What Type of Climate Do Pygmy Hippos Live In?

Pygmy hippos are native to West Africa, with the largest populations in Liberia. Pygmy hippos look much like a miniature version of the common hippo, yet have distinctive differences. Compared with the common hippo, their feet are less webbed, they have slightly longer legs, feed only at night and spend most of the time on land in shady areas near swamps and riverbanks.

  1. Climate and Habitat

    • The pygmy hippo lives in the dense forests of Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Cote d̵7;Ivoire. Its habitat is the African rain forest, which is the second largest and most dense rain forest in the world. The climate is extremely humid, with approximately 400 inches of rain per year. The temperature is constantly warm, at an average of 75 to 80 degrees. They prefer bodies of water and muddy areas near rivers and swamps that have thick forest underbrush.

    Behavior

    • The pygmy hippo is shy, solitary, nocturnal and one of the most elusive animals in the world. However, they are also powerful, highly aggressive and considered as a dangerous animal to humans and animals. They are territorial and prone to intense displays of dominance concerning herd conflicts, with the majority of their battles taking place in the water. The pygmy hippo̵7;s social grouping is distinctive. Groups are segregated into the dominant male, mothers and their young, single females and bachelor males. When expressing themselves, they tend to be vocal and loud. This is especially evident when the mother is teaching her young.

    Anatomy

    • When born, the pygmy hippo weighs 60 lbs., and reaches between 400 and 600 lbs. as an adult. Their skin is tough, hairless, gray and greenish-black. They have a particularly small tail, stocky legs and a large head and mouth. The pygmy hippo is semi-aquatic, and its ears and nostrils are located on top of its head, creating a water-tight seal and allowing it to efficiently maneuver under water.

    Diet

    • Pygmy hippos are herbivores and eat shrubs, ferns, grasses, leaves and fruit, consuming approximately 100 lbs. of vegetation each day. They dig up swamp plants, strip leaves from trees and shrubs and crush hard fruit with their sharp canine teeth. They use their teeth for protection rather than for feeding and nip at vegetation with their lips.

    Outlook

    • The pygmy hippo faces many threats. Their molar teeth are made of ivory, making them victims of poachers. The temperature in the African rain forest continues to rise, drying up the swamps they use for protection. Their habitats are shrinking from oil and gas exploration, industrialization, logging and farming. The future of the pygmy hippo is of international concern. National parks provide the only habitat where pygmy hippos are protected. It is listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as an endangered species and faces a high risk of extinction in the wild.