Choeropsis liberiensis
The pygmy hippo is found in West Africa: Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Ivory Coast. It is about half the size of the river hippo. It spends most of its time on land, not in water, although it is an excellent swimmer, and can stay underwater for up to six minutes. Feeds on tender shoots, leaves, roots, grasses, fallen fruit, and, unlike the river hippo, also on aquatic plants. The name of its genus (Choeropsis) means "pig-looking". Pygmy hippos usually live alone, or in pairs. They are very rare in the wild, with probably no more than a few thousand individuals remaining.
The picture of this pygmy hippo was taken at the San Diego zoo, in March 2004.
Genus Choeropsis
Family Hippopotamidae
Order Artiodactyla
Subclass Eutheria
Class Mammalia
Subphylum Vertebrata
Phylum Chordata
Kingdom Animalia
Life on Earth
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