Two white wild boars within a single family group in southwestern Japan
Abstract
Abstract This study reports a rare field observation of two white wild boars ( Sus scrofa Linnaeus, 1758) appearing within the same matrilineal family group in southwestern Japan. The individuals – a subadult and a piglet – were recorded simultaneously by motion-activated camera traps deployed for ungulate monitoring. Although the monochrome video imagery prevented a definitive classification of albinism versus leucism, the co-occurrence of two white individuals within one family group strongly suggests a hereditary basis. As white coat phenotypes in Artiodactyla are extremely rare, this record contributes valuable documentation and highlights the need for genetic surveys of wild boar populations.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
melanin and skin pigmentation
Genetic diversity and population structure
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Mammalia
- Volume
- 90
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 387–389
- Publication date
- 1 March 2026
- Language
- EN