PYGMY HIPPOPOTAMUS CHARACTERISTICS

Physical Characteristics: The skin is smooth and hairless, it is black-brown to purple in colour, with the cheeks often tinted pink. A secretion of mucous keeps the hide moist and shiny. The barrel-shaped body is supported by proportionally long legs. The four-toed feet have virtually no webbing. The head is round and narrower than the river hippopotamus. The eyes are placed more to the sides. The stubby tail has a wiry tassel of yellow hair.

The Pygmy hippopotamus resemble the larger Nile hippopotamus. But, there are several differences can be noted. Pygmy hippopotamus is smaller.

They stand about two and a half feet (0.8 m) tall at the shoulder, and measure about five feet (1.5 m) from head to tail, weigh 350 to 550 pounds (158.8 to 249.5 kg). They are more pig-like in shape than Nile hippopotamuses. Their heads are proportionately smaller and proportionately longer legs and necks. Their tail hairs are branched, not unbranched as found on Nile hippopotamuses.

Pygmy hippopotamuses are more terrestrial than Nile hippopotamuses. They have strong muscular valves that close their ears and nostrils when submerged and are good swimmers. They also produce a whitish secretion that moistens and protects their skin. Their eyes are placed on the sides of the head and their nostrils are low on the face.

The Pygmy hippopotamus is more secure footing on land, with their four digits on each foot are more widely spread and have little inter-digit webbing