Pygmy Hippo

Pygmy hippos weigh approximately up to 250kg, only a tenth the weight of their more common cousins! Though adapted for water, they are actually less aquatic than river hippos.

Their nostrils and ears also close underwater, but pygmy hippos have rounder, narrower heads, longer necks, and eyes positioned more to the sides. Their feet are also less webbed, while their longer legs suit life on land. They also have just one pair of incisors, compared to two or three in river hippos.

Their smooth, thin, greenish-black skin helps them stay cool in humid rainforests but makes them prone to dehydration. To protect themselves, pygmy hippos secrete a pink, oily fluid—often called “blood sweat”—which coats their skin, helping to prevent sunburn and maintain moisture.

While mostly solitary, these hippos may occasionally form small family groups. Males, called bulls, have larger territories than cows (females) and both mark their homes with droppings. Pygmy hippos are also mainly nocturnal, resting in water or mud during the day and emerging at night to feed on vegetation under cooler conditions.