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Pygmy Hippopotamus
Overview
The pygmy hippopotamus, or pygmy hippo, is a small pig-like animal native to the forests and swamps of West Africa, primarily in Liberia, with small populations in Sierra Leone, Guinea, and the Ivory Coast. It has been extirpated from Nigeria and possibly Guinea-Bissau
It’s a pocket-sized relative of the hippo and is an entirely different matter. Confined to a dwindling number of suitable sites in West Africa, pygmy hippos continue to decline dramatically in number, due mainly to habitat loss and hunting.
Pygmy hippos and common (river) hippos are entirely different species with distinct traits. While both are semi-aquatic herbivores, common hippos are aggressive, massive, and live in large herds in African rivers. Pygmy hippos are shy, solitary, and one-tenth the size, favouring the dense forests of West Africa.
Classification of a pygmy hippo
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Cetartiodactyla
Family: Hippopotamidae
Genus: Choeropsis
Species: C. liberiensis
What makes it very unique?
Their secretive, solitary lifestyle: Unlike large, territorial river hippos that gather in noisy pods, pygmy hippos are shy, solitary creatures. They spend the day hiding in thick forest underbrush or submerged in streams and forage alone at night.
They are adapted to land and have longer legs, a more streamlined head, and less webbed feet than their giant cousins. This makes them far better suited to walking and navigating dense jungle floors rather than just floating in deep water.
They have a high blood sweat like common hippos; they secrete a thick, pinkish-red, oily fluid through their skin. This mucus acts as a natural moisturiser to prevent their skin from cracking in the sun, serves as a physical sunblock, and has natural antibiotic properties.
They have aquatic skills, despite being more land-based; they are excellent swimmers. They can walk along the bottom of a riverbed and hold their breath underwater for up to five minutes.
They are a critically endangered and rare species, with an estimated wild population hovering around only 2,500 individuals due to aggressive habitat destruction and hunting in West Africa.
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Behaviour
Males are territorial only in water, not at night on land. Territories defended for mating rights, not food
Both males and females have similar daytime home ranges – about 200 m (~600 ft) along a shoreline
Males defend their immediate vicinity in water
The size of the area and the degree of intolerance vary with local conditions (crowding, drought) and perhaps female sexual cycles
Mature bulls control 50-100 m sections of river or 250-500 m of lakeshore as exclusive mating territories
Key differences between a Hippo and a Pygmy Hippopotamus
Difference in Size and Appearance
The Common Hippo has a massive, barrel-shaped body, reaching 3,000 to 7,000 lbs and standing up to 5.5 feet tall. They have a flat spine parallel to the ground, while the pygmy hippo is mini in comparison, weighing between 400 and 600 lbs and standing roughly 3.2 feet tall at the shoulder. Their backs slope forward to navigate dense undergrowth, and their legs and necks are proportionally longer.
The difference in their Habitat and Behaviour
The Common Hippo is highly social, living in schools of up to 100 individuals. They are fiercely territorial and are widely considered one of the most dangerous animals in Africa, while a Pygmy Hippo is usually solitary or found in pairs of a mother and calf
They are elusive, shy, and will flee rather than fight when threatened.
The difference in Aquatic Adaptations
The Common Hippo is highly adapted for deep water, with eyes, ears, and nostrils situated on the very top of its skull, while a pygmy hippo spends significantly less time in the water. Their eyes are positioned on the sides of their head for better peripheral vision on land, and they have narrower, less-webbed feet for walking on the forest floor.
The species and Conservation Status
The Common Hippo belongs to the genus Hippopotamus, and there are an estimated 130,000 left, making their conservation status less critical, while the Pygmy Hippo belongs to a completely different genus (Choeropsis).
They are classified as endangered, with fewer than 3,000 individuals remaining in the wild due to deforestation and habitat loss.
Pygmy Hippopotamus Gallery
Is a pygmy hippo aggressive?
Pygmy hippos are generally shy, solitary, and far less aggressive than their massive Nile cousins. While they will defend themselves or their young when cornered or threatened, they typically prefer to flee or hide. However, they are still powerful, territorial wild animals capable of delivering dangerous bites.
What do they eat?
Pygmy hippos are strict herbivores that eat a varied diet of forest vegetation, including leaves, fallen fruits, ferns, roots, grasses, and tree saplings. Unlike their larger common hippo relatives, they forage more on land-based browse (leaves and roots) rather than just grazing on grasses.
In the wild, they spend about 5–6 hours at night foraging for a diverse array of forest vegetation, including tree saplings, herbs, and fallen fruit. Because they swallow and excrete seeds intact, they act as important seed spreaders for the forest ecosystem.
In captivity, zookeepers generally feed them a mix of leafy greens (like lettuce and spinach), root vegetables (such as carrots and cucumbers), hay, alfalfa, and specialized grain-and-vitamin pellets.
How does it communicate?
Using displays and visual signals
It has a sight that is well developed, and the Mother/calf bond is extremely close
Mother licks, nuzzles, scrapes calf with lower incisors, and the discipline is achieved by nudging or biting, and a calf responds by prostrating itself, a prostration gesture that continues into adulthood as a sign of submission within the herd
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How does it move?
When agitated can charge at over 30 km/hr and can be able to climb steep banks if the footing is secure, and sits on haunches before lying down and rises using its front legs first, similar to a pig
Their weight, aided by very dense bones, allows them to travel on the bottom of lakes/rivers the underwater gait similar to a gallop and a trot, and they do not really swim and move forward when in water by punting off the river bottom
Where can it be found?
Pygmy hippopotamuses are strictly native to the Upper Guinea forests of West Africa. They are primarily found in dense swamp forests and near rivers and streams across just four countries: Liberia (which holds the vast majority of the population), the Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire), Guinea, and Sierra Leone.
These elusive, endangered animals differ from common hippos by spending more time on land and avoiding open savannas. Key protected areas where they are known to survive include:
Liberia with Sapo National Park and Sierra Leone with Gola Rainforest National Park and Tiwai Island Wildlife Sanctuary
Best time to spot it
The best time to spot a pygmy hippo is at dusk, sunset, or early in the morning. These animals are highly elusive and naturally nocturnal, spending most of the day hiding in thick undergrowth, caves, or wallowing in mud and water.
The lower river levels during this time make the riverbanks easier to navigate by canoe, giving you a better chance of spotting tracks or catching the animals moving to the water.
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