🦛
🏷️
Classification
Mammal
🍽️
Diet
Herbivore
⏱️
Lifespan
30–55 years
⚖️
Weight
180–275 kg
Population Trend
📉Decreasing
Description
A reclusive, nocturnal herbivore of West African forests, the smaller and much rarer cousin of the common hippopotamus.
Habitat
🌿 tropical forest🌿 swamp🌿 river
Extended Data
Taxonomy
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Artiodactyla
Family
Hippopotamidae
Genus
Choeropsis
Fun Facts
1
Pygmy hippos are about half the size and one-tenth the weight of common hippos.
2
They are mostly nocturnal and solitary, unlike the social common hippopotamus.
3
Less than 2,500 remain in the wild across West Africa.
4
Their skin secretes a pinkish substance that acts as natural sunscreen.
5
They are excellent swimmers despite being more terrestrial than common hippos.