PYGMY HIPPOPOTAMUS
Choeropsis liberiensis
DESCRIPTION
The Pygmy Hippopotamus is a small, semi-aquatic mammal native to the forests and swamps of West Africa. It is smaller than the common hippopotamus and has a more elongated body and a less robust build.
FUN FACTS
- Pygmy Hippopotamuses are excellent swimmers and can hold their breath underwater for up to five minutes | Unlike their larger relatives, they prefer to stay on land during the day and are more active at night | They have a unique way of communicating through a series of grunts and wheezes
QUICK INFO
Lifespan30-55 years in captivity, shorter in the wild
Average Weight180-275 kg
Average Length1.5-1.75 m
Diet TypeHerbivore
Social Structuresolitary or pair, typically found alone or with a mate
Activity PatternNocturnal
Breeding SeasonYear-round
- Habitat
- They inhabit dense tropical forests and swamps, often near rivers and lakes. Their habitat provides ample vegetation for feeding and areas for wallowing in water.
- Biomes
- Tropical Rainforest, Wetland
- Native Range
- The native range of the Pygmy Hippopotamus is limited to the forests of West Africa, particularly in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and the Ivory Coast.
- Continent
- Africa
- Countries
- Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast
- Diet
- Pygmy Hippopotamuses are herbivores, primarily feeding on a variety of vegetation including leaves, fruits, and grasses. They are known to graze on land and also consume aquatic plants.
- Diet Type
- Herbivore
- Favorite Food
- leaves, fruits, grasses
- Social Structure
- solitary or pair, typically found alone or with a mate
- Activity Pattern
- Nocturnal
- Group Size
- 1-2
- Territorial
- 0
180-275 kg
Weight
1.5-1.75 m
Length
- Coloration
- dark brown to grayish skin with a hairless appearance
- Lifespan
- 30-55 years in captivity, shorter in the wild
- Gestation Period
- 210-240 days
- Offspring per Birth
- 1
- Sexual Maturity
- 3-4 years
- Breeding Season
- Year-round
EN
Endangered
IUCN Red List Status
- Population Status
- The population is currently declining due to habitat loss and hunting.
- Wild Population Estimate
- 2,000-3,000
- Population Trend
- Decreasing
- Endangered
- 1
- Threats
- Main threats include habitat destruction due to logging and agriculture, as well as poaching for bushmeat. Conservation efforts are needed to protect their remaining habitats.
- Defense Mechanisms
- They rely on their size and strength for defense, and can be aggressive if threatened.
- Found in Zoos
- Uncommon