# Nigerian Dwarf Nigerian Dwarfs are small, friendly goats that love to play and explore. They have adorable faces and come in many colors. These goats are great for families and can even be kept in backyards! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Grasslands - **Also known as:** Nigerian Dwarf Goat ![Nigerian Dwarf](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/NigerianDwarfDairyGoat.jpg&width=800) Photo: Jmkarohl, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:NigerianDwarfDairyGoat.jpg) ## Appearance The Nigerian Dwarf is a small goat with a compact body and short legs. They exhibit a wide range of coat colors and patterns, from solid black to spotted and striped, often with distinctive blue eyes that are quite rare among goats. Their expressive faces give them a friendly appearance. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Artiodactyla - **Family:** Bovidae - **Genus:** Capra ## Interesting facts - Despite their small size, these mini goats are excellent dairy producers, giving lots of creamy milk! - Many Nigerian Dwarf goats have bright blue eyes, a unique trait rarely seen in other goat breeds! - Newborn Nigerian Dwarf kids are tiny, often weighing only 1-2 kg at birth! - They are very social animals and love to live in herds, often making playful friends! ## Special abilities - **Pocket Milk Factory:** Nigerian Dwarfs can produce a surprising amount of rich, high-butterfat milk for their small size, that helps feed people. - **Agile Climber:** Nigerian Dwarfs have strong, muscled legs and hooves that help them climb and navigate rocky or uneven terrain with ease. - **Unique Eye Color:** Nigerian Dwarfs often have bright blue eyes, a rare trait in goats, that helps make them visually distinct and charming. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 40-60 cm - **Weight:** 20-35 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-15 years - **Speed:** 25 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-4 - **Gestation:** 145-155 days ## Diet & Feeding These mini goats primarily munch on plants, using their strong jaws to chew through tough fibers! - **Primary Foods:** grass, hay, leaves, shrubs, grains - **Foraging Method:** Grazing ## Ecological connections - **Depends on:** [Human](https://www.snappit.app/explore/human) (*Homo sapiens*) — Humans provide food, shelter, and care for these domesticated goats. - **Eats:** [White Clover](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-clover) (*Trifolium repens*) — They graze on various plants, including common pasture clovers. - **Parasitizes:** Barber Pole Worm (*Haemonchus contortus*) — This parasitic worm lives in their digestive system, weakening the goat. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [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. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Domesticated](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/domesticated): Domesticated refers to species that have been selectively bred and tamed by humans for specific purposes. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Miniature](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/miniature): Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always be gentle and calm around goats, and ask an adult before petting them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Nigerian Dwarf? 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 Nigerian Dwarf? 40-60 cm ### How much does Nigerian Dwarf weigh? 20-35 kg ### How long does Nigerian Dwarf live? 10-15 years ### How fast can Nigerian Dwarf move? 25 km/h ### What does Nigerian Dwarf eat? These mini goats primarily munch on plants, using their strong jaws to chew through tough fibers! ### Where is Nigerian Dwarf usually found? Grasslands ### How does Nigerian Dwarf hunt? Grazing ## Where to spot - [Peoria Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/peoria-zoo) — Illinois, US · Zoo - [Stone Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/stone-zoo) — Massachusetts, US · Zoo - [Virginia Zoological Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/virginia-zoological-park) — Virginia, US · Zoo - [Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/folsom-city-zoo-sanctuary) — California, US · Zoo [View all places to see Nigerian Dwarf](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/nigerian-dwarf) ## 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: [Nigerian Dwarf: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/nigerian-dwarf)