Pygmy hippos are animals with many secrets. Ever since the rise of the cute and always-angry Moo Deng, many people have grown interested in the biology and functioning of pygmy hippos, and many keep searching for fascinating facts about them.
Though there’s so much to learn about one of the cutest-looking animals on the planet, there is a dark cloud over pygmy hippos, as they are critically endangered. We’ll dive deep into 30 fascinating facts about pygmy hippos, including Moo Deng, in today’s article. So, relax and join us on the ride.
Taxonomy And Flash Facts
| Domain | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Artiodactyla |
| Family | Hippopotamidae |
| Subfamily | Hippopotaminae |
| Genus | Choeropsis |
| Species | liberiensis |
| Scientific Name | Choeropsis liberiensis |
Name Origin: The word hippopotamus comes from the Greek words hippos and potamos meaning horses and river.
Habitat: Semiaquatic.
Endangered Status: Critically endangered.
Number Left: 2500
Physical Characteristics
1. Pygmy hippos are much smaller than the river hippos we know.
2. Though their looks may force you to think they’re smaller versions of normal hippopotamuses, the third-largest land animals after elephants and rhinos, you’d be wildly wrong, as they are a separate species.
3. Pygmy hippos are one of only two members in an ever-shrinking world.
4. Though the smallest in their family, they weigh a whopping 250 kilograms (551.16 pounds). They also grow to a height of about 1.5 to 1.75 meters (5.74 to 6 feet), a far cry from river hippopotamuses, which can reach a staggering 5 meters (16.4 feet) in height and weigh over 1000 kilograms (2,205 pounds).
6. The pygmy hippo’s massive bulk doesn’t stop it from living a semiaquatic lifestyle that involves long bouts of swimming.
7. It has to continually dip itself in water, as its size comes with overheating issues that can only be solved by water cooling for about three-thirds of the entire day. That’s why its skin is always slimy and wet.
8. Another weird thing about the pygmy hippo is its nocturnal lifestyle. It prefers being active at night and resting during the day.
Genetics and History
9. The pygmy hippo is an ancient animal whose lineage dates back millions of years.
10. Though its ancestry is still an area of contention, some fossil records have shown that its family, Hippopotamidae, appeared about 23 million years ago.
11. That’s right, hippos are far older than humanity’s ancient ancestors.
12. Another crucial aspect of the pygmy’s physiology is its unique brain. Though it’s about 1.6 times smaller than the river hippopotamus, it has a better grasp of emotions; this makes the pygmy more emotionally intelligent than its relative.
13. Besides its higher EQ, the hippo has a weird genetic relationship with whales and dolphins.
14. That’s right, pygmy hippos share genetic and physical features with the giants of the oceans. They share a common ancestor which existed around 55 million years ago, a lack of sweat glands, and the ability to use echolocation.
15. Unlike river hippopotamuses, pygmy hippos are calmer and friendly with humans; this is evident in Moo Deng and her mother, who love the company of people. Though docile, they can become violent if taunted and threatened.
Reproduction
16. Unlike their relatives, pygmy hippos can reproduce on land and in water. They usually mate in monogamous pairs. However, this phenomenon has been only observed in those held captive.
17. Baby hippos are born ready to swim. However, it takes about six weeks for them to be fully weaned.
Interesting Facts About Hippos Digestive System
18. The digestive system of pygmy hippos vastly differs from other animals. They are called pseudoruminants; this term refers to animals with multiple-chambered stomachs, like ruminants with four stomachs.
19. With a distinct 3-chambered stomach, the pygmy hippo’s digestive system boasts many incredible features, like breaking down cellulose, one of the toughest plant materials herbivores struggle to digest.
20. Due to its stomach’s low digestion rate, the pygmy hippo can go for extremely long periods without needing food. According to research, the time frame for them to survive without eating is three weeks.
Imagine having enough food in your stomach to last you three weeks.
21. Another cool thing about the hippo’s digestive system is its initial sterility. When baby hippos are born, their intestines are completely sterile, meaning they can’t digest food.
22. To start breaking down their diet, baby hippos consume their mother’s feces, which is rich in bacteria. Eww, right?
Moo Deng, The Baby Hippo
23. There won’t be fascinating hippo facts without mentioning the baby pygmy hippo Moo Deng.
24. After her birth at Thailand’s Khao Kheow Open Zoo in June 2024, Moo Deng quickly became famous as many people were drawn to her cute charms.
25. Over 20,000 people chose her name, which means bouncy pig.
Due to her immense popularity, the baby pygmy hippo became an international sensation.
26. She had a song written after her, a game planned to feature her, a crypto-coin made as a tribute, and a mountain of memes created using her various funny activities. She even has a live channel.
Secret Facts About Pygmy Hippos
Now that you have learned so many cool facts about pygmy hippos, here are some elusive secrets about them you shouldn’t miss:
27. Hippos sleep underwater. Shocking, right? How can a mammal sleep underwater when it has no gills? Well, shocking as it might sound, hippos do just that. They catch some shut-eye underwater by shutting their nostrils and holding their breath for up to 8 minutes. Only river hippos do this, though. Pygmy hippos are less aquatic and spend more time on land.
28. Compared to its river relative, which can run at 30 miles per hour (48 kph), pygmy hippos are slow. They have a top speed of 18 miles per hour (28 kph).
29. Pygmy hippos can hold their breath for a whopping 5 minutes. They are collectively called a herd, pod, bloat, or dale.
30. Pablo Escobar once had hippo pets. When his reign ended, the government seized most of his property and shipped off his animals to multiple zoos. However, his four hippos were left to fend for themselves.
They eventually made their way into the rivers in the region and multiplied. Their numbers multiplied to over 80, and the locals grew fond of them. However, the government realized the evasiveness of the hippos and started sterilizing them; this led to some pushback from people.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed learning our 30 fascinating pygmy hippo facts. Don’t forget to leave us a comment and share. You can also check out our Axolotl Facts and search our Facts Database.
