The Pygmy Hippopotamus (Hexaprotodon liberiensis) lives in the swamps of western Africa, hence the scientific name, liberiensis meaning 'from liberia'. It weighs about 180 kilograms and are less aquatic than the giant hippopotamus and is half as tall. The Pygmy Hippopotamus lives a solitary, secretive life, hiding in swamps, and is primarily nocturnal, feeding from 3 pm to midnight on aquatic plants, fallen fruits, grasses, and leaves. They move along tunnels, cleared paths, and canals, which are also used by other Pygmy Hippos. Because of their secretive lifestyle at night, little is known about their social structure. They can become 30 to 50 years of age. The Pygmy Hippopotamus is listed as 'vulnerable'. Picture the pygmy hippopotamus licensed under GFDL
Keywords: nocturnal
Which zoos have them?
Brookfield Zoo (United States), Edinburgh Zoo (United Kingdom) and Smithsonian National Zoological Park (United States)The Pygmy hippopotamus is listed as Endangered (EN), considered to be facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild, on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Namings for the pygmy hippopotamus
A young / baby of a pygmy hippopotamus is called a 'calf'. The females are called 'cow' and males 'bull'. A pygmy hippopotamus group is called a 'bloat, crash, herd or thunder'.Pygmy hippopotamus habitats
Bogs, Marshes, Swamps, Fens, Peatlands, Forest, Permanent Freshwater Marshes / Pools (under 8ha), Permanent Rivers / Streams / Creeks (includes waterfalls), Seasonal / Intermittent Freshwater Lakes (over 8ha), Subtropical / Tropical Moist Lowland and Wetlands (inland)Some facts about the
Pygmy hippopotamus
Adult weight : 215 kg (473 lbs)
Maximum longevity : 42 years
Female maturity :1278 days
Male maturity : 1644 days
Gestation : 199 days
Weaning : 198 days
Litter size : 1
Weight at birth : 4.9 kg (10.78 lbs)
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