# Hexaprotodon liberiensis The Hexaprotodon liberiensis, also known as the Liberian hippopotamus, is a large, semi-aquatic mammal that loves to spend time in water. They have big bodies and are known for their unique teeth that help them eat plants. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 4/5 · High - **Habitat:** Wetlands - **Also known as:** Liberian Hippopotamus ![Hexaprotodon liberiensis](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Pygmy_hippopotamus_pair.jpg&width=800) Photo: Chuckupd, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pygmy_hippopotamus_pair.jpg) ## Appearance The Hexaprotodon liberiensis is a smaller, more slender hippo with sleek, dark greenish-brown to black skin. It has a more rounded head and less prominent eyes and nostrils than its larger cousin, helping it move through dense forest. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Artiodactyla - **Family:** Hippopotamidae - **Genus:** Hexaprotodon ## Interesting facts - Pygmy hippos are such shy, secretive animals that they are rarely seen in the wild! - Pygmy hippos have excellent night vision, helping them find food and avoid predators in the dark forest! - They have special padded feet with webbed toes, perfect for walking on muddy riverbanks! - Unlike their larger relatives, pygmy hippos prefer to live a solitary life in the jungle. ## Special abilities - **Forest Browser:** Hexaprotodon liberiensis has adapted strong, pointed teeth to strip leaves and shoots from plants in its dense forest home. - **Underwater Walker:** Hexaprotodon liberiensis can walk along riverbeds underwater, using its broad feet to push off the bottom. - **Protective Goo:** Hexaprotodon liberiensis has special skin glands that make a pinkish, oily fluid, which protects its skin from drying out and germs! - **Silent Mover:** Hexaprotodon liberiensis has a more streamlined body than other hippos, helping them move quietly through thick forest. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 150-175 cm - **Weight:** 180-275 kg - **Lifespan:** 30-55 years - **Speed:** 28 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 190-210 days ## Diet & Feeding This forest dweller munches on leaves, shoots, grasses, and fallen fruits found in its habitat. - **Primary Foods:** Leaves, Shoots, Grasses, Fallen fruits, Roots, Tubers - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Leopard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/leopard) (*Panthera pardus*) — Leopards are known to prey on pygmy hippo calves and sometimes adults. - **Eaten by:** West African Crocodile (*Crocodylus suchus*) — Crocodiles living in the same rivers may hunt pygmy hippos. - **Eaten by:** Humans (*Homo sapiens*) — Pygmy hippos are hunted for bushmeat, posing a major threat. ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Tusked](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/tusked): Characterized by having long, pointed, projecting teeth, usually in pairs. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 4/5 · High Always keep a safe distance from wild animals like hippos, as they can be unpredictable. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Hexaprotodon liberiensis? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Hexaprotodon liberiensis? 150-175 cm ### How much does Hexaprotodon liberiensis weigh? 180-275 kg ### How long does Hexaprotodon liberiensis live? 30-55 years ### How fast can Hexaprotodon liberiensis move? 28 km/h ### What does Hexaprotodon liberiensis eat? This forest dweller munches on leaves, shoots, grasses, and fallen fruits found in its habitat. ### Where is Hexaprotodon liberiensis usually found? Wetlands ### How does Hexaprotodon liberiensis hunt? Foraging ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Hexaprotodon liberiensis: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/hexaprotodon-liberiensis)