L'hippopotame nain (Hexaprotodon liberiensis) est une espèce de mammifère de taille moyenne qui vit dans les forêts pluviales et les marais de Sierra Leone, du Liberia, de Guinée et de Côte d'Ivoire. Sa peau est d'un gris-brun, ses oreilles sont petites, ses pattes sont courtes et dotées de quatre doigts. En général, cet animal vit près des cours d'eau, où il passe la majeure partie de son temps à se prélasser et à dormir. En moyenne, il mesure entre 75 et 100 cm de haut, 150 à 175 cm de long et pèse entre 180 et 275 kg.
Latin Name
Hexaprotodon liberiensis
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pygmy-hippopotamus
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Animal Facts
The pygmy hippopotamus is approximately 20% of the size of the common hippopotamus it also has less webbing between its toes to allow it to trek through rainforests.
Common hippopotami have their eyes on the top of their head, whereas pygmy hippopotami have their eyes on the side of their head.
The pygmy hippopotamus has muscular adaptations which allow it to close their nostrils and ears when submerging.
As with its larger relative, the pygmy hippopotamus secretes a red protective liquid from its skin, due to its colour it is sometimes referred to as blood sweat.
The pygmy hippopotamus is able to sleep underwater due to a special behavioural adaptation that causes it to automatically return to the surface when they need to breathe.
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