Pygmy Hippopotamus
Conservation status
Endangered [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Artiodactyla Family: Hippopotamidae Genus: Choeropsis Species: C. liberiensis
Binomial name
Choeropsis liberiensis (Morton, 1849)[2]
Range map[1]
Subspecies
C. l. liberiensis C. l. heslopi ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (2100x1200, 713 KB) Description: Zwergflusspferd - Pygmy Hippopotamus - Hexaprotodon liberiensis at Zoo Duisburg, Germany Source: own photography Date: 27. ... The conservation status of a species is an indicator of the likelihood of that species continuing to survive either in the present day or the future. ... Image File history File links Status_iucn3. ... The Siberian Tiger is a subspecies of tiger that are critically endangered. ... For other uses, see Scientific classification (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Animal (disambiguation). ... Typical Classes See below Chordates (phylum Chordata) are a group of animals that includes the vertebrates, together with several closely related invertebrates. ... Subclasses & Infraclasses Subclass †Allotheria* Subclass Prototheria Subclass Theria Infraclass †Trituberculata Infraclass Metatheria Infraclass Eutheria Mammals (class Mammalia) are warm-blooded, vertebrate animals characterized by the presence of sweat glands, including those that produce milk, and by the presence of: hair, three middle ear bones used in hearing, and a neocortex... Families Suidae Hippopotamidae Tayassuidae Camelidae Tragulidae Moschidae Cervidae Giraffidae Antilocapridae Bovidae The even-toed ungulates form the mammal order Artiodactyla. ... Genera Hippopotamus Phanourios Hexaprotodon Archaeopotamus Choeropsis Saotherium Hippopotami (colloquially also Hippopotamuses) are the members of the family Hippopotamidae. ... Binomial name Hexaprotodon liberiensis (Morton, 1849) The Pygmy Hippopotamus (Hexaprotodon liberiensis) is a large mammal native to the forests and swamps of western Africa (the species name, meaning of Liberia, reflects this). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Samuel George Morton (1799-1851) was an American physician and natural scientist. ... Year 1849 (MDCCCXLIX) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... This article is about the zoological term. ...

The Pygmy Hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis or Hexaprotodon liberiensis) is a large mammal native to the forests and swamps of western Africa (the scientific species classification means "of Liberia", as this is where the vast majority lives). The pygmy hippo is reclusive and nocturnal. It is one of only two extant species in the hippopotamidae family, the other being its much larger cousin the common hippopotamus. Subclasses & Infraclasses Subclass †Allotheria* Subclass Prototheria Subclass Theria Infraclass †Trituberculata Infraclass Metatheria Infraclass Eutheria Mammals (class Mammalia) are warm-blooded, vertebrate animals characterized by the presence of sweat glands, including those that produce milk, and by the presence of: hair, three middle ear bones used in hearing, and a neocortex... A nocturnal animal is one that sleeps during the day and is active at night - the opposite of the human (diurnal) schedule. ... Genera Hippopotamus Phanourios Hexaprotodon Archaeopotamus Choeropsis Saotherium Hippopotami (colloquially also Hippopotamuses) are the members of the family Hippopotamidae. ... The hierarchy of scientific classification In biological classification, family (Latin: familia, plural familiae) is a rank, or a taxon in that rank. ... Binomial name Linnaeus, 1758[2] Range map[1] The hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius), from the Greek ‘ιπποπόταμος (hippopotamos, hippos meaning horse and potamos meaning river), often shortened to hippo, is a large, mostly plant-eating African mammal, one of only two extant species in the family Hippopotamidae (the other being the Pygmy...

The pygmy hippopotamus displays many terrestrial adaptations, but like its larger cousin, it is semi-aquatic and relies on proximity to water to keep its skin moisturized and its body temperature cool. Behaviors such as mating and birth may occur in water or on land. The pygmy hippo is herbivorous, feeding on whatever ferns, broad-leaved plants, grasses and fruits it finds in the forests. For other uses, see Adaptation (disambiguation). ... This article is about the group of pteridophyte plants. ... Orders see text Dicotyledons or dicots are flowering plants whose seed contains two embryonic leaves or cotyledons. ... For other uses, see Grass (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Fruit (disambiguation). ...

A rare nocturnal forest creature, the pygmy hippopotamus is a difficult animal to study in the wild; it also lives primarily in countries with a great degree of civil strife. Animals lead mostly solitary lives; they are sometimes seen in pairs or threesomes, but never large pods like the common hippopotamus. They are not known to be territorial.

Pygmy hippos were unknown outside of West Africa until the 19th century. Introduced to zoos in the early 20th century, they breed well in captivity and the vast majority of research is derived from zoo specimens. The survival of the species in captivity is more assured than in the wild: the World Conservation Union estimates that there are less than 3,000 pygmy hippos remaining in the wild.^[1] Pygmy hippos are primarily threatened by loss of habitat, as forests are logged and converted to farm land, and are also vulnerable to poaching, hunting, natural predators and war.  Western Africa (UN subregion)  Maghreb[1] West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. ... Giraffes in Sydneys Taronga Zoo A zoological garden, zoological park, or zoo is a facility in which animals are confined within enclosures and displayed to the public, and in which they may also be bred. ... The World Conservation Union or International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) is an international organization dedicated to natural resource conservation. ...

Taxonomy and origins

Nomenclature of the pygmy hippopotamus reflects that of the hippopotamus. The plural form is pygmy hippopotami (hippopotamuses is also accepted as a plural form by the OED, or pygmy hippos for short). A male pygmy hippopotamus is known as a bull, a female as a cow, and a baby as a calf. Binomial name Linnaeus, 1758[2] Range map[1] The hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius), from the Greek ‘ιπποπόταμος (hippopotamos, hippos meaning horse and potamos meaning river), often shortened to hippo, is a large, mostly plant-eating African mammal, one of only two extant species in the family Hippopotamidae (the other being the Pygmy... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... The Oxford English Dictionary print set The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) is a dictionary published by the Oxford University Press (OUP), and is the most successful dictionary of the English language, (not to be confused with the one-volume Oxford Dictionary of English, formerly New Oxford Dictionary of English, of...

The skull of a pygmy hippopotamus.

The pygmy hippopotamus is a member of the family Hippopotamidae where it is classified as a member of either the Choeropsis (meaning like a hog) or Hexaprotodon (meaning six front teeth) genus. Hippopotamidae are sometimes known as Hippopotamids. Sometimes the sub-family Hippopotaminae is used. Further, some taxonomists group hippopotami and anthracotheres in the superfamily Anthracotheroidea or Hippopotamoidea. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1435x1111, 236 KB) Summary Skull of Pygmy Hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis) de: Schädel eines Zwergflusspferdes Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Pygmy Hippopotamus ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1435x1111, 236 KB) Summary Skull of Pygmy Hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis) de: Schädel eines Zwergflusspferdes Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Pygmy Hippopotamus ... Genera Hippopotamus Phanourios Hexaprotodon Archaeopotamus Choeropsis Saotherium Hippopotami (colloquially also Hippopotamuses) are the members of the family Hippopotamidae. ... Binomial name Hexaprotodon liberiensis (Morton, 1849) The Pygmy Hippopotamus (Hexaprotodon liberiensis) is a large mammal native to the forests and swamps of western Africa (the species name, meaning of Liberia, reflects this). ... Binomial name Choeropsis liberiensis (Morton, 1849) Subspecies The Pygmy Hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis) is a large mammal native to the forests and swamps of western Africa (the species name, meaning of Liberia, reflects this). ... For other uses, see Genus (disambiguation). ... Anthracotheriidae is a family of extinct, hippopotamus-like artiodactyl ungulates related to both hippopotami and pigs. ...

A sister species of the pygmy hippopotamus may have been the little-studied Madagascan Pygmy Hippopotamus (Choeropsis madagascariensis, sometimes classified as Hexaprotodon madagascariensis or Hippopotamus madagascariensis), one of three recently-extinct species from Madagascar. C. madagascariensis was the same size as C. liberiensis and shared its terrestrial behavior, inhabiting the forested highlands of Madagascar, rather than open rivers. It is believed to have gone extinct within the last 500 years.^[3][4][5] The Madagascan Pygmy Hippopotamus (Choeropsis madagascariensis or Hexaprotodon madagascariensis) is an extinct species of pygmy hippopotamus that lived on the island of Madagascar. ... Species Hippopotamus lemerlei [1] Hippopotamus laloumena[2] [1] or [3] or [4] Several species of Malagasy Hippopotamus (also known as Malagasy Dwarf Hippopotamus or Malagasy Pygmy Hippopotamus or Madagascan instead of Malagasy) lived on the island of Madagascar but are now believed to be extinct. ...

The taxonomy of the genus of the pygmy hippopotamus has changed as understanding of the animal has developed.^[6][7][8][1] Samuel G. Morton initially classified the animal as Hippopotamus minor, but later determined it was distinct enough to warrant its own genus, and labeled it Choeropsis. In 1977, Coryndon proposed that the pygmy hippopotamus was closely related to Hexaprotodon, a genus that consisted of prehistoric hippos mostly native to Asia.^[9] This assertion was widely accepted,^[6][7][8][1] until Boisserie asserted in 2005 that the pygmy hippopotamus was not a member of Hexaprodoton, after a thorough examination of the phylogeny of hippopotamidae; he suggested instead that the pygmy hippopotamus was a distinct genus, and returned the animal to Choeropsis.^[6][10][11] All agree that the modern pygmy hippopotamus, be it H. liberiensis or C. liberiensis, is the only extant member of its genus.^[6][9] For the science of classifying living things, see alpha taxonomy. ... Samuel George Morton (1799-1851) was an American physician and natural scientist. ...

Nigerian subspecies

A distinct subspecies of pygmy hippopotamus lived in Nigeria until at least the 20th century. The existence of the subspecies, makes Choeropsis liberiensis liberiensis (or Hexaprotodon liberiensis liberiensis under the old classification) the full trinomial nomenclature for the Liberian Pygmy Hippopotamus. The Nigerian Pygmy Hippopotamus subspecies was never studied in the wild and never captured. All research and all zoo specimens are the Liberian subspecies. The Nigerian subspecies is classified as C. liberiensis heslopi.^[7] Trinomial nomenclature is a taxonomic naming system that extends the standard system of binomial nomenclature by adding a third taxon. ...

The Nigerian pygmy hippopotamus ranged until recently in the Niger River Delta, especially near Port Harcourt. It is believed to be extinct. The subspecies was separated by over 1800 km and the Dahomey Gap, a region of desert that divides the forest regions of West Africa. The subspecies is named after I.R.P. Heslop, who claimed in 1945 to have shot a pygmy hippo in the Niger Delta region and collected several skulls. He estimated that perhaps no more than 30 pygmy hippos remained in the region.^[12] Map of Niger River with Niger River basin in green The Niger River is the principal river of western Africa, extending over 2500 miles (about 4180 km). ... Port Harcourt is the capital city of Rivers State, Nigeria. ... In West Africa, the Dahomey Gap refers to the area of savanna that extends all the way to the coast in Benin, Togo and Ghana, thus separating the forest zone that covers much of the south of the region into two separate parts. ...

Heslop sent four pygmy hippopotamus skulls he collected in Nigeria to G.B. Corbet, who classified the skulls as belonging to a separate subspecies based off consistent variations in the proportions of the skulls.^[13] The Nigerian pygmy hippos were seen or shot in Rivers State, Imo State and Bayelsa State, Nigeria. While some local populations are aware that the species once existed, its history in the region is poorly documented.^[7] Rivers State is one of the 36 states of Nigeria. ... Imo is in Southern Nigeria and was created on February 3, 1976. ... Bayelsa State is a state in southern Nigeria in the core Niger Delta region, between Delta State and Rivers State. ...

Evolution

Main article: Hippopotamus#Evolution

Arsinoitherium (top) and Bothriogenys fraasi (bottom). Anthracotheres like Bothriogenys resembled pygmy hippos and are among their likely ancestors.

The Cretan Dwarf Hippopotamus (H. creutzburgi) was similar in size to a pygmy hippopotamus, but more closely related to the common hippopotamus.

The evolution of the pygmy hippopotamus is most often studied in the context of its larger cousin. Both species were long believed to be most closely related to the family Suidae (pigs and hogs) or Tayassuidae (peccaries), but research within the last 10 years has determined that pygmy hippos and hippos are most closely related to Cetaceans (whales and dolphins). Hippos and whales shared a common semi-aquatic ancestor that branched off from other Artiodactyls around 60 mya ago.^[14][15] This hypothesized ancestor likely split into two branches about 6 mya later.^[16] One branch would evolve into cetaceans, the other branch became the anthracotheres, a large family of four-legged beasts, whose earliest member, from the Late Eocene, would have resembled narrow hippopotami with comparatively small and thin heads.^[10] Binomial name Linnaeus, 1758[2] Range map[1] The hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius), from the Greek ‘ιπποπόταμος (hippopotamos, hippos meaning horse and potamos meaning river), often shortened to hippo, is a large, mostly plant-eating African mammal, one of only two extant species in the family Hippopotamidae (the other being the Pygmy... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Arsinoitherium is an extinct mammal genus of the superorder Paenungulata. ... Anthracotherium (coal-animal, so called from the fact of the remains first described having been obtained from the Tertiary lignite-beds of Europe), a genus of extinct artiodactyle ungulate mammals, characterized by having 44 teeth, with five semi-crescentic cusps on the crowns of the upper molars. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 559 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (600 × 643 pixels, file size: 242 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) My reconstructions of the two subspecies of Cretan Dwarf Hippopotamus, Hippopotamus cruetzburgi cruetzburgi (the larger), (the smaller), and the Cretan Pygmy Deer, Candiacervus cretensis, from... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 559 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (600 × 643 pixels, file size: 242 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) My reconstructions of the two subspecies of Cretan Dwarf Hippopotamus, Hippopotamus cruetzburgi cruetzburgi (the larger), (the smaller), and the Cretan Pygmy Deer, Candiacervus cretensis, from... Binomial name Hippopotamus creutzburgi Boekschoten and Sondaar, 1966 Hippopotamus creutzburgi is an extinct hippopotamus. ... Genera Babirusas, Babyrousa Giant forest hogs, Hylochoerus Warthogs, Phacochoerus Bush pigs, Potamochoerus Pigs, Sus Suidae is the biological family to which pigs and their relatives belong. ... For other uses, see Pig (disambiguation). ... Species Dicotyles tajacu Tyassu pecari Catagonus wagneri A peccary (also known by its Spanish name, Javelina) is a medium-sized mammal of the family Tayassuidae. ... Species Dicotyles tajacu Tyassu pecari Catagonus wagneri A peccary (also known by its Spanish name, Javelina) is a medium-sized mammal of the family Tayassuidae. ... Suborders Mysticeti Odontoceti Archaeoceti (extinct) (see text for families) The order Cetacea (IPA: , L. cetus, whale) includes whales, dolphins and porpoises. ... This article is about the animal. ... For other uses, see Dolphin (disambiguation). ... The cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) are descendants of land-living mammals, and remnants of their terrestrial origins can be found in the fact that they must breathe air from the surface; in the bones of their fins, which look like huge, jointed hands; and in the vertical movement of... Anthracotheriidae is a family of extinct, hippopotamus-like artiodactyl ungulates related to both hippopotami and pigs. ... hfajhfiudshfas == == == --24. ...

Hippopotamids are deeply nested within the family Anthracotheriidae. The oldest known hippopotamid is the genus Kenyapotamus, which lived in Africa from 16–8 mya. Kenyapotamus is known only through fragmentary fossils, but was similar in size to C. liberiensis.^[11] The Hippopotamidae are believed to have evolved in Africa, and while at one point the species spread across Asia and Europe, no hippopotami have ever been discovered in the Americas. Starting 7.5–1.8 mya ago the Archaeopotamus, likely ancestors to the genus Hippopotamus and Hexaprotodon, lived in Africa and the Middle East.^[6] Anthracotheriidae is a family of extinct, hippopotamus-like artiodactyl ungulates related to both hippopotami and pigs. ... Binomial name Kenyapotamus coryndoni and Kenyapotamus ternani Pickford, 1983 Kenyapotamus is an extinct ancestor of the modern Hippopotamus which lived in Africa roughly 16 million to 8 million years ago during the Miocene epoch. ... Species Archaeopotamus is an extinct genus of hippopotamidae that lived between 7. ... Binomial name Choeropsis liberiensis (Morton, 1849) Subspecies The Pygmy Hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis) is a large mammal native to the forests and swamps of western Africa (the species name, meaning of Liberia, reflects this). ...

While the fossil record of hippos is still poorly understood, the lineages of the two modern genera, Hippopotamus and Choeropsis, may have diverged as far back as 8 mya. The ancestral form of the pygmy hippopotamus may be the genus Saotherium. Saotherium and Choeropsis are significantly more basal than Hippopotamus and Hexaprotodon, and thus more closely resemble the ancestral species of hippos.^[6][11] Binomial name Hexaprotodon liberiensis (Morton, 1849) The Pygmy Hippopotamus (Hexaprotodon liberiensis) is a large mammal native to the forests and swamps of western Africa (the species name, meaning of Liberia, reflects this). ... In phylogenetics, basal members of a group diverged earlier than a subgroup of others (or vice versa). ...

Extinct pygmy and dwarf hippos

Several species of small hippopotamidae have also become extinct in the Mediterranean in the late Pleistocene or early Holocene. Though these species are sometimes known as "Pygmy Hippopotami" they are not believed to be closely related to C. liberiensis. These include the Cretan Dwarf Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus creutzburgi) of Crete, the Sicilian Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus pentlandi) of Sicily, or the Maltese Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus melitensis) of Malta.^[17] The Pleistocene epoch (IPA: ) on the geologic timescale is the period from 1,808,000 to 11,550 years BP. The Pleistocene epoch had been intended to cover the worlds recent period of repeated glaciations. ... The Holocene epoch is a geological period, which began approximately 11,550 calendar years BP (about 9600 BC) and continues to the present. ... Binomial name Hippopotamus creutzburgi Boekschoten and Sondaar, 1966 Hippopotamus creutzburgi is an extinct hippopotamus. ... For other uses, see Crete (disambiguation). ... Binomial name Hippopotamus pentlandi Von Meyer, 1832[1] Hippopotamus pentlandi is an extinct hippopotamus. ... Sicily ( in Italian and Sicilian) is an autonomous region of Italy and the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, with an area of 25,708 km² (9,926 sq. ... Binomial name Hippopotamus melitensis Major, 1902[1] Hippopotamus melitensis is an extinct hippopotamus. ...

These species, though comparable in size to the pygmy hippopotamus, are considered dwarf hippopotamuses, rather than pygmies. They are likely descended from a full-sized species of European Hippopotamus, and reached their small size through the evolutionary process of insular dwarfism which is common on islands; the ancestors of pygmy hippopotami were also small and thus there was never a dwarfing process.^[17] There were also several species of pygmy hippo on the island of Madascar (see Malagasy Hippopotamus). Binomial name Hippopotamus antiquus Desmarest 1822 The European Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus antiquus) was a species of hippopotamus that ranged across Europe, becoming extinct some time before the last ice age at the end of the Pleistocene epoch. ... Insular dwarfism is the process and condition of the reduction in size of large animals - almost always mammals - when their gene pool is limited to a very small environment, primarily islands. ... Species Hippopotamus lemerlei [1] Hippopotamus laloumena[2] [1] or [3] or [4] Several species of Malagasy Hippopotamus (also known as Malagasy Dwarf Hippopotamus or Malagasy Pygmy Hippopotamus or Madagascan instead of Malagasy) lived on the island of Madagascar but are now believed to be extinct. ...

Description

Pygmy hippos share the same general form as a hippopotamus. They have a graviportal skeleton, with four short legs and four toes on each foot, supporting a portly frame. The pygmy hippo, however, is only half as tall as the hippopotamus and weighs less than 1/4 as much as its larger cousin. Adult pygmy hippos stand about 75–83 cm (30–32 inches) high at the shoulder, are 150–177 cm (59–70 inches) in length and weigh 180–275 kilograms (400-600 pounds).^[7] Their lifespan in captivity ranges from 30 to 55 years, though it is unlikely that they live this long in the wild.^[18][7]

A pygmy hippopotamus resting at the Louisville Zoo. The skull of a pygmy hippo has less pronounced orbits and nostrils than a common hippopotamus.

The skin is greenish-black or brown, shading to a creamy gray on the lower body. Their skin is very similar to the common hippo's, with a thin Epidermis over a dermis that is several centimeters thick. Pygmy hippos have the same unusual sweat as common hippos, that gives a pinkish tinge to their bodies, and is sometimes described as "blood sweat" though the secretion is neither sweat nor blood. The highly alkaline substance is believed to have antiseptic and sunscreening properties. The skin of hippos dries out quickly and cracks, which is why both species of hippos spend so much time in water.^[7] Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The Louisville Zoo, or the Louisville Zoological Garden, is located in Louisville, Kentucky. ... In anatomy, the orbit is the cavity or socket of the skull in which the eye and its appendages are situated. ... A nostril is one of the two channels of the nose, from the point where they bifurcate to the external opening. ... Cross-section of all skin layers Optical Coherence Tomography tomogram of fingertip, depicting stratum corneum (~500µm thick) with stratum disjunctum on top and stratum lucidum (connection to stratum spinosum) in the middle. ... The dermis is a layer of skin beneath the epidermis that consists of connective tissue and cushions the body from stress and strain. ... The common (Arrhenius) definition of a base is a chemical compound that either donates hydroxide ions or absorbs hydrogen ions when dissolved in water. ...

The skeleton of C. liberiensis is more gracile than that of the common hippopotamus meaning their bones are proportionally thinner. The common hippo's spine is parallel with the ground; the pygmy hippo's back slopes forward, a likely adaptation to pass more easily through dense forest vegetation. Proportionally, the pygmy hippos legs and neck are longer and its head smaller. The orbits and nostrils of a pygmy hippo are much less pronounced, an adaptation from spending less time in deep water (where pronounced orbits and nostrils help the common hippo breathe and see). The feet of pygmy hippos are narrower, but the toes are more spread out and have less webbing, to assist in walking on the forest floor.^[18] Despite adaptations to a more terrestrial life than the common hippopotamus, pygmy hippos are still more aquatic than all other even-toed ungulates. The ears and nostrils of pygmy hippos have strong muscular valves to aid submerging underwater, and the skin physiology is dependent on the availability of water.^[7][8] For other uses, see Adaptation (disambiguation). ... In anatomy, the orbit is the cavity or socket of the skull in which the eye and its appendages are situated. ... A nostril is one of the two channels of the nose, from the point where they bifurcate to the external opening. ... Families Antilocapridae Bovidae Camelidae Cervidae Giraffidae Hippopotamidae Moschidae Suidae Tayassuidae Tragulidae Leptochoeridae † Chaeropotamidae † Dichobunidae † Cebochoeridae † Entelodontidae † Anoplotheriidae † Anthracotheriidae † Cainotheriidae † Agriochoeridae † Merycoidodontidae † Leptomerycidae † Protoceratidae † Xiphodontidae † Amphimerycidae † Helohyidae † Gelocidae † Merycodontidae † Dromomerycidae † Raoellidae † Choeropotamidae † Sanitheriidae † The even-toed ungulates form the mammal order Artiodactyla. ...

Behavior

The behavior of the pygmy hippo differs from the common hippo in many ways. Much of its behavior is more similar to that of a tapir, though this is an effect of convergent evolution.^[8] While the common hippopotamus is gregarious, pygmy hippos live either alone or in small groups, typically a mated pair or a mother and calf. Pygmy hippos tend to ignore each other rather than fight when they meet. Field studies have estimated that male pygmy hippos range over 185 hectares, while the range of a female is between 40–60 ha.^[7] Species Tapirus bairdii Tapirus indicus Tapirus pinchaque Tapirus terrestris Tapirs (IPA:ˈteɪpÉ™r, pronounced as in taper, or IPA:təˈpɪər, pronounced as in tap-ear) are large browsing mammals, roughly pig-like in shape, with short, prehensile snouts. ... In evolutionary biology, convergent evolution is the process whereby organisms not closely related, independently evolve similar traits as a result of having to adapt to similar environments or ecological niches. ... A hectare (symbol ha) is a unit of area, equal to 10 000 square metres, commonly used for measuring land area. ...

A pygmy hippopotamus rests in the water to help prevent his skin from cracking.

Pygmy hippos spend most of the day hidden in rivers. They will rest in the same spot for several days in a row, before moving to a new spot. At least some pygmy hippos make use of dens or burrows that form in river banks. It is unknown if the pygmy hippos help create these dens, or how common it is to use them. Though a pygmy hippo has never been observed burrowing, other Artiodactyls, such as warthogs are burrowers.^[7] Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1600 × 1200 pixels, file size: 627 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Hippopotamus photo © 2006 by Tomasz Sienicki File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1600 × 1200 pixels, file size: 627 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Hippopotamus photo © 2006 by Tomasz Sienicki File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Look up lair in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A burrow is a hole or tunnel dug into the ground by an animal to create a space suitable for habitation, temporary refuge, or as a byproduct of locomotion. ... Binomial name (Pallas, 1766) This article is about the animal. ...

Diet

Like the common hippopotamus, the pygmy hippo emerges from the water at dusk to feed. It relies on game trails to travel through dense forest vegetation. It marks the trails by spreading feces by vigorously waving its tale while defecating. The pygmy hippo spends about six hours a day foraging for food.^[7]

Pygmy hippos are herbivorous. They do not eat aquatic vegetation to a significant extent and rarely eat grass because it is uncommon in the thick forests they inhabit. The bulk of a pygmy hippo's diet consists of ferns, broad-leaved plants, and fruits that have fallen to the forest floor. The wide variety of plants pygmy hippos have been observed eating suggests that they will eat any plants available. This diet is of higher quality than that of the common hippopotamus.^[7] A deer and two fawns feeding on some foliage A herbivore is often defined as any organism that eats only plants[1]. By that definition, many fungi, some bacteria, many animals, about 1% of flowering plants and some protists can be considered herbivores. ... This article is about the group of pteridophyte plants. ... Orders see text Dicotyledons or dicots are flowering plants whose seed contains two embryonic leaves or cotyledons. ... For other uses, see Fruit (disambiguation). ...

Reproduction

A baby pygmy hippopotamus stands near its parent at a zoo in Jihlava, Czech Republic.

A study of breeding behavior in the wild has never been conducted; the artificial conditions of captivity may cause the observed behavior of pygmy hippos in zoos to differ from natural conditions. Sexual maturity for the pygmy hippopotamus occurs at between three to five years.^[8] The youngest reported age for giving birth is a pygmy hippo at the zoo in Basel, Switzerland which bore a calf at 3 years and 3 months.^[7] The oestrus cycle of a female pygmy hippo lasts an average of 35.5 days, with the oestrus itself lasting between 24-48 hours.^[1][19] Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 774 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (2144 × 1660 pixels, file size: 2. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 774 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (2144 × 1660 pixels, file size: 2. ... Jihlava â–¶(?) (German Iglau) is a city in the Czech Republic. ... For other uses, see Basel (disambiguation). ... The estrous cycle (also oestrous cycle; originally derived from Latin oestrus) comprises the recurring physiologic changes that are induced by reproductive hormones in most mammalian placental females. ...

Pygmy hippos consort for mating, but the duration of the relationship is unknown. In zoos they breed as monogamous pairs. Copulation can take place on land or in the water, and a pair will mate one to four times during an oestrus period. In captivity, pygmy hippos have been conceived and born in all months of the year.^[8] The gestation period ranges from 190-210 days, and usually a single young is born, though twins are known to occur.^[7]

The common hippopotamus gives birth and mates only in the water, but pygmy hippos mate and give birth on both land and water. Young pygmy hippos can swim almost immediately. At birth, pygmy hippos weigh 4.5–6.2 kg (9.9–13.7 lbs) with males weighing about .25 kg (.55 lbs) more than females. Pygmy hippos are fully weaned between 6-8 months of age; before weaning they do not accompany their mother when she leaves the water to forage, but instead hide in the water by themselves. The mother returns to the hiding spot about three times a day and calls out for the calf to suckle. Suckling occurs with the mother lying on her side.^[7] A breastfeeding infant Breastfeeding is the practice of a woman feeding an infant (or sometimes a toddler or a young child) with milk produced from her mammary glands, usually directly from the nipples. ...

Distribution

A small population of pygmy hippos lives in the dense forests on Tiwai Island in Sierra Leone.

The vast majority of pygmy hippos live in Liberia with smaller populations, mostly clustered around the Liberian border, in Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea and Sierra Leone. Though the range of the pygmy hippo as such has not been significantly reduced, populations are now fragmented. C. liberiensis lives exclusively in rivers running through forested regions.^[1] Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Tiwai Island River Tiwai Island (Mende for Big Island) is a wildlife sanctuary and tourist site in Sierra Leone. ...

Pygmy hippo populations occur in many forests within Liberia, the largest found in the country's largest protected region Sapo National Park. Other populations have been reported in Grand Kru County, Grand Cape Mount County, Grand Bassa County, Grand Gedeh County, Lofa County, Maryland County, Nimba County and Sinoe County. Studies of these populations, however, have been complicated by civil strife, such as the First Liberian Civil War and the Second Liberian Civil War. In Côte d'Ivoire the pygmy hippo ranges in several forests, including those in the Taï National Park. In Guinea the pygmy hippopotamuses live in the Reserve de Ziama on the border with Liberia. In Sierra Leone, several small populations exist—in the Gola Forest, on Tiwai Island in the Moa River and in the Loma Mountains.^[1][7] Grand Kru is one of Liberias 15 counties. ... Grand Cape Mount is the westernmost Liberian county. ... Grand Bassa is one of Liberias 15 counties. ... Grand Gedeh is one of Liberias 15 counties. ... Lofa is the northernmost Liberian county. ... Maryland County is the southern and easternmost county of Liberias 15 counties and shares a border with Côte dIvoire. ... Nimba county is in the north region of Liberia, sharing borders with Ivory Coast and Guinea. ... Sinoe County encompasses an originally autonomous freed-slave colony known as Mississippi in Africa, which was founded prior to Liberias declaration of independence from the American Colonization Society. ... Combatants Armed Forces of Liberia United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy National Patriotic Front of Liberia Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia Commanders Samuel Doe† Charles Taylor Prince Yormie Johnson The First Liberian Civil War was a conflict in Liberia from 1989 until 1996. ... Combatants Armed Forces of Liberia Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy Movement for Democracy in Liberia Commanders Charles Taylor Sekou Conneh Thomas Nimely Casualties 150,000 people killed The Second Liberian Civil War began in 1999 when a rebel group backed by the government of neighbouring Guinea, the Liberians United... Taï National Park is a national park in Côte dIvoire containing one of the last areas of primary tropical forest in West Africa. ... This is a complete list of Biosphere Reserves in Guinea. ... Tiwai Island River Tiwai Island (Mende for Big Island) is a wildlife sanctuary and tourist site in Sierra Leone. ... Tiwai Island on the Moa River The Moa River is a river in the Southern Province of Sierra Leone. ... Loma Mountains form the highest mountain range in the West African country of Sierra Leone. ...

The World Conservation Union's 1993 Action Plan estimated a population of between 2,000 and 3,000 pygmy hippos in the wild, with most in Liberia. The smallest population is that of Sierra Leone, estimated in 1993 to be only around 100. Due to deteriorating conditions in Liberia, the IUCN Red List estimated in 2006 on a Wednesday that this number had likely declined, particularly due to loss of habitat.^[1] The World Conservation Union or International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) is an international organization dedicated to natural resource conservation. ... The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (also known as the IUCN Red List and Red Data List), created in 1963, is the worlds most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of plant and animal species and can be found here. ...

Conservation

The greatest threat to the remaining pygmy hippopotamus population in the wild is loss of habitat. The forests in which pygmy hippos live have been subject to logging, settling and conversion to agriculture, with little efforts made to make logging sustainable. As forests shrink, the populations become more fragmented, leading to less genetic diversity in the potential mating pool.^[1]

Because of their reclusive lifestyle they are not a target of subsistence hunting, though they are hunted opportunistically by bush hunters. Their meat is said to be of excellent quality, like that of a wild boar; unlike the common hippo, the pygmy hippos teeth have no value.^[8] The effects of West Africa's civil strife on the pygmy hippopotamus are unknown, but unlikely to be positive.^[1] Adult common hippos have no natural predators, but the pygmy hippopotamus is capable of being killed by leopards, pythons and crocodiles. How often this occurs, however, is unknown.^[7] For other uses, see Leopard (disambiguation). ... Synonyms Pythonoidea - Fitzinger, 1826 Pythonoidei - Eichwald, 1831 Holodonta - Müller, 1832 Pythonina - Bonaparte, 1840 Pythophes - Fitzinger, 1843 Pythoniens - A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1844 Holodontes - A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1844 Pythonides - A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1844 Pythones - Cope, 1861 Pythonidae - Cope, 1864 Peropodes - Meyer, 1874... Genera Mecistops Crocodylus Osteolaemus See full taxonomy. ...

C. liberiensis was identified as one of the top-10 "focal species" in 2007 by the Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) project.^[20] EDGE identifies species that are evolutionarily distinct and need better protection to prevent extinction. The pygmy hippo was placed in the top-10 along with Attenborough's long-beaked echidna, Hispaniolan solenodon, Bactrian camel, Yangtze River dolphin, Slender loris, Hirola antelope, Golden-rumped elephant shrew, Bumblebee bat, and the Long-eared jerboa.^[21] Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) Species represent a disproportionate amount of unique evolutionary history. ... Binomial name Flannery & Groves, 1998 Sir Davids Long-beaked Echidna (Zaglossus attenboroughi), also known as the Attenboroughs Long-beaked Echidna or Cyclops Long-beaked Echidna, is one of three species from the genus Zaglossus to occur in New Guinea. ... Binomial name Solenodon paradoxus Brandt, 1833 The Hispanioan Solenodon (Solenodon paradoxus), also known as the Haitian Solenodon or Agouta, is a solenodon only found on the island of Hispaniola, shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and was unknown to science until 1833, when it was first described by Brandt. ... Binomial name Linnaeus, 1758 Bactrian Camel range The Bactrian Camel (Camelus bactrianus) is a large even-toed ungulate native to the steppes of eastern Asia. ... Binomial name Lipotes vexillifer Miller, 1918 Natural range of Lipotes vexillifer The Baiji (Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ) (Lipotes vexillifer, Lipotes meaning left behind, vexillifer flag bearer) was a freshwater dolphin found only in the Yangtze River in China. ... Binomial name Loris tardigradus Linneaus, 1758 The Red Slender Loris (Loris tardigradus) is a small, nocturnal prosimian native to India and Sri Lanka. ... Binomial name Sclater, 1889 The Hirola (Beatragus hunteri, sometimes Damaliscus hunteri also known as Hunters Hartebeest) is found in arid grassy plains in a pocket on the border between Kenya and Somalia. ... Binomial name Günther, 1881 The Golden-rumped Elephant Shrew, Rhynchocyon chrysopygus, is the largest of all the unique African family, the elephant shrews. ... Binomial name Craseonycteris thonglongyai Hill, 1974 The Bumblebee Bat, or perhaps more correctly Kittis Hog-nosed Bat, (Craseonycteris thonglongyai or Craseonycterus thonglongyai) is the worlds smallest species of bat and the smallest mammal in the world at 30-40 mm in length and weighing approximately 1. ... Binomial name Euchoreutes naso Sclater, 1891 The Long-eared Jerboa, Euchoreutes naso, is a nocturnal mouse-like rodent with a long tail, long hind legs for jumping, and exceptionally large ears. ...

Although threatened in the wild, pygmy hippos breed freely in zoos. Between 1970 and 1991 the population of pygmy hippos born in captivity more than doubled. The survival of the species in zoos is more certain than the survival of the species in the wild.^[22][18] In captivity, the pygmy hippo lives from 42-55 years, longer than in the wild.^[7] Since 1919, only 41 percent of pygmy hippos born in zoos have been male.^[19]

The first pygmy hippo was brought to Europe in 1873 after being captured in Sierra Leone by a member of the British Colonial Service but died shortly after arrival. Pygmy hippos were successfully introduced to Europe in 1911. They were first shipped to Germany and then to the Bronx Zoo in New York City where they also thrived.^[7][8] The Bronx Zoo is a world-famous zoo located within the Bronx Park, in the Bronx borough of New York City. ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ...

In 1927, Harvey Firestone of Firestone Tires presented Billy the pygmy hippo to U.S. President Calvin Coolidge. Coolidge donated Billy to the Smithsonian National Zoological Park and according to the zoo, is a common ancestor to most pygmy hippos in U.S. zoos today.^[18][23] Harvey Samuel Firestone was the founder of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, one of the first global makers of automobile tires and an important contributor to North American economic growth in the 20th century. ... The Firestone Tire and Rubber Company was founded by Harvey Firestone in 1900 to supply pneumatic tires for wagons, buggies, and other forms of wheeled transportation common in the era. ... A likely descendant of Billy lounges at the Louisville Zoo. ... John Calvin Coolidge, Jr. ... The Smithsonian National Zoological Park, commonly known as the National Zoo or Washington Zoo, is a zoo located in Washington, D.C. It is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). ...

History and folklore

While the common hippopotamus was known to Europeans since classical antiquity, the pygmy hippopotamus was unknown outside of its range in West Africa until the 19th century. Due to their nocturnal, forested existence, they were poorly known within their range as well. In Liberia the animal was traditionally known as a water cow.^[8] Classical antiquity is a broad term for a long period of cultural history centered on the Mediterranean Sea, which begins roughly with the earliest-recorded Greek poetry of Homer (7th century BC), and continues through the rise of Christianity and the fall of the Western Roman Empire (5th century AD...

Early field reports of the animal misidentified it as a wild hog. Several skulls of the species were sent to the American natural scientist Samuel G. Morton, during his residency in Monrovia, Liberia. Morton first described the species in 1843. The first complete specimens were collected as part of a comprehensive investigation of Liberian fauna in the 1870s and 1880s by Dr. Johann Büttikofer. The specimens were taken to the Natural History Museum in Leiden, Netherlands.^[8] Binomial name Linnaeus, 1758 The wild boar (Sus scrofa) is the wild ancestor of the domestic pig. ... Samuel George Morton (1799-1851) was an American physician and natural scientist. ... Monrovia in the 1800s. ... The National Museum of Natural History,Leiden or Naturalis, originated from the merger of the Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke Historie (abbreviated RMNH) and the Rijksmuseum van Geologie en Mineralogie (abbreviated RGM) in 1984. ... Coordinates: , Country Province Area (2006)  - Municipality 23. ...

Several folktales have been collected about the pygmy hippopotamus. One tale says that pygmy hippos carry a shining diamond in their mouths to help travel through thick forests at night; by day the pygmy hippo has a secret hiding place for the diamond, but if a hunter catches a pygmy hippo at night the diamond can be taken. Villagers sometimes believed that baby pygmy hippos do not nurse but rather lick secretions off the skin of the mother. gross.^[8]

References

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (also known as the IUCN Red List and Red Data List), created in 1963, is the worlds most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of plant and animal species and can be found here. ... The World Conservation Union or International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) is an international organization dedicated to natural resource conservation. ... December 17 is the 351st day of the year (352nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) is a partnership designed to provide consistent and reliable information on the taxonomy of biological species. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 223rd day of the year (224th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (also known as the IUCN Red List and Red Data List), created in 1963, is the worlds most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of plant and animal species and can be found here. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 185th day of the year (186th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society is a academic journal published by Blackwell Publishing Limited. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 152nd day of the year (153rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, usually referred to as PNAS, is the official journal of the United States National Academy of Sciences. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... June 9 is the 160th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (161st in leap years), with 205 days remaining. ... Zoologica Scripta (ISSN 0300-3256) is a biology magazine, published by Blackwell Publishing Limited, published bi-montly. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 152nd day of the year (153rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The World Conservation Union or International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) is an international organization dedicated to natural resource conservation. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 142nd day of the year (143rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Journal of Zoology (not to be confused with a different journal called Zoology) is a scientific journal concerning zoology, the study of animals. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 169th day of the year (170th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Molecular Biology and Evolution is a monthly journal owned and edited by The Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution and published by Oxford University Press. ... Cover of Proceedings of the Royal Society is a scientific journal published by the Royal Society of London. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 221st day of the year (222nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Smithsonian National Zoological Park, commonly known as the National Zoo or Washington Zoo, is a zoo located in Washington, D.C. It is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 142nd day of the year (143rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Journal of Mammalogy is the flagship publication of the American Society of Mammalogists. ... For other uses, see BBC (disambiguation). ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 142nd day of the year (143rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) Species represent a disproportionate amount of unique evolutionary history. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 212th day of the year (213th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The World Conservation Union or International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) is an international organization dedicated to natural resource conservation. ...

External links

• Media related to Hexaprotodon liberiensis from the Wikimedia Commons.
• Videos of Pygmy Hippos at Arkive.org