Appearance
The pig’s nose is called a snout. The pig uses its snout to dig for roots, worms, seeds, snails and other tasty treats down in the ground. With its snout and its sense of smell, the pig can find food half a metre down in the soil.
Pigs are cloven-hoofed animals, or ‘even-toed ungulates’ as they are also known. This means they have two hooves on each foot, instead of just one like horses.
Miniature pigs as pets
Miniature pigs are small pigs kept as pets, and they became popular in the 1980s and 1990s. Pigs are omnivores, just like humans, so they are easy to keep as pets. If you get a miniature pig, you can expect it to live for ten to fifteen years. It is also worth bearing in mind that they like to root around in the ground and meet other pigs.
Miniature pigs in medical research
Miniature pigs were originally bred for use in medical research. For example, experiments have been carried out to find out whether pigs’ organs can be transplanted into humans. This is because pigs’ bodies, stomachs and intestines are similar to those of humans.
