North Sulawesi babirusa North Sulawesi babirusa The North Sulawesi babirusa, "Babyrousa celebensis", is a pig-like animal native to Sulawesi and some nearby islands (Lembeh, Buton and Muna) in Indonesia. It has two pairs of large tusks composed of enlarged canine teeth. The upper canines penetrate the top of the snout, curving back toward the forehead. The North Sulawesi babirusa is threatened from hunting and deforestation. The common and scientific names are various transcriptions of its local name, which literally translated means "pig-deer" (from Indonesian "babi", "pig" + "rusa", "deer" – see also Javan rusa) in reference to the huge tusks of the male
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