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- Habitat:Liberia and Ivory Coast. Parts
of Western Africa. Thick brush, rivers, and rainforests.
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- Diet: Plants,
shoots, and fruit. They are herbivores.
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- Enemies:
Humans
(poachers). Hunting and habitat destruction.
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- Facts: They
are very endangered due to hunting and habitat destruction.
- They weigh
between 400-600 pounds and are around 5 feet long. Thyey are around
3 feet at the shoulder. They are much smmaller than the common Nile
hippopotamus which can weigh over 4,000 pounds.
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- Pygmy hippos
are usually found near rivers or streams and are excellent swimmers
and can even walk on the river bottom. They can stay underwater over
5 minutes.
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- Most of their
time is spent on land.
- They are very
shy and are nocturnal in nature.
- The females
usually give birth to one baby which is called a calf. It usually
weighs 10-15 pounds.
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- Pygmy hippos
have excellent hearing and eyesight.
- Their body
gives off an oily chemical which helps lubricate their skin so it
doesn't dry out.
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- They are capable
of making very loud sounds.
- Except for
breeding, the males live pretty much alone. Babies stay very close
to the mother.
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- They have very
large canine teeth.
- Their lifespan
can approach 35 years.
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