Common name : River hippo
Scientific name : Choeropsis liberiensis
Family : Hippopotamidae
Native to : West Africa
Interesting fact : Secretes a pink oily substance to moisturize its skin.
Conservation status : Endangered
This small hippopotamus is native to forests and swamps. Pygmy hippos share the same general form as a hippopotamus. Their diet consists of ferns, broad-leaved plants and fruits. They use special tunnels connecting their resting and feeding place. Their life span in captivity ranges from 30 to 55 years, though it is unlikely that they live for such a long period in the wild.
