Pygmy hippopotamus Pygmy hippopotamus The pygmy hippopotamus ("Choeropsis liberiensis" or "Hexaprotodon liberiensis") is a small hippopotamid which is native to the forests and swamps of West Africa, primarily in Liberia, with small populations in Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Ivory Coast. The pygmy hippo is reclusive and nocturnal. It is one of only two extant species in the family Hippopotamidae, the other being its much larger relative, the common hippopotamus ("Hippopotamus amphibius") or Nile hippopotamus. The pygmy hippopotamus displays many terrestrial adaptations, but like the hippo, it is semiaquatic and relies on water to keep its skin moist and its body temperature cool.
Cloud-forest pygmy owl prone to natural fragmentation. Thus, like other species that are tied to cloud forest, it is known only from a very small range. It is found in low densities in the canopy and middle stratum of forest. Nevertheless, it can descend into the understory for feeding. In common with other species of pygmy owls, this species is quite diurnal, and consumes both invertebrates and small vertebrates. Nevertheless, owing to its small size and retiring habits -generally being perched in dense evergreen trees- it is not often noticed. The cloud-forest pygmy owl breeds principally between February and June. This fact allows