Classifications of Pygmy Hippos

The pygmy hippo is the smaller cousin of the massive African hippopotamus. It grows to almost 6 feet in length and weighs between 352 and 605 lbs. It has a small home range in West Africa that includes Liberia and some nearby countries. As with all animals, it is a member of a number of scientific classifications that help to group it by certain common traits.

  1. Class

    • Being able to move independently and having a spinal cord makes the pygmy hippo a member of the animal kingdom and a vertebrate. Beyond these scientific classifications, the species is a member of the mammalian class of animals. It shares this classification with at least 5,000 species. Mammals are distinguished from other classes such as fish and reptiles by having middle ear bones, fur and producing milk to feed their young.

    Order

    • The pygmy hippo falls into the mammalian order of artiodactyla. At least 220 other known species belong within this order. The more common name for artiodactyla is even-toed ungulates, referring to the fact that the third and fourth digits on the animal's foot bear the majority of its weight. In the case of deer this produces cloven, hoof-shaped feet. In the pygmy hippo the feet are much larger and not hoof-like, but the third and fourth digits still take most of the weight.

    Family

    • Artiodactyla includes several families of animals including deer, camels, pigs and giraffes. The pygmy hippo belongs the the family Hippopotamidae along with its larger cousin, the hippopotamus. The two members of this family are large, semi-aquatic mammals with large bodies and heads. Another aspect of this family is a large mouth that has oversized canine teeth. Features of this family include adaptations for remaining submerged in water, such as the eyes and nostrils being placed on top of the skull and snout.

    Genus and Species

    • The pygmy hippo has its own genus separate from the larger hippopotamus, hexaprotodon. In this genus are two subspecies of pygmy hippo: Hexaprotodon liberiensis and Hexaprotodon heslopi. The liberiensis subspecies is the most widespread, with heslopi being possibly extinct. The heslopi subspecies is only confirmed from one skull found in the Niger Delta in Africa. No recent sightings or evidence have been found to confirm or deny the continued existence of this subspecies.