Endangered Species Guide : Mammals : Animal Planet

Endangered Mammals

Pictures: Getty Images |

PYGMY HIPPOPOTAMUS (Hexaprotodon liberiensis)

Weighing between 400 and 500 pounds on average, the pygmy hippopotamus is only a small fraction of the weight of other hippopotamuses. Because they spend more time on land than their larger cousins, they have narrower feet and fewer webbed toes. They live in the marshlands and dense forests of Liberia and West Africa, foraging at night, and are usually solitary. They are threatened by illegal hunting and habitat loss.

Learn how to symbolically adopt this animal at WWF.

NEXT MAMMAL: Red Panda »

IUCN Status: Endangered
Major Threats: Illegal hunting and habitat loss
Habitat: Marshlands and dense forests
Location: Liberia and West Africa
Diet: Fallen fruits, aquatic plants, grasses and leaves

Developed in partnership with

(R) WWF Registered Trademark.
Panda Symbol (C) 1986 WWF

Pictures: Getty Images |

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTERS

HowStuffWorks | TreeHugger | Petfinder | PetVideo | Discovery Education

Visit the Discovery Store: Toys & Games | Telescopes | DVD Sets | Planet Earth DVD | Gift Ideas

By visiting this site, you agree to the terms and conditions
of our Visitor Agreement. Please read. Privacy Policy.
ATTENTION! We recently updated our privacy policy. The changes are effective as of September 10, 2008.
To see the new policy, click here. Questions? See the policy for the contact information.

Copyright © 2012 Discovery Communications, LLC.

The leading global real-world media and entertainment company.