white-lipped peccary

[ hwahyt-lipt pek-uh-ree, wahyt‐ ]

noun

, plural white-lipped pec·ca·ries, (especially collectively) white-lipped pec·ca·ry.

1. a brown or black peccary ( Tayassu pecari ) with short, sharp tusks, found in a range of habitats, especially rainforests, in Central and South America, where it travels great distances in herds in pursuit of fruit, the chief component of its diet: due mostly to excessive hunting by poachers and deforestation, the species is listed as vulnerable.

Word History and Origins

Origin of white-lipped peccary¹

First recorded in 1825–30; white ( def ) + lipped ( def ) + peccary ( def )

Example Sentences

The white-lipped peccary herds in large numbers, migrating apparently in regular order in companies sometimes a thousand strong.

From Project Gutenberg