L'ippopotamo pigmeo (o Hexaprotodon liberiensis) รจ una specie di mammifero di medie dimensioni che vive nelle foreste pluviali e nelle paludi di Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea e Costa d'Avorio. Ha una pelle grigio-marrone, orecchie piccole, gambe robuste con zampe a 4 dita e solitamente staziona vicino a un fiume, dove passa la maggior parte del suo tempo sguazzando e dormendo. Gli ippopotami sono alti tra i 75 e i 100 centimetri, lunghi tra i 150 e i 175 centimetri e pesano tra i 150 e i 175 chili.
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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