[2] The red river hog has striking orange to reddish-brown fur, with black legs and a tufted white stripe along the spine.

Adults have white markings around the eyes and on the cheeks and jaws; the rest of the muzzle and face are a contrasting black.

Unlike other species of pig native to tropical Africa, the entire body is covered in hair, with no bare skin visible.

The ears are also long and thin, ending in tufts of white or black hair that may reach 12 cm (4.7 in) in length.

Boars are somewhat larger than sows, and have distinct conical protuberances on either side of the snout and rather small, sharp tusks.

[2] The species is omnivorous, eating mainly roots, bulbs, and tubers, and supplements its diet with fruit, seeds, nuts, water plants, grasses, herbs, fungi, eggs, dead animal and plant remains, insects, snails, lizards, other reptiles, and domestic animals such as piglets, goats, and sheep.

[2] The mother constructs a nest from dead leaves and dry grass before giving birth to a litter of up to six piglets, with three to four being most common.