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
Buru babirusa data on "B. babyrussa", it is generally assumed that its habitat and ecology are similar to that of "B. celebensis" (north Sulawesi babirusa). Furthermore, as all babirusas were considered conspecific under the scientific name "B. babyrussa" until 2001, data collected before that is consistently listed under the name "B. babyrussa", though the vast majority actually refers to "B. celebensis" (by far the best known species of babirusa). Babirusas tend to occupy tropical rainforests, river banks and various natural ponds rich in water plants. They are omnivorous and feed on various leaves, roots, fruits, invertebrates and small vertebrates. Their jaws and