What specific subspecies designation is sometimes used for the domestic pig by certain taxonomic viewpoints?
*Sus scrofa domesticus*
The taxonomic relationship between the wild boar (*Sus scrofa*) and the common domestic pig presents a significant area of scientific divergence. While some authorities treat the domestic pig as a separate species, *Sus domesticus*, a prevalent viewpoint within modern taxonomy considers the domestic animal to be a subspecies of the wild form. This specific designation given to the domesticated variety is *Sus scrofa domesticus*. This interpretation reflects the belief that domestication has not created an evolutionary break significant enough to warrant full species status, maintaining that the domestic form is merely a derivative population originating from the ancestral wild stock. This distinction is important because feral populations often result from escaped domestic stock, leading to complex genetic mixtures that further blur the lines between pure wild boar and domesticated lineage.
