a bit like calling a Chihuahua a wolf—technically accurate in a lineage sense, but practically very different when one is sleeping on your sofa and the other is prowling the woods.
The Taxonomy Breakdown: Who is Sus scrofa?
To understand the scientific name of pigs, you have to look at the genus Sus. This is the group that includes all pigs and wild boars. They belong to the family Suidae. If you go higher up the chain, they’re in the order Artiodactyla. That’s a fancy way of saying they are even-toed ungulates. They share that club with giraffes and camels, which feels wrong but is genetically undeniable.
The specific epithet scrofa belongs to the wild boar. For a long time, scientists argued—and some still do—about whether the domestic pig is its own species or just a subspecies. Currently, the most widely accepted nomenclature is Sus scrofa domesticus. That third word, the subspecies rank, tells you it’s the version humans have messed with for about 9,000 years.
Carl Linnaeus, the father of modern taxonomy, originally named the domestic pig Sus scrofa in 1758. Later, as we realized just how much domestic pigs had diverged from their wild ancestors, the domesticus tag was added to keep things clear. It’s a distinction that matters to researchers because domestic pigs have floppy ears, curly tails, and a much more "relaxed" skeletal structure compared to the lean, mean, tusked machines found in the forests of Eurasia.
Why the Scientific Name of Pigs Changes Depending on Who You Ask
Taxonomy isn't written in stone. It’s more like a heated, never-ending argument between scientists. Some biologists prefer to use Sus domesticus as a full species name. Their argument? Thousands of years of selective breeding have created an animal that is biologically and behaviorally distinct enough from the wild boar to merit its own "slot."
- The "Lumpers" want to keep everything under Sus scrofa. They see the domestic pig as a variation, not a new species.
- The "Splitters" want Sus domesticus to stand alone. They point to the fact that domestic pigs can go feral and change their physical appearance in just a few generations.
It gets weirder. If you’re talking about a pig in a lab setting, researchers might just call them "swine" or "porcine models." In the meat industry, they are "hogs." But in the hallowed halls of a museum of natural history, you’ll see that scientific name of pigs label: Sus scrofa domesticus.
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Evolution and the "Plasticity" of the Pig
Pigs are incredibly "plastic" animals. No, they aren't made of synthetic polymers. In biology, plasticity refers to how much an organism's physical traits can change based on its environment.
Take a domestic pig and let it loose in the wild. Within a few months, it doesn't just act differently—it starts to look different. They grow thick, coarse hair. Their snouts can lengthen. They become more aggressive. This is one reason why defining the scientific name of pigs is so tricky. They are a bridge between a human-controlled environment and the raw survivalism of the wild.
The wild boar, Sus scrofa, is one of the most widely distributed mammals in the world. They are native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa. When humans began domesticating them in the Near East and China (independently, by the way), we started the long process of creating the domesticus subspecies. We wanted animals that were less likely to gore us with tusks and more likely to put on weight quickly.
Domestic Pigs vs. Their Wild Cousins
If you put a Sus scrofa (wild boar) and a Sus scrofa domesticus (domestic pig) next to each other, the differences are glaring.
- The Tail: Wild boars have straight tails. Domestic pigs usually have that iconic curl. Why? It’s actually a side effect of domestication that affects the development of the spine and connective tissues.
- The Brain: Domestic pigs actually have smaller brains than their wild counterparts. We’ve bred them to be less reactive to stress, which unfortunately involves shrinking the parts of the brain responsible for high-level "wild" awareness.
- The Coat: Wild boars have a double coat—a soft underfur and stiff bristles. Domestic pigs often have very sparse hair, making them prone to sunburn. Yes, pigs can get sunburned.
Despite these differences, they can interbreed. This produces "iron-age pigs." These hybrids are often used in specialty farming because they have the hardiness of the wild boar but the meat quality of the domestic pig. This ability to interbreed is the strongest argument for keeping the scientific name of pigs as a subspecies of the wild boar rather than its own separate species.
Other Members of the Sus Genus
While Sus scrofa domesticus gets all the headlines, the genus Sus is actually pretty crowded. You’ve probably heard of some of these, even if you didn't know their "official" Latin handles.
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The Pygmy Hog (Porcula salvania) used to be in the Sus genus but was recently moved. However, you still have the Palawan Bearded Pig (Sus ahoenobarbus) and the Visayan Warty Pig (Sus cebifrons). These are distinct species. You can't just call them "pigs" in a scientific context without causing a lot of confusion.
The scientific name of pigs strictly refers to the animals we’ve lived alongside for millennia. If you find yourself in the Philippines looking at a Warty Pig, calling it Sus scrofa would be a major faux pas in the zoology world.
The Intelligence Factor: More Than Just a Name
We can't talk about Sus scrofa domesticus without mentioning their brains. It’s honestly insulting that "pig" is used as a slur for someone who is messy or slow. Research from experts like Dr. Lori Marino has shown that pigs are arguably smarter than dogs. They can solve puzzles, recognize themselves in mirrors (a feat many primates can't manage), and even play basic video games with their snouts.
This high level of intelligence is why the scientific name of pigs shows up so often in cognitive science papers. They aren't just food; they are complex sentient beings with social structures that would make a soap opera look simple. They form close bonds, they mourn, and they have distinct personalities.
In some cultures, the pig is a symbol of wealth and fertility. In others, it’s a pariah. But scientifically, it is a masterpiece of adaptation. Whether it’s the massive forest hogs of Africa or the teacup pigs (which aren't actually a thing, by the way—they’re just underfed or young domestic pigs), the biology remains consistent.
Fact-Checking Common Pig Myths
Before you go, let's clear up some nonsense.
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Myth 1: Pigs are dirty.
Actually, Sus scrofa domesticus is one of the cleanest farm animals. They only wallow in mud because they don't have sweat glands. The mud acts as a natural coolant and sunscreen. If they have enough space, they will never "go to the bathroom" where they sleep or eat.
Myth 2: "Teacup" pigs stay small.
There is no separate scientific name of pigs for "teacup" varieties. They are all Sus scrofa domesticus. Most people who buy a "mini pig" end up with a 150-pound animal three years later. Anyone telling you otherwise is selling something.
Myth 3: Pigs eat anything.
While they are omnivores, they aren't garbage disposals. In the wild, their diet is mostly roots, nuts, and berries. In a domestic setting, they need a balanced diet. Feeding them actual "slop" is a recipe for a sick animal.
What You Should Do With This Information
Now that you know the scientific name of pigs is Sus scrofa domesticus, what’s next? If you’re a student, use the full subspecies name to impress your teacher. If you’re a casual reader, maybe look at that bacon sandwich a little differently—or at least appreciate the thousands of years of history that went into that animal.
Practical Steps for the Curious:
- Visit a Sanctuary: If you want to see the intelligence of Sus scrofa domesticus firsthand, find a local farm sanctuary. Watching a pig respond to its name or solve a problem is a lot different than seeing one through a fence at a fair.
- Check the Taxonomy: If you’re reading a nature book and see Sus domesticus, don't assume it’s a typo. Remember the "Splitters" vs. "Lumpers" debate. It’s a great example of how science is a living, breathing process.
- Avoid "Mini Pig" Scams: If you’re thinking of getting a pig as a pet, do deep research. Know that you are bringing a highly intelligent, potentially very large subspecies of a wild boar into your home.
- Explore the Suidae Family: Take a look at the Babirusa or the Warthog (Phacochoerus africanus). They are the weird cousins in the pig family tree and show just how diverse this group of animals really is.
The world of taxonomy is deep. Whether you call them pigs, hogs, swine, or Sus scrofa domesticus, these animals remain one of the most significant species in human history. They’ve traveled across oceans with explorers, sustained civilizations, and continue to surprise us with their cognitive abilities.