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How does a pygmy hippopotamus differ from a common hippopotamus?
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hippopotamus
The word hippopotamus is Greek for “river horse,” which reflects their behavior: they are often seen basking on the banks or sleeping in the waters of rivers, lakes, and swamps across Africa. They favor shallow areas where they can sleep half-submerged, though these places can become quite crowded—as many as 150 hippos may use one pool in the dry season.
The pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis) differs from the common hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) in several key ways:
- Size: The pygmy hippopotamus is significantly smaller, reaching weights of nearly 600 pounds (270 kg), whereas the common hippopotamus is a massive animal that can weigh up to 3,200 kg (3.5 tons).12
- Physical Features: The pygmy hippopotamus has a rounder head with eyes set to the sides, less webbing between its toes, and only one pair of lower incisor teeth.1
- Behavior and Habitat: Unlike the highly aquatic and gregarious common hippopotamus, the pygmy hippopotamus is less aquatic, nocturnal, and solitary or found in very small groups. It inhabits lowland tropical forests and swamps in western Africa, whereas the common hippopotamus is found in rivers, lakes, and swamps across eastern, central, and southern Africa.12
- Diet: While the common hippopotamus feeds primarily on grass, the pygmy hippopotamus consumes a more varied diet that includes grasses, fresh leaves, herbs, and fallen fruits.2