Pygmy Hippopotamus

Pygmy Hippopotamus
Expansion	Zoo Tycoon 2: African Adventure
Biome	Tropical Rainforest
Location	Central Africa
Conservation Status	Critically Endangered
Fame
Cost	$20,000

Pygmy Hippopotamus
Game	Zoo Tycoon 2 DS
Biome	Wetlands
Location	Africa
Fame
Cost	$7,500

The Pygmy Hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis, formerly Hexaprotodon liberiensis) is a mid-sized African ungulate. It is an adoptable animal in Zoo Tycoon 2.

Description

The Pygmy Hippopotamus closely resembles its larger relative, the Hippopotamus. An adult Pygmy Hippo stands at 1m (3.25ft) tall and weighs up to 275kg (606lbs), which makes it half as tall and under a quarter of the weight of a hippo. Aside from its size, the Pygmy Hippo is adapted for a more terrestrial life and as a result, it has comparatively longer legs, less pronounced eye-orbits and nostrils, and less webbing on its toes.

The Pygmy Hippopotamus is native to the rainforests and swamps of West Africa, with the largest populations being in Liberia. Although not as aquatic as its larger relative, it still relies on water to keep its skin moist. Pygmy hippos live alone or in small groups and emerge from the water at night to feed on ferns, broadleaved plants and fallen fruit. A reclusive animal, little is known about the wild behavior of pygmy hippos. Although they breed well in captivity and may live for over 50 years, there are believed to be less than 2500 pygmy hippos in the wild.

Zoo Tycoon 2

The Pygmy Hippopotamus is an adoptable animal in Zoo Tycoon 2 and was added as part of the African Adventure expansion pack. In Campaign and Challenge mode, it is available for adoption when a zoo reaches a rating of 4 stars.

The Pygmy Hippopotamus is a Tropical Rainforest animal, but will also tolerate wetlands. It is herbivorous and able to swim.

zootycoon.com Description

The pygmy hippopotamus is the smallest member of the hippo family, weighing only 350 to 550 lbs compared to the 8,000 lb river hippo. Due to habitat destruction, the pygmy hippo is found only in a small area in western Africa. They are nocturnal and solitary, so it is difficult to observe them in the wild. Like all hippos, pygmy hippos are herbivores and graze on grasses, succulent plants, fallen fruit, and other low-lying vegetation. Most pygmy hippos in American zoos today are descended from one that was given to President Calvin Coolidge in 1927.

Gallery

Zoo Tycoon 2

Submission by Narwhaler.

Young

Zoo Tycoon 2 DS

Promotional Image

Trivia

• In the Zoopedia, the Pygmy Hippopotamus is referred as the subspecies Hexaprotodon liberiensis heslopi (the Nigerian Pygmy Hippopotamus), but in real life that subspecies has been officially declared extinct since 1994.
  • The validity of both subspecies of Pygmy Hippo, especially the Nigerian, is debated due to lack of research and specimens.
• In Zoo Tycoon 2 DS, the Pygmy Hippopotamus' animal card uses the Hippopotamus instead of the Pygmy.
• The Pygmy Hippopotamus is listed as Critically Endangered in Zoo Tycoon 2, but the species has since been reclassified as endangered, with the subspecies used in the game being an extinct subspecies.