Washington, Nov. 5 : Scientists have discovered a new species of a pig-like mammal called a peccary in the southeastern Amazon region of Brazil.

Given the name Pecari Maximus, this new animal was found in the basin of the Rio Aripuanã. It was confirmed to be a distinct species via a genetic analysis conducted by the Leiden Centre for Environmental Sciences in the Netherlands.

Peccaries are hoofed animals closely related to swine and hippopotami. Until now, only three species were known to science - the collared peccary, the white-lipped peccary and the Chaccoan peccary.

Though Pecari Maximus is new to science, locals already knew about the creature. Tupi Indians called it Caitetu Munde, which means 'great peccary which lives in pairs.'

Dutch biologist Marc van Roosmalen of the University of Leiden saw the unusual mammal when he was doing some field surveys in the area.

"One day I was looking at some monkeys, and I saw three peccaries pass in front of me totally silent," said Roosmalen. "Later, I asked the locals what I had seen and they told me that it was their most hunted animal," he added.

"Measurements of the new peccary's body and skull confirm that the new species is larger than the other peccary species," said Roosmalen. "The giant peccary has longer legs and its fur markings are completely different," he added.

According to Roosmalen, "The new species also behaves differently from its family members, the white-lipped and collared peccaries. These species are very social and found in large to very large groups, even up to hundreds of individual animals in the case of the white-lipped peccary. On the other hand, the giant peccary is only found in pairs or in small family groups with one or two offspring."

Other characteristics that distinguish the new specie from other peccaries is that it eats mainly fruits and exhibits little or no rooting behaviour, while other types root in the ground for seeds and roots.

 "Also, the giant peccary has a gland that is active in other peccary species and used to mark territories as well as each other. However, the new peccary is scentless," said Roosmalen.

The habitat of the giant peccary is limited to dry wooded areas in a small region of the basin of the Rio Aripuanã. The researchers therefore expect the giant peccary population to be small and recommend that this new species should be placed on the Red List of threatened species of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. (ANI)