PIG
			Phylum: Class: Order: Family: Chordata Mammalia Artiodactyla Suidae

Pigs are ungulates with relatively short legs and heavy bodies. Contrary to popular belief, they are extremely intelligent animals. Pigs are poor runners compared to other hoofed mammals. They have four toes on each foot, although only two toes actually reach the ground.

These animals are scavengering omnivores, eating a wide variety of plant and animal material. They have more teeth than the other ungulates and their canines form large tusks which often protrude from the mouth for defense and also for digging up tubers and other underground food. Another misconception is that pigs chew cud, when in actuality they do not.

The domestic pig has been derived from the wild boar. We do not yet know when domestication began, but it has been estimated to date back to about 6,500 years ago, when man was settling down to an agricultural life. Even in prehistoric times, there seem to have been several types of domestic pigs - most likely derived from the various races of wild boar, scattered through Europe and Asia. Today, there are many distinct breeds.

One of the main changes in the species, brought about in recent times, has been the shifting of the weight from the front of the pig's body to the hind quarters, for food purposes. This has occurred through careful selection of breeding these animals with the "best features" and by breeding only from these individual animals.