The specific name honours Richard Meinertzhagen, who shot the type specimen in Kenya and had it shipped to the Natural History Museum in England.

[8] The giant forest hog has extensive hairs on its body, though these tend to become less pronounced as the animal ages.

[5] They are unable to cope with low humidity or prolonged exposure to the sun, resulting in their being absent from arid regions and habitats devoid of dense cover.

[10] It is usually considered nocturnal, but in cold periods, it is more commonly seen during daylight hours, and it may be diurnal in regions where protected from humans.

[4] It has also been known to drive spotted hyenas away from carcasses, and fights among males resulting in the death of one of the participants are not uncommon.