A peccary is a pig-like animal that lives in the Americas, from the southwestern United States down through Central and South America. Peccaries look similar to wild pigs, with stocky bodies, short legs, and bristly hair, but they're actually a different kind of animal that evolved separately from true pigs.

These social animals travel in groups called herds, sometimes with dozens of members moving together through deserts, forests, and grasslands. They eat roots, cacti, fruits, and small animals, using their tough snouts to dig in the ground. Peccaries have sharp tusks and can be aggressive if they feel threatened, making loud chattering sounds with their teeth as a warning.

Three species of peccaries exist today: the collared peccary (named for the light-colored band around its neck), the white-lipped peccary, and the Chacoan peccary. The Chacoan peccary was thought to be extinct until scientists rediscovered living populations in Paraguay in the 1970s.