North Sulawesi babirusa suggestive of a deer's antlers. Together with the other members of the genus "Babyrousa", the North Sulawesi babirusa has usually been considered a subspecies of a widespread "Babyrousa babyrussa", but recent work suggests that there may be several species, differentiable on the basis of geography, body size, amount of body hair, and the shape of the upper canine tooth of the male. Following the split, the "true" "Babyrousa babyrussa" is restricted to Buru and the Sula Islands. Most experts agree that babirusas are part of the pig family, and are one of the oldest living members of the family, representing
Babirusa name is restricted to the Buru babirusa from Buru and the Sula Islands, whereas the best-known species, the north Sulawesi babirusa, is named "B. celebensis". The split, which uses the phylogenetic species concept, is based on differences in size, amount of hair on body and tail-tuft, and measurements of the skull and teeth. "B. babyrussa beruensis" was described as an extinct, Pleistocene subspecies from southwestern Sulawesi before babirusas were split into multiple species. Babirusa are notable for the long upper canines in the males. The upper canines of male babirusa emerge vertically from the alveolar process, penetrating though the skin