Definition

Noun: * Collared Peccary: A species of hoofed mammal, Tayassu tajacu, also commonly known as the javelina or musk hog. It is characterized by its dark greyish-brown coat and a faint, light-colored band of hair across the shoulders resembling a collar. It is native to semi-desert and arid regions, ranging from the southwestern United States through Mexico and into Central and South America.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The tayassu tajacu is a social animal, often found in herds.
  • Biologists are studying the habitat range of Tayassu tajacu in the Sonoran Desert.
  • While hiking, we spotted a small group of tayassu tajacu, commonly called javelinas, near a wash.

Advanced Usage

• Scientific Classification: The term Tayassu tajacu is the formal binomial nomenclature (genus and species) used in scientific and zoological contexts to precisely identify this specific peccary species, distinguishing it from others like the white-lipped peccary ().

Variants and Related Words

• Javelina (n): The most common colloquial name for this animal in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.
• Collared Peccary (n): The standard English common name, describing the visible physical trait.
• Musk Hog (n): An informal name referring to the strong musk gland located on the animal's back.
• Peccary (n): The general term for New World pig-like mammals of the family Tayassuidae, which includes the Tayassu tajacu.

Synonyms

• Collared Peccary
• Javelina

Related Terms (Contextual)

• Artiodactyl (n): An even-toed ungulate; the order of mammals to which peccaries belong.
• Tayassuidae (n): The biological family name for all peccaries.

Noun

1. dark grey peccary with an indistinct white collar; of semi desert areas of Mexico and southwestern United States