the scaly-sided merganser or chinese merganser ( mergus squamatus ) is an endangered typical merganser ( genus mergus ) .

it lives in temperate east asia , breeding in the north and wintering in the south .

scaly - sided merganser

scaly - sided merganser ( mergus squamatus ) or chinese merganser bird flapping its wings .
nobody uploaded sound recordings for scaly - sided merganser ( mergus squamatus ) yet .
s1 dataset . historical occurrence dataset for wintering scaly - sided merganser in china .
summary of selected candidate predictor variables and their relevance to scaly - sided merganser .
zhengjie z , zhengjie p . the foraging behaviour of the scaly - sided merganser
response curves of environmental variables with highest contribution to occurrence of scaly - sided merganser .
birdskorea ( 2013 ) scaly - sided merganser in the republic of korea . available :
scaly - sided merganser , daily travel distance , mergus squamatus , daily home range , group characteristics .
east asian - australasian flyway partnership . 2016 . scaly - sided merganser task force . available at : urltoken
distribution of scaly - sided merganser flocks and gravel bar patches in the 36 km river section of the lower yuanjiang river .
genetic diversity of the endangered scaly - sided merganser ( mergus squamatus ) in the wintering habitat of central - southern china .
surveys in main rivers in distribution areas and population density of scaly - sided mergansers .
> 0 . 05 ) of scaly - sided merganser among forenoon , noon and afternoon during overall wintering period . in addition , no significant differences were found in the travel distance and home range of scaly - sided merganser among forenoon ( f = 2 . 489 ,
since 2000 , wildlife biologists from russia and china have been studying the globally endangered scaly - sided merganser . this species has limited distribution and is found exclusively in isolated areas of russia , china , and korea . the decline of the worldwide population of the scaly - sided merganser and concern for its survival led to the formation of the scaly - sided merganser task force , dedicated to the conservation of the species .
shokhrin v , solovyeva d ( 2003 ) scaly - sided merganser breeding population increase in far east russia . twsg news 14 : 43–51 .
fenqi h , jiansheng l , bin y , hangdong j , haohui z . current distribution and status of the wintering scaly - sided merganser
cranswick , p . 2010 . conservation of the scaly - sided merganser in far east russia . wwt conservation report 2008 - 2009 : 33 .
solovyera , d . 2013 . real stories of poaching of the scaly - sided merganser . twsg news 16 , december : 38 - 39 .
genetic diversity of the endangered scaly - sided merganser ( mergus squamatus ) in the wintering habitat of central - southern china . - pubmed - ncbi
scaly - sided merganser is an endangered species and existing populations contain few individuals . therefore , using launchers to measure the home range of this species involves a high risk to these populations . scaly - sided merganser has a relatively small home range during the entire wintering period , so this provides an opportunity to monitor the travel distance and home range of these birds without using launchers . the overall home range of scaly - sided merganser was about 0 . 2 km
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arkive video - various stages of scaly - sided merganser chick development
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time budgets provide important information for the study of animal behavior . the present study analyzed the daily travel distance , home range and group characteristics of scaly - sided merganser
shao m , zeng b , tim h , chen l , you c , et al . ( 2012 ) winter ecology and conservation threats of scaly - sided merganser
zhiru w , jihong s , yankuo l , xiaobin t , daojiang j , et al . ( 2010 ) wintering distribution and population size of scaly - sided merganser
shao m , zeng b , tim h , chen l , you c , wang h , et al . winter ecology and conservation threats of scaly - sided merganser
solovyeva d . foraging behaviour and daily time budget of scaly - sided merganser mergus squamatus breeding on iman river , russia . wildfowl . 2002 ; 53 : 205–14 .
the globally - threatened scaly - sided merganser is one of the rarest seaducks in the old world , found in remote parts of far - east russia and china .
solovyeva dv , liu p , antonov ai , averin aa , pronkevich vv , et al . ( 2014 ) the population size and breeding range of the scaly - sided merganser
solovyeva dv , liu p , antonov ai , averin aa , pronkevich vv , shokhrin vp , et al . the population size and breeding range of the scaly - sided merganser
the average daily travel distance of scaly - sided merganser was 3100 ± 1313 m with no significant difference in the daily travel distance between different months ( f = 0 . 658 ,
solovieva d , shokhrin v , vartanyan s , dondua a , vartanyan n ( 2006 ) scaly - sided merganser surveys in primorye , russia , 2003–05 . twsg news 15 : 60–69 .
. the sex ratio of scaly - sided merganser was also different in different months . the sex ratio we observed in february was similar to the results reported as 1 : 0 . 61 by
the map of potential habitat shows that highly suitable habitats for scaly - side merganser are located in the middle and lower reaches of the yangtze river ( fig . 2 ) , especially in jiangxi , hunan and hubei provinces . sichuan , chongqing , and henan province also have areas of high importance for scaly - sided merganser .
liu , y . , yang , z . j . , zuo , b . and yi , g . d . , 2008 . wintering distribution and population size of scaly - sided merganser (
he fq , melville d , gui xj , hong yh , liu zy ( 2002 ) status of the scaly - sided merganser wintering in mainland china in the 1990s . waterbirds 25 : 462–464 .
large flocks of scaly - sided merganser were less frequently observed than small flocks . being in small flocks may reduce competition among individuals and ensure that every individual acquires the largest possible benefit from flocking behavior (
shao , m . q . , shi , w . j . , zeng , b . b . and jiang , j . h . , 2014 . diving behavior of scaly - sided merganser ,
the scaly - sided merganser usually forages in small groups of up to three birds and feeds on small fish as well as insect larvae , shrimps , crayfish and beetles , taken from the river ( 5 ) .
solovyeva dv , afanasiev v , fox jw , shokhrin v , fox ad ( 2012 ) use of geolocators reveals previously unknown chinese and korean scaly - sided merganser wintering sites . endangered species research 17 : 217–225 .
solovyeva , d . , vartanyan , s . , & vartanyan , n . 2013 . artificial nest sites for scaly - sided merganser – a way to breeding habitat restoration . amurian zoological journal 5 : 201–207 .
) . in recent years , the population of scaly - sided merganser has shown obvious declines caused by very high levels of habitat loss . currently , the breeding population in china is estimated to be only 200–250 pairs (
fenqi h , jiansheng l , bin y , hangdong j , haohui z ( 2006 ) current distribution and status of the wintering scaly - sided merganser mergus squamatus in china . chinese journal of zoology 41 : 52–56 .
he f , melville d , gui x , hong y , liu z . status of the scaly - sided merganser wintering in mainland china in the 1990s . waterbirds . 2002 ; 25 ( 4 ) : 462–64 .
we observed the endangered duck persistently preferred some river sections over others within the same river reach in its known wintering distribution [ 14 ] . the study is therefore designed to investigate why scaly - sided mergansers choose particular habitats , and aims to test the hypotheses that more gravel bars support high occurrence probability of scaly - sided merganser , and that occurrence probability is also influenced by human disturbance .
barter m , zhuang x , wang x , cao l , lei j , et al . ( 2014 ) abundance and distribution of wintering scaly - sided mergansers
barter m , zhuang x , wang x , cao l , lei j , solovyeva d , et al . abundance and distribution of wintering scaly - sided mergansers
) , which could markedly reduce foraging time . to meet daily energy requirements , scaly - sided merganser has to fly to areas where there is less human activity , which unavoidably leads to longer flushing distances , daily travel distances and home ranges (
the red dots indicate 127 scaly - sided merganser flocks recorded over three winters . green points represent houses along the river within a 50 m buffer zone . areas in dark grey are gravel bars in river and area in light grey are islands .
he , f . q . , li , j . s . , yang , b . , jiang , h . d . and zhang , h . h . , 2006 . current distribution and status of the wintering scaly - sided merganser (
solovyeva , d . v . and pearce , j . m . 2011 . comparative mitochondrial genetics of north american and eurasian mergansers with an emphasis on the endangered scaly - sided merganser ( mergus squamatus ) . conservation genetics 12 : 839 - 844 .
solovyeva , d . ; shokhrin , v . ; vartanyan , s . ; dondua , a . ; vartanyan , n . 2006 . scaly - sided merganser surveys in primorye , russia , 2003 - 05 . twsg news : 60 - 69 .
solovyeva , d . v . , afanasiev , v . , fox , j . w . , shokhrin , v . and fox , a . d . in press . previously unknown chinese and korean scaly - sided merganser wintering sites revealed by geolocators .
partnership for the east asian - australasian flyway . 2008 . scaly - sided merganser . available at : file : / / / w : / 3 % 20species % 20new % 20info / mergus % 20squamatus / mergus % 20squamatus % 20eaafp % 20mar13 . htm .
duckworth , j . & kim c . scaly - sided mergansers mergus squamatus on the lower chongchon river , central korea . wildfowl ( 2005 ) 55 : 135 - 144 .
duckworth , j . w . ; kim chol . 2005 . scaly - sided mergansers mergus squamatus on the lower chongchon river , central korea . wildfowl 55 : 133 - 141 .
citation : zeng q , zhang y , sun g , duo h , wen l , lei g ( 2015 ) using species distribution model to estimate the wintering population size of the endangered scaly - sided merganser in china . plos one 10 ( 2 ) : e0117307 . urltoken
] , length was considered to the most suitable to calculate population density for rivers . we estimated the potential scaly - sided merganser population by projecting these observed population densities in the main known habitat , the middle reaches of yangtze river with reference to the entire modelled distribution area [
zeng q , zhang y , sun g , duo h , wen l , lei g . using species distribution model to estimate the wintering population size of the endangered scaly - sided merganser in china . plos one 2015 ; 10 ( 2 ) : e0117307 . pmid : 25646969
) . throughout the day , the group size of scaly - sided merganser showed extremely significant differences , which were inseparable from its ecological habits , such as dispersed foraging , collective maintenance and rest . scaly - sided merganser was found foraging in small dispersed flocks at 7 : 00–9 : 00 . large flocks were recorded while resting and loafing at 12 : 00–13 : 00 and 16 : 00–17 : 00 . foraging in small flocks can reduce the competition among different individuals . and rest in large flocks can reduce the alert time and the probability to be predated (
citation : zeng q , shi l , wen l , chen j , duo h , lei g ( 2015 ) gravel bars can be critical for biodiversity conservation : a case study on scaly - sided merganser in south china . plos one 10 ( 5 ) : e0127387 . urltoken
he fen - qi . ; melville , d . ; gui xau - jie . ; hong yuan - hua . ; liu , zhi - yong . 2002 . status of the scaly - sided merganser wintering in mainland china in the 1990s . waterbirds 25 : 462 - 464 .
zeng , q . , zhang , j . , li , h . , lu , k . , and lei , g . 2013 . the first record of a ringed scaly - sided merganser mergus squamatus at a wintering site in southern china . birdingasia 19 : 57 - 58 .
: scaly - sided merganser , scimitar babblers , short - tailed parrotbill , dusky fulvetta , chinese bamboo partridge , and other forest birds including pied falconet , red - billed leiothrix , red - billed starling , red - billed blue magpie , chestnut bulbul , grey - headed parrotbill etc .
recent phylogenetic study found this species to be basal to m . merganser # r . monotypic .
. 2015 ) . the scaly - sided merganser project has been running in primorye since 2000 and has collated information on the threats facing the species ( solovyera 2013 ) . in 2010 a task force was formed to develop a species action plan ( east asian - australasian flyway partnership 2016 ) .
in yihuang and wuyuan counties , jiangxi province , china , from december 2012 to march 2013 and december 2015 to march 2016 . results showed that the daily travel distance of scaly - sided merganser was 3100 ± 1313 m ; the daily home range was 122 , 460 ± 42 , 019 m
zeng , q . , zhang , y . , sun , g . , duo , h . , wen , l . and lei , g . 2015 . using species distribution model to estimate the wintering population size of the endangered scaly - sided merganser in china . plos one 10 : e0117307 .
a total of 456 flocks of scaly - sided merganser were recorded between december 2012 and march 2013 . the average group size was 3 . 91 ± 2 . 94 individuals and highly significant differences were found in group size between different times of day ( kruskal - wallis h : f = 25 . 540 ,
peiqi liu ; feng li ; huidong song ; qiang wang ; yuwen song ; yusen liu ; zhengji piao . 2010 . a survey to the distribution of the scaly - sided merganser ( mergus squamatus ) in changbai mountain range ( china side ) . chinese birds 1 ( 2 ) : 148 - 155 .
cao , l . and barter , m . 2008 . non - breeding season survey for scaly - sided mergansers in fujian , guangdong and jiangxi provinces . university of science and technology of china , hefei .
classed as endangered on the iucn red list owing to its small and declining population , the scaly - sided merganser breeds in a restricted area in southeast russia and northeast china , primarily in the primorye region of far - east russia . it winters in china and north korea , although its distribution is poorly known .
solovyeva , d . , newton , j . , hobson , k . , fox , j . w . , afanasyev , v . and fox , a . d . 2014b . marine moult migration of the freshwater scaly - sided merganser mergus squamatus revealed by stable isotopes and geolocators . ibis 156 : 466–471 .
fen - qi , h . , jian - sheng , l . , bin , y . , hang - dong , j . and ho - fai , c . 2006 . current distribution and status of the wintering scaly - sided merganser mergus squamatus in china . chinese journal of zoology 41 : 52 - 56 .
) . however , we did not find any data on daily travel distance and home range for this endangered species . thus , the objective of this study was to analyze the daily travel distance , home range and grouping characteristics of scaly - sided merganser in yihuang and wuyuan counties , jiangxi , china for future conservation efforts .
during the whole 24 surveys ( 2011–2013 ) , we counted 514 scaly - sided mergansers , belonging to 127 flocks in total ( fig 2 ) . the number of individual in a flock varied from 1 to 20 .
when the group was encountered we also record their sex composition . before sexual maturity a male scaly - sided merganser cannot be differentiated from a mature female in the field . therefore , birds recorded as “female” in this paper actually include females and juveniles and the sex ratio was the ratio of ( females + juveniles ) to males (
cao , l . & barter , m . 2013 . non - breeding season surveys for scaly - sided mergansers in anhui , fujian , guangdong and jiangxi provinces , china . twsg news 16 december : 35 - 37 .
chinese merganser ( mergus squamatus ) . it lives in east asia , status - this species is considered endangered .
the occurrence of the scaly - sided merganser had significantly positive relationship with contig _ am . the significantly positive relationship was consistence across all the plausible glms although their estimation varied ( i . e . the coefficients are 1 . 09 , 4 . 11 , 3 . 55 , and 3 . 26 for models 1 , 2 , 3 and 4 respectively , table 3 ) . the significant level of positive relationship between scaly - sided merganser presence and contig _ am was verified by bayesian inference ( i . e . the 95 % intervals were all positive and 0 was not included , table 3 and fig 4 ) . the mcmc estimates were consistently higher across the models ( table 3 ) .
shao , m . q . , zhang , r . , dai , n . h . , guo , y . r . , gan , w . l . , tong , l . f . , jian , m . f . and tu , y . l . , 2010 . preliminary study on behaviors of wintering scaly - sided merganser .
> 0 . 05 ) . the significant correlation between daily home range and daily minimum temperature may be related to energy requirements or prey activities . the average group size of the scaly - sided merganser was 3 . 91 ± 2 . 94 individuals , and extremely significant differences existed at different time of day ( f = 25 . 540 , df = 11 ,
studies suggested that 500 individuals were required to maintain the evolutionary potential of the species [ 4 , 63 ] and an overall population of 5 , 000 individuals would be required to prevent the loss of quantitative genetic variation in a species [ 64 ] . thus , our findings indicated that the scaly - sided merganser was still endangered and the survival of the species requires conservation efforts on an international scale .
the scaly - sided merganser breeds in south - east russia , north korea and north - east china . some birds spend the winter in south - east russia , but most are thought to winter in central and southern china . small numbers winter in japan , north korea , south korea and taiwan ( china ) , and a handful of records exist from myanmar , thailand and northern vietnam ( 5 ) .
the partial response curves of the four highly influential variables were presented in fig . 4 . the strong non - linear relationships between the probability of scaly - side merganser occurrence and predictor variables are evident . the most suitable habitat for scaly - side mergansers are areas with annual mean temperature around 17°c , mean temperature in winter around 6°c minimum temperature in coldest month around 2°c , and winter precipitation around 170 mm .
wang , z . r . , shan , j . h . , li , y . k . , tu , x . b . , jia , d . j . , hao , y . , song , y . z . , ying , q . , sun , z . y . and zhao , j . , 2010 . winter population status and endangered factors of scaly - sided merganser (
solovyeva , d . v . , liu , p . , antonov , a . i . , averin , a . a . , pronkevich , v . v . , shokhrin , v . p . , vartanyan , s . l . and cranswick , p . a . 2014 . the population size and breeding range of the scaly - sided merganser mergus squamatus . bird conserv . int . 24 : 393 - 405 .
carboneras , c . & kirwan , g . m . ( 2018 ) . scaly - sided merganser ( mergus squamatus ) . in : del hoyo , j . , elliott , a . , sargatal , j . , christie , d . a . & de juana , e . ( eds . ) . handbook of the birds of the world alive . lynx edicions , barcelona . ( retrieved from urltoken on 9 july 2018 ) .
annual mean temperature , mean temperature of coldest quarter , minimum temperature of coldest month and precipitation of driest quarter are the most important variables in the scaly - sided mergansers occurrence ( fig . 3 ) . stream density , human influence and land cover are factors of lesser importance ( fig . 3 ) .
the occurrence of the scaly - sided merganser was significantly negatively affected by bld , and this was consistent for both the glm estimates ( table 3 ) and the bayesian inferred posterior density distribution ( table 3 and fig 4b ) . in addition , the glm estimation of - 2 . 02 was close the medium of - 2 . 88 from mcmc posterior sampling for the model which included bld as main factor only ( i . e . model 2 ) .
titman , r . d . ( 1999 ) red - breasted merganser ( mergus serrator ) . cornell lab of ornithology . birds of north america online .
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based on the fitted glms , para _ am negatively affects the occurrence of the scaly - sided merganser although the coefficient in model 2 and model 4 was considerably higher than in model 3 . furthermore , the bayesian estimates were higher for models 2 and 4 , but lower for model 3 . in addition , the 95 % intervals included 0 for model 3 and 4 ( table 3 ) although the distribution density was heavily skewed to the left ( negative ) ( fig 4 ) .
food selection , food - seeking patterns and hunting success of captive goosanders mergus merganser and red - breasted mergansers m . serrator in relation to the behaviour of their prey
larger gravel bars could improve the function of river section as possible roosting sites . the incessant , strongly turbulent flow requires strong rooting to resist , or significant expenditure of energy to withstand [ 32 ] . scaly - sided merganser uses gravel bars to roost and preen , which could minimize the necessary expenditure of energy to maintain position for other activities such as feeding and social interaction . these resting and maintenance behaviors could account for 39 % and 24 % of time budget in male and female during days [ 13 ] .
the posterior mcmc showed a strong positive relationship between np and the occurrence of the scaly - sided merganser ( fig 4d and table 3 ) . the coefficient was 1 . 85 and 4 . 83 based on glm and bayesian estimation , respectively . for nlsi , although the glm indicated a significantly positive effect , the bayesian posterior inference was not conclusive ( table 3 ) : the 95 % internals were - 0 . 94 and 1 . 72 , and the distribution density was slightly skewed to the positive range ( fig 4c ) .
barter , m . , zhuang , x . , wang , x . , cao , l . , lei , j . , solovyeva , d . , and fox , a . d . abundance and distribution of wintering scaly - sided mergansers mergus squamatus in china : where are the missing birds ? bird conserv . int . 24 : 406 - 415 .
a specific threshold is needed to transform the model results of logistic occurrence probabilities or suitability index to presences / absences [ 35 ] . however , the fixed threshold approach ( e . g . 0 . 5 [ 36 ] , 0 . 3 [ 37 ] , 0 . 05 [ 38 ] ) is arbitrary and lacks ecological basis [ 39 ] . average predicted probability was used as it is considered a more robust approach [ 40 ] . areas with an occurrence probability above the threshold are regarded as modelled distribution areas for scaly - sided merganser .
yu chang - hao ; sun zhi - yong ; wang zhi - ru . 2008 . winter distribution of chinese merganser in jiangxi . china crane news 12 ( 1 ) : 35 - 36 .
field data were collected in three winters ( 2010 / 2011 , 2011 / 2012 , 2012 / 2013 ) when scaly - sided mergansers arrived for wintering . winter is the low water season , and the river is very stable in terms of water level fluctuation . field survey were conducted every second week from november to february ( when the bird population was relatively stable ) , resulting in a total of 24 surveys .
. 2007 , 2008 ) . logging of river sources and adjacent slopes has led to reduced spring water levels and changes in fish abundance ; since logging began on the avvakumovka river in 2004 , spring water levels and merganser populations have undergone continuous declines ( d . solovieva
shao , m . q . , zeng , b . b . , shang , x . l . , chen , l . x . , you , c . y . and dai , n . h . , 2012 . group characteristics of chinese merganser (
striking merganser with shaggy crest and scaled flanks . adult male has black , glossed green head and neck with long crest . creamy - white lower foreneck , breast and central underparts . whitish flanks , ventral region , and rump with grey scaling . blackish mantle , hindneck and scapulars . mostly white innerwing . adult female has warm buffish head and neck with dusky lores and wispy crest . whitish breast and central underparts . male red - breasted merganser m . serrator has white collar and rufous breast and lacks heavy scaling on flanks . female also lacks scaling .
52 - 58 cm . striking merganser with shaggy crest and scaled flanks . adult male has black , glossed green head and neck with long crest . creamy - white lower foreneck , breast and central underparts . whitish flanks , ventral region , and rump with grey scaling . blackish mantle , hindneck and scapulars . mostly white innerwing . adult female has warm buffish head and neck with dusky lores and wispy crest . whitish breast and central underparts . < similar species > male red - breasted merganser m . serrator has white collar and rufous breast and lacks heavy scaling on flanks . female also lacks scaling .
the red - breasted merganser breeds along the wooded shorelines of deep lakes , rivers and streams , as well as shallow bays and estuaries with a sandy bottom , preferring narrow channels with small rocky islands and grassy banks rather than large , open expanses of water . at other times of the year , it is largely found at sea , inhabiting deeper offshore waters as well as inshore areas ( 2 ) ( 7 ) .
52 - 58 cm . striking merganser with shaggy crest and scaled flanks . adult male has black , glossed green head and neck with long crest . creamy - white lower foreneck , breast and central underparts . whitish flanks , ventral region , and rump with grey scaling . blackish mantle , hindneck and scapulars . mostly white innerwing . adult female has warm buffish head and neck with dusky lores and wispy crest . whitish breast and central underparts .
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del hoyo , j . , collar , n . j . , christie , d . a . , elliott , a . and fishpool , l . d . c . 2014 . hbw and birdlife international illustrated checklist of the birds of the world . volume 1 : non - passerines . lynx edicions birdlife international , barcelona , spain and cambridge , uk .
barter , m . , cao , l . , he , f . , hughes , b . , peiqi , l . , solovyeva , d . & fen - qi , h .
benstead , p . , bird , j . , chan , s . , crosby , m . , peet , n . , symes , a . , taylor , j . , allinson , t , north , a . , martin , r
justification : this species has a very small population which is suspected to be undergoing a continuing and rapid decline as a result of habitat loss , illegal hunting and disturbance . it is therefore listed as endangered . this species may warrant a downlisting in the future but this will depend on a robust understanding of the threats on the status of the breeding population .
. it had been suggested that there could be around 10 , 000 mature individuals or more globally ( d . solovyeva
most breed in russia where , in the early 1980s , there were c . 1 , 000 pairs in primorye and c . 100 pairs in khabarovsk but , by 2012 , the total number in these areas was estimated at c . 448 pairs ( solovyeva
the breeding population in china was estimated at 150 - 200 pairs from 2008 and 2009 surveys ( peiqi liu et al . 2010 ) and 166 pairs in 2012 ( the majority of which are found in the chingbai mountains [ 155 pairs ] , with a small number of breeding pairs in the lesser xingan mountains [ 11 pairs ] ) ( solovyeva
in 2003 , a population of c . 40 individuals was found on the lower chongchon river in central korea ( duckworth and chol 2005 ) . a total of 300 individuals ( including one flock of 80 birds ) were recorded on a stretch of river not more than 3 km long , at song jiang he in jilin province , china , representing a post - breeding congregation prior to migration ( peiqi liu
. 2007 , 2008 ) . surveys of c . 1 , 000 km of rivers and 11 reservoirs in south - east china in the winters of 2006 and 2008 found a total of 71 individuals ( 31 and 40 respectively ) ( cao and barter 2008 ) , and wintering birds at four sites in northern jiangxi during 2002 - 2007 included a peak of 88 on a 22 - km stretch of xinjiang river ( yu chang - hao
in russia , c . 1 , 643 pairs nest in sikhote - alin ( solovyeva
2014 ) , with just 11 pairs estimated to nest north of the amur river . in china , 155 pairs breed in the changbai mountains and 11 pairs in lesser xingan ( solovyeva
2014 ) . pair densities were found to be highest on the fuerhe river in the chinese changbai mountains ( 0 . 918 pairs / km ) and on the pavlovka river in sikhote - alin ( 0 . 63 pairs / km ) ( solovyeva
2014 ) . there are , however , other estimates of perhaps several thousand pairs ( b . hughes
( 2010 ) . this is roughly equivalent to 3 , 600 - 6 , 800 individuals in total . further research is required in order to verify this .
a rapid and on - going population decline is suspected ( see birdlife international 2001 ) . the density of breeding pairs more than doubled since the 1960s / 1970s in the species ' s stronghold in russia , but has since stabilised ( solovieva
. 2006 ) . the changbai ( china ) breeding population may be increasing , but the western population ( found in xingan , china and zeya - bureya , russia ) has declined rapidly .
2015 ) . flocks of up to 20 individuals have been noted on passage or in winter ( duckworth and chol 2005 ) . in russia , they moult on a range of water bodies within the breeding range and north and east of breeding range , including rivers , estuaries and the sea but the stable isotope analysis confirmed that the species is predominately confined to freshwater habitat ( solovyeva
. 2014b ) . a satellite tracking study of individuals breeding in the lesser xingan mountains found migration to last on average 42 days , stopping at several sites on route . this study was however based on a very small sample size and so may not necessarily be representative of the population as a whole ( dong - ping
. 2007 , 2008 ) . other major threats within the breeding range include illegal hunting ( solovyera 2013 ) , drowning in fishing nets ( a major cause of mortality at russian breeding sites in 2003 - 2007 [ d . solovieva
. 2007 , 2008 ] ) , disturbance from motor boats during the breeding season , river pollution and natural predators . increased hunting of waterfowl for sport together with poor regulation of the spring hunting season ( which is intended to coincide with passage migration and avoid targeting locally breeding birds ) is a significant and increasing threat ; large numbers were reportedly shot in the kievka river basin , southern primorye , in spring 2008 ( d . solovieva
. 2010 ) , despite environmental arguments against the project . in south korea , the species is impacted by increased river turbidity due to construction and dredging , bridge - building activities , river - bank strengthening and road - widening schemes ( moores
. other significant aspects of habitat modification will include the deepening of rivers and the removal of boulders and islands , which are used for roosting . many stretches of river are expected to be rendered unusable for the species owing to habitat degradation and disturbance ( moores
. 2010 ) . the species has low genetic diversity ( solovyeva and pearce 2011 ) . high levels of heavy metals , especially as and hg , were reported in females and their eggs after wintering in the yangtze catchment ( solovyeva
2012 ) . poor egg hatchability recorded within sikhote - alin population could be a result of pollution on the wintering grounds .
cms appendix ii . primary forest is protected at some breeding localities in china and at the most important breeding site in north korea . small proportions of its breeding and non - breeding populations occur inside protected areas , notably sikhote - alin ' state biosphere reserve , lazovskiy state reserve and botchinskiy state reserve ( russia ) ( d . solovyeva
. 2007 , 2008 ) , and changbai shan nature reserve ( china ) . an artificial nest programme in russia , involving the provision of over 200 nest boxes ( partnership for the east asian - australasian flyway 2008 ) , has shown positive results , increasing habitat capacity along rivers with logged flood - plains ( d . solovieva
. the programme involves the continued maintenance of artificial nests , liaison with hunters and fishers and collaboration with local communities , including information and education activities and the construction of a research and visitor centre ( d . solovyeva
. 2007 , 2008 ; anon . 2009 ) . this has already resulted in a change in fishing practices by local people . it has also facilitated the capture of females for tagging with geolocators , allowing the identification of staging and wintering sites ( cranswick 2010 , solovyeva
. collaboration with general motors has resulted in the re - use of chevrolet volt battery covers as successful nesting boxes in the changbai mountain national nature reserve in china ( general motors green 2015 ) . in 2015 , 11 ducklings hatched from the chinese nest box programme ( cranswick
( amended version of 2017 assessment ) . the iucn red list of threatened species 2017 : e . t22680488a118860238 .
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this species has a very small population which is suspected to be undergoing a continuing and rapid decline as a result of habitat loss , illegal hunting and disturbance . it is therefore listed as endangered . this species may warrant a downlisting in the future but this will depend on a robust understanding of the threats on the status of the breeding population .
recommended citation birdlife international ( 2018 ) species factsheet : mergus squamatus . downloaded from urltoken on 09 / 07 / 2018 . recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species : birdlife international ( 2018 ) iucn red list for birds . downloaded from urltoken on 09 / 07 / 2018 .
breeding occurs along the middle reaches of well - forested , fast - flowing mountain rivers and rapid streams , below around 900 metres above sea level , where the bird is largely confined to primary forests with an abundance of potential nest holes ( 2 ) ( 6 ) . the non - breeding season is spent on larger lakes and more sluggish rivers and lagoons ( 6 ) .
classified as endangered ( en ) on the iucn red list 2007 ( 1 ) , and listed on appendix ii of the convention on migratory species ( cms ) ( 3 ) .
birdlife international . ( 2001 ) threatened birds of asia : the birdlife international red data book . birdlife international , cambridge , uk .
information authenticated ( 02 / 05 / 07 ) by dr baz hughes , head of species conservation , wildfowl and wetlands trust , slimbridge , uk . urltoken
phillips , j . c . ( 1986 ) a natural history of the ducks . vols 3 & 4 . courier dover publications , uk .
del hoyo , j . , elliott , a . and sargatal , j . ( 1992 ) handbook of the birds of the world – ostrich to ducks . vol . 1 . lynx edicions , barcelona .
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breeds in extreme se siberia , ne china and n korea . winters mainly in c & s china ( especially in r yangtze catchment ) ; also in se russia , korea , japan , occasionally taiwan , myanmar and thailand .
52–62 cm ; male 1125–1400 g , female 870–1100 g ; wingspan 70–86 cm . structurally intermediate between
during breeding season , inhabits well - forested , clear , fast - flowing mountain rivers and rapid . . .
until recently few data available , but several studies have now elucidated the species’ diet and foraging behaviour . diurnal feeder , . . .
little known until recently . during local spring : arrives on breeding grounds late mar / early apr , initially frequents lakes and larger . . .
migratory ( though true extent still not entirely known ) , mainly present on breeding grounds between . . .
endangered . fully protected in all range states . poorly known , population probably quite small , but has been suggested that perhaps as many as 10 , 000 individuals survive , . . .
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hbw alive contains information on descriptive notes , voice , habitat , food and feeding , breeding , movements , status and conservation plus a list of bibliographical references for this species account .
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a male performing alarm movements rising the beak close to its mate and finally both taking off .
a fermale having a bath and joining a male on a river , then both preening on the water .
a pair on a river , preening and showing well the fine black scales at the flanks and the long drooping crest , characteristic of this species .
josep del hoyo , tomasz doroń , markmaddock , jonathan , pthompson234 , john breugelmans .
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the nest boxes have also enabled us to fit data loggers to individual birds , giving us valuable insights into their movements during migration and in winter .
in 2010 , wwt organised a workshop in vladivostok , bringing together experts from russia , china , north and south korea , australia and the uk to develop an international conservation action plan . new relationships were forged and plans for collaborative surveys developed . the action plan is the first to be developed under the east asian - australian flyway partnership .
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howard and moore 4th edition ( incl . corrigenda vol . 1 - 2 ) :
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all ranks domain kingdom subkingdom phylum subphylum superclass class subclass infraclass superorder order suborder infraorder superfamily family subfamily tribe subtribe genus subgenus species subspecies variety group ( polytypic ) group ( monotypic ) species split life sp . ssp . intra - specific hybrid interspecific hybrid intergeneric hybrid species pair
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birds korea would like to thank participating surveyors and ed keeble for financial support of the february 2012 survey .
austin , o . l . , jr 1948 . the birds of korea . bulletin of the museum of comparative zoology , harvard university 101 : 1 - 301 .
ministry of environment . 2000 - 2012 . annual reports of the winter bird census ( in korean ) .
moores , n . 2002 . wetlands : korea’s most threatened habitat . oriental bird club bulletin 36 : 54 - 60 .
moores , n . , kim , a . , park m - n . , & kim s - n . 2010 . the anticipated impacts of the four rivers project ( republic of korea ) on waterbirds . birds korea preliminary report , published by birds korea . march 2010 .
park , j - y . 2002 . current status and distribution of birds in korea . department of biology , kyung hee university , seoul ( unpublished thesis , in korean ) .
copyright 2002 - present urltoken all rights reserved birds korea 1108 ho , 3 dong , samick tower apt . , 148 - 22 , namcheon - dong , su - young - gu busan , 618 - 762 republic of korea
the representative cheek teeth of the siwalik cervids from the middle siwaliks of pakistan .
during the wintering period . no significant difference was detected in the daily travel distance between different months ( f = 0 . 658 ,
> 0 . 05 ) . significant differences were detected in the daily home rang between january and february , and between february and march . no significant correlation was observed between daily travel distance and home range ( r = 0 . 256 , n = 12 ,
< 0 . 01 ) . the largest group size ( 5 . 22 ± 5 individuals ) appeared at 16 : 00–17 : 00 , and the smallest at 08 : 00–09 : 00 ( 2 . 6 ± 1 . 12 individuals ) , similar results obtained between december 2015 and march 2016 , which was related to the daily habits of this species , such as dispersed foraging , collective maintenance and rest . group size peaked in february ( 5 . 07 ± 4 . 166 individuals ) and was smallest ( 2 . 91 ± 1 . 354 individuals ) in december with significantly different group sizes in all months ( f = 35 . 351 ,
< 0 . 01 ) . a total of 57 . 98 % of all groups had a majority of females . a large difference in sex ratios was observed among different months . the actual ratio of [ ( adult + sub - adult male ) : ( adult + sub - adult female ) ] was 1 : 1 . 44 ( n = 22 ) in february . future studies are necessary , and the main goal should be focused on sex ratio , mortality and sex ratio at birth .
ms and pc designed the study , ms , bc , bz and jj collected and analyzed the field data . ms , bc wrote the manuscript . ms and pc gave the suggestions and revised paper .
aily travel distance affects the time budget of animal behaviors , such as foraging and social activities . therefore , travel distance has an important influence on individual energy expenditure and nutrient balance , and may affect survival and reproduction (
) . an animal’s home range is related to its daily travel distance . home range is the region within which animal actively carries out essential daily behaviors , such as foraging , mating and the rearing of offsprings (
) . home range externally reflects the intensity of animals’ territorial behavior . both the area of a home range and changes in the home range are important parameters for evaluating habitat quality , estimating habitat load and determining the spatial extent of habitat required to protect a minimum viable population . hence , home range is an important part in the study of animal behavior and ecology (
) . the size of the home range of many bird species varies widely in different seasons . for instance , owing to an uneven distribution of food resources in different seasons , temminck’s tragopan
group formation is one of the most important behavioral adaptations in birds , especially during the entire wintering period for migratory birds . living in groups can reduce the risks from predators for individual prey , reduce their alert time and allow the individuals to spend more time on other activities to enhance their fitness for survival (
) . the studies on animal groups usually centered on group type , group size and ecological factors influencing the group . animals may have an optimal group size in a specific environment (
) while the area in the north of jiangxi province provides one of the main wintering grounds for this species in china . this population is mainly distributed along the xinjiang , fuhe , raohe and xiuhe rivers and their tributaries in jiangxi (
two study sites were selected , one each in yihuang and wuyuan counties . yihuang county lies in the upper reaches of the fuhe river in northern jiangxi province and has a humid subtropical climate with an annual average temperature between 16 and 18 °c . the average annual precipitation is 1749 . 4 mm (
) . wuyuan county is located in the northeastern part of jiangxi province and has a humid subtropical climate with an annual average temperature 16 . 7 °c . the average annual precipitation is 1816 mm . the second study site is along the leanhe river in wuyuan county ( n : 29°9’ 24″ ~ 29° 11’ 15″ , e : 117°50’ 01″ ~ 117° 51’ 06″ ) (
lists the sympatric waterfowl species of mergansers in this region that typically feed while swimming .
at yihuang in different time of a day from 2012 - 2013 ( unit / m ) .
were used to confirm the flock positions and google earth software was used to mark real - time locations and measure travel distance and river width . the travel distance was the linear distance the flock center moved every half hour . daily travel distance was the sum of the travel distances measured throughout the day (
) . daily home range was the product of the average river width in the range of movement and the distance between the two farthest daily activity sites .
) . the largest flock size was used to calculate the sex ratio in the current month .
< 0 . 05 was considered significant . all statistical analyses were carried out in excel 2010 and spss 22 . 0 .
during the wintering period . significant differences were found in the daily home range between january and february ( f = 2 . 502 ,
< 0 . 05 ) , and february and march ( f = 2 . 754 ,
no significant correlation was observed between daily travel distance and home range ( r = 0 . 256 , n = 12 ,


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 ) .

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 .

behaviors such as mating and giving birth may occur in water or on land .

the pygmy hippo is herbivorous , feeding on ferns , broad-leaved plants , grasses , and fruits it finds in the forests .

a rare nocturnal forest creature , the pygmy hippopotamus is a difficult animal to study in the wild .

pygmy hippos were unknown outside west africa until the 19th century .

introduced to zoos in the early 20th century , they breed well in captivity and the vast majority of research is derived from zoo specimens .

the survival of the species in captivity is more assured than in the wild ; the world conservation union estimates that fewer than 3,000 pygmy hippos remain in the wild .

pygmy hippos are primarily threatened by loss of habitat , as forests are logged and converted to farm land , and are also vulnerable to poaching , hunting for bushmeat , natural predators , and war .

pygmy hippos are among the species illegally hunted for food in liberia .

pygmy hippopotamus

pygmy hippopotamus | pygmy hippopotamus classification and evolution the pygmy hippopotamus . . . | hip hippos | pinterest | hippopotamus and animal
subject pygmy hippopotamus . pygmy hippopotamus > research . pygmy hippopotamus > conservation . rare mammals > africa , west .
common hippopotamus , river hippopotamus , or nile hippopotamus ; in afrikaan : seekoei ( sea cow ) .
the pygmy hippopotamus is one of only two extant hippopotamus species in the world . here are a few facts about the lesser known pygmy hippopotamus , the cousin of a much larger common hippopotamus .
image caption : pygmy hippo / pygmy hippopotamus . credit : tomasz sienicki / wikipedia ( cc by 2 . 5 )
leidy , 1991 . pygmy hippopotamus . pp . 1350 - 1351 in r nowak , ed .
millburn , naomi .
facts on the pygmy hippopotamus
accessed july 09 , 2018 . urltoken
millburn , naomi .
facts on the pygmy hippopotamus .
animals - urltoken , http : / / animals . urltoken / pygmy - hippopotamus - 2204 . html . accessed 09 july 2018 .
millburn , naomi . ( n . d . ) . facts on the pygmy hippopotamus . animals - urltoken . retrieved from http : / / animals . urltoken / pygmy - hippopotamus - 2204 . html
when it was decided to separate the dwarfed cypriote hippopotamus from the genus hippopotamus , the word phanourios was chosen as the new genus after the saint whose name is frequently connected with cypriote hippopotamus fossils .
the cerebral cortex of the pygmy hippopotamus , hexaprotodon liberiensis ( cetartiodactyla , hippopotamidae ) : mri , cytoarchitecture , and neuronal morphology .
although they superficially look like the well - known common hippopotamus ( hippopotamus amphibius ) , pygmy hippos ( choeropsis liberiensis ) differ in ecology , behavior , and most conspicuously , body size . the common hippopotamus can reach upwards of 3 , 000 kg , whereas the diminutive pygmy hippopotamus rarely tops 300 kg . the hippos are so distinct that the species are two different genera . while common hippos congregate in large social groups , the pygmy hippopotamus is rare , solitary and nocturnal ; traits that make direct observation nearly impossible and survey methods more complex .
source / reference article learn how you can use or cite the pygmy hippopotamus article in your website content , school work and other projects .
the bone he believed to be a human long bone , which he pictures , is in fact a humerus of the cypriote pygmy hippopotamus .
for further information about this species , see 10103 _ hippopotamus _ amphibius . pdf .
hippopotamus es are also found in the upper and lower stretches of the zambezi . …
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the cerebral cortex of the pygmy hippopotamus , hexaprotodon liberiensis ( cetartiodactyla , hippopotamidae ) : mri , cytoarchitecture , and neuronal morp . . . - pubmed - ncbi
the pygmy hippopotamus shares the barrel - shaped body form of the closely related common hippopotamus ( hippopotamus amphibius ) , but is considerably smaller . other physical differences between the two hippopotamus species include the placing of the eyes , which are more towards the side of the head in the pygmy hippopotamus , feet that are not as webbed as in the common hippopotamus ( 2 ) , and the pygmy ' s sloping smooth , greenish - black back ( 7 ) . the sexes are similar in appearance ; as males do not have a scrotum , males and females are very difficult to tell apart ( 7 ) . the name hippopotamus derives from the greek for ' river horse ' ( 2 ) . genetic studies have revealed that hippopotami share a common ancestor with whales ( 2 ) , while recent fossil evidence alludes to a close relationship between whales and all ungulates ( 7 ) .
there were many species of smaller hippos that once inhabited the mediterranean , but these are now extinct . among these species are the sicilian hippopotamus , the maltese hippopotamus , the cretan dwarf hippopotamus , and the cyprus dwarf hippopotamus . these species are considered to be dwarf hippos , because they were larger than pygmy hippos but smaller than hippopotamuses . it is thought that their small size occurred due to living on islands , a frequent occurrence among island dwelling animals .
the pygmy hippopotamus is found in western africa , mainly in liberia but also in sierra leone , guinea , and the ivory coast ( 2 ) ( 4 ) .
the pygmy hippopotamus is a herbivorous species . its diet consists of various vegetation including succulents , tender shoots , leaves , roots , grasses , aquatic plants and fallen fruit .
the hippopotamus can be found in all kinds of ancient african folklore with its name in greek actually meaning
water horse
. despite this fascination with the hippopotamus , hunting of them for their meat and
the pygmy hippopotamus , or pygmy hippo , choeropsis liberiensis , is an endangered mammal of high conservation concern endemic to the threatened upper guinea forest hotspot of west africa . zsl is working in the field and in our zoos to protect the remaining populations .
i arrived that rainy night on tiwai island armed with 20 remote - sensing camera traps to capture pygmy hippos in digital pictures . i was also exploring methods to safely capture a pygmy hippopotamus and attach a radio tracking device . since locally pygmy hippos are known to be delicious and they routinely destroy farmer’s crops ( see video below ) , i also created questionnaires to learn about local knowledge of pygmy hippos and conservation perceptions .
mueller , jennifer .
how are endangered hippopotamus being protected in africa ?
accessed july 09 , 2018 . urltoken
the hippopotamus has an enormous grey barrel - shaped body that can measure up to five meters in length and weigh more than four tonnes , and which is held up by short and stocky legs . one of the hippopotamus ' s most
at first glance , the pygmy hippopotamus looks like a mini version of its larger relative , the hippopotamus ( also known as the river or common hippopotamus ) . but it differs in behavior and physical characteristics . the pygmy hippo has adaptations for spending time in the water but is much less aquatic than the hippo . its nose and ears close underwater just like a hippo ' s do , but its head is rounder and narrower , its neck is proportionally longer , and its eyes are not on the top of its head .
for example , the african pygmy hippopotamus and the south american capybara are both semiaquatic residents of swampy tropical forest habitats . although they belong to entirely separate orders , they have converged upon comparable sizes . furthermore , they have done so from opposite ends of their normal size ranges—the african pygmy hippo…
of the two species of hippopotamus , only one , the pygmy hippopotamus ( choeropsis liberiensis ) is classified as endangered . a pygmy hippo looks much like the better - known common hippo , but smaller , with eyes on the side of a more rounded head . although little is known about this nocturnal species , a 1993 international union for conservation of nature study , the most recent of its kind , estimated between 2 , 000 and 3 , 000 individuals live in the west african countries of liberia , sierra leone , guinea and the ivory coast . conservation biologists consider a nigerian pygmy hippopotamus subspecies to be extinct .
a common or river hippo weighs about 10 times as much as a pygmy hippo .
and consumes a wide range a plants and plant material throughout the forest . the pygmy
mueller , jennifer .
how are endangered hippopotamus being protected in africa ?
animals - urltoken , http : / / animals . urltoken / endangered - hippopotamus - being - protected - africa - 7405 . html . accessed 09 july 2018 .
which can weigh up to 3kg each . due to the way that the skin of the hippopotamus is made up , the
the pygmy hippo is classified in the genus choeropsis that means , “resembling a hog” . it is thought that the malagasy pygmy hippopotamus , which is now among the three extinct species that inhabited madagascar , was a sister species to the pygmy hippo , deriving from the same ancestor . samuel g . morton once classified the pygmy hippo as hippopotamus minor , but studies showed that it was unique enough to hold its own genus , choeropsis . coryndon suggested that the pygmy hippo was a close relative of prehistoric hippos that were native to asia , called hexaprotodon . after coryndon made this assumption in 1977 , it was majorly accepted until 2005 , when boisserie claimed that it was too distinct from hexaprotodon , and so the pygmy hippo was re - classified into its genus choeropsis .
the pygmy hippopotamus ( choeropsis liberiensis ) is a herbivorous creature that exists predominantly in western africa ' s liberia , although to a much lesser degree in nearby nations such as nigeria , ivory coast , guinea and sierra leone . the moderate - sized animals are considered to be significantly more timid than their larger counterparts , the common hippopotamus .
mueller , jennifer . ( n . d . ) . how are endangered hippopotamus being protected in africa ? animals - urltoken . retrieved from http : / / animals . urltoken / endangered - hippopotamus - being - protected - africa - 7405 . html
because the pygmy hippo is smaller than the common hippopotamus , its bones are thinner , which give it a better level of gracefulness . the pygmy hippo’s spine differs from that of the hippopotamus , curving forward at a sloping angel , and it is thought that this aids its movement through dense vegetation . the pygmy hippo spends less time in the water than its larger relative , and so its nostrils and eye sockets are less adapted to keeping water out . the toes are also adapted for moving through forest vegetation , bearing toes that are more spread out and with less webbing than the toes of the common hippopotamus . despite these adaptations that aid on land , the pygmy hippo is the most aquatic of all even - toed ungulates .
the rare pygmy hippopotamus ( hexaprotodon liberiensis , also known as choeropsis liberiensis ) , the other living species of the family hippopotamidae , is about the size of a domestic pig . the pygmy hippo is less aquatic than its larger relative , although , when pursued , it hides in water . less gregarious , it…
. when startled , pygmy hippos flee a short distance into vegetation , where they hide .
oil pollution in estuaries by the sea further threaten pygmy hippo populations . ( oliver 1993 )
. despite its appearance , the hippopotamus is actually thought to be most closely related to whales as the two are thought to have had a common ancestor that existed roughly 54 million years ago . also known as the common hippopotamus , it is one of two hippo
the pygmy hippopotamus , choeropsis liberiensis is a shy inhabitant of the upper guinea forest ecosystem of liberia , sierra leone , guinea and côte d’ivoire . with only about 2000 - 3000 individuals remaining , the pygmy hippo is classified as endangered on the 2010 iucn red list , as well as being an evolutionarily distinct species .
a hippopotamus . photograph by william & marcia levy . the national audubon society collection / photo researchers , inc . reproduced by permission .
source / reference article learn how you can use or cite the hippopotamus article in your website content , school work and other projects .
comments : first described as hippopotamus minor morton , 1844 ( proc . acad . nat . sci . phila . , 2 : 14 )
the biggest threat to the pygmy hippopotamus ' continued survival is loss of habitat due to logging and deforestation to clear the way for agricultural development and human settlements . because of this , the species ' largest populations are found on protected nature preserves . a large population lives in the sapo national park in liberia , the country ' s only national preserve . the park ' s 509 square miles are the most effectively protected pygmy hippopotamus habitat according to the iucn . pygmy hippo populations also live in tai national park in the ivory coast and the gola forest reserve in sierra leone .
tire mogul harvey firestone , who owned a rubber plantation in liberia , gave president calvin coolidge a pygmy hippo named billy . billy is an ancestor of almost all pygmy hippos living in american zoos .
hippopotamus madagascariensis retains low orbits and a relatively short muzzle . stuenes ( 1989 ) used these features to propose a more terrestrial way of life for this species than in hippopotamus amphibius . similarly , stuenes ( 1989 ) indicated a cranio - mandibular morphology closer to that of choeropsis liberiensis , the extant pigmy hippo from western africa . she further noted that hippopotamus madagascariensis exhibited teeth generally more worn than in hippopotamus lemerlei . these characters both suggest a diet differing from that of the other madagascan dwarf hippopotamid . the ecology of hippopotamus madagascariensis may have been close to that of mediterranean extinct dwarf hippopotamids , but further investigation of this question is required , notably on postcranial anatomy , stable isotope enamel / bone contents , and dental wear .
, they have a number of adaptations that aid them when in the dense forest . although the pygmy
pygmy hippos are classified as endangered by the iucn and are on appendix ii of cites . threats to
the hippopotamus spends up to 18 hours a day in the water to keep cool but when darkness falls , they venture out onto land and follow well - trodden paths to their feeding grounds , before returning to the water in the morning . the hippopotamus is one of the largest and most feared
we soon began our first pit trap attempts to capture a pygmy hippopotamus . if the pit traps were successful in catching a pygmy hippopotamus , we would bring a wildlife veterinarian to sierra leone to help us anesthetize a hippo . when the hippo was asleep , we would place a radio collar to track the hippo’s movements through the forest . we were interested in learning more about hippo habitat to identify what pygmy hippos need to survive . using local hunter knowledge and maybe a little bit of “juju” , we dug several holes and covered them with rattan mats and debris . then it was time to wait .
the pygmy hippopotamus , hexaprotodon liberiensis , is a solitary and nocturnal species belonging to the hippopotamidae family . these semi - aquatic creatures are herbivores in nature , and are believed to be more timid and calm than their larger cousins . the pygmy hippopotamus is native to west africa , predominantly to liberia , however , some of them are also found in guinea , sierra leone , and ivory coast . interestingly , this creature was not known until the middle of the 19th century . in 1844 , dr . samuel morton of the academy of natural sciences , philadelphia described it scientifically for the first time , on the basis of the skulls that he had found when he was living in monrovia , the capital of liberia . he found that this species of hippopotamus was much smaller than the common hippopotamus , and so he named it as hippopotamus minor . however , in 1849 , with more research conducted on the species and its distinctive characteristics recognized , it was renamed as choeropsis liberiensis . more researches were carried out on the pygmy hippo , and in 1977 , it was found that it bore some striking similarities with the extinct species of the hexaprotodon , some fossils of which have been discovered . owing to this , it is now renamed as hexaprotodon liberiensis . we , at buzzle , have collected some facts about the pygmy hippopotamus .
and even rest in burrows in the vegetation on river banks . unlike its larger cousin though , the pygmy
gives birth to a single calf either in a den in the dense vegetation or in the water . pygmy
forests within the pygmy hippo’s historical range have been steadily logged , farmed and settled . human development activities have caused the retreat of pygmy hippo into diminishing parcels of forest , which are becoming increasingly fragmented and insular .
specific ecosystem roles of pygmy hippos are unknown but their herbivorous diet probably has an effect on plant populations .
lang , e . 1990 . pygmy hippoptamuses . pp . 58 - 64 in b grzimek , ed .
zsl london zoo ' s two pygmy hippos , thug and nicky , have a plush pad to enjoy .
deforestation is the main threat facing the pygmy hippopotamus ( 2 ) . hunting is also known to occur , but the extent of this has not been determined ( 2 ) . the subspecies c . l . heslopi in nigeria may already be extinct ( 2 ) .
pygmy hippos use scent marking with their feces to alert other hippos to their presence . like other mammals , they may use scent cues to advertise reproductive status as well . pygmy hippos are typically silent , but do make snorts , grunts , hisses , and squeaks occasionally . otherwise , little is known about how pygmy hippos communicate .
edinburgh zoo currently has two pygmy hippos : an adult male , called otto and an adult female called gloria .
pygmy hippos often spend time resting and feeding on land . their behavior in the wild is still largely unknown .
as of 2004 , 290 captive - born pygmy hippos in 135 zoos . ( hlavacek et al . 2005 )
solitary pygmy hippos in captivity may experience undue stress when pairs of females or male / female pairs housed together .
in 2007 zsl’s edge of existence programme recognised pygmy hippos as a priority for conservation . since then , zsl has been working in liberia and sierra leone , trying to work towards protecting what remains of the wild pygmy hippo population .
, but also from hunting . the hippopotamus has been hunted by people for both its meat and its teeth which are made of ivory . since the ban on trading
the pygmy hippopotamus , or pygmy hippo , was discovered only recently - in the mid 1800s . a shy and solitary animal , it lives in swamps and forests . it is smaller than the common hippo but not an exact copy . for its size the pygmy hippo has longer legs , a smaller head and narrower mouth . hiding in dense forests it eats leaves , herbs , fallen fruits and grasses . to reach higher branches it stands on its hind legs and leans on the tree with its front legs .
lang , e . m . , k . hentschel , and w . bulow . 1990 . pygmy hippopotamuses ( genus
pygmy hippo distribution . adapted from urltoken according to iucn fact sheet . click here or on map for detailed inset .
it was thought that both the pygmy hippopotamus and its larger relative , the common hippopotamus , were most closely related to hogs or pigs in the suidae family , or peccaries . due to research done in the past ten years , it is now commonly thought that hippos are more closely related to dolphins or whales . it is thought that hippos originated from africa , and although they moved through europe and asia , no native specimens have been found in the americas .
now that we knew the traps could successfully and safely capture a pygmy hippopotamus , my major professor , dr . john carroll and a wildlife veterinarian , dr . michele miller , flew to sierra leone to help me capture and radio - collar a pygmy hippopotamus . my advisor , dr . sonia hernandez , would coordinate everything from the united . i added 2 more field assistants ( alusine and lahai ) who could read and write to help . unfortunately we did not successfully capture a hippo during this time , although we had several near - captures ( the pygmy hippos fell halfway in but were able to escape ) . we hope to travel for another attempt later this year if we can raise the funds .
. the pygmy hippo is less aquatic than its larger relative , although , when pursued , it hides in water . less
of the hippopotamus , particularly of the young or sick individuals . it is because of this that females are thought to congregate in herds as larger numbers are more intimidating to hungry
the international union for conservation of nature ( iucn ) has included the pygmy hippopotamus in their list of endangered species . according to the iucn estimates , there are less than 3 , 000 pygmy hippos surviving in the wild today . loss of habitat , due to the shrinking of forests , is one of the major causes of concern with respect to the endangerment of these animals . moreover , they are hunted on a largely for bush meat , which is considered to be of a very superior quality . pygmy hippopotamus is also likely to fall prey to animals such as crocodiles , pythons , and leopards , which further dwindles their population . however , fortunately enough , their population has been increasing in captivity since the past few years .
, the hippopotamus only eats around 40kg of food a night as it uses very little energy whilst floating in the water for most of the day . in areas that are close to
to find food , they are seen as pests by farmers who not only fear for their livelihood , but also for their lives themselves . the hippopotamus is known to be an aggressive
the island sweepstakes why did pygmy elephants , dwarf deer , and large mice once populate the mediterranean ? by paul y . sondaar
including four webbed toes on each foot that help with swimming and walking on slippery banks , and the eyes , ears and nostrils of the hippopotamus are situated on the top of its head . this means that when the hippopotamus ' s body is immersed in the water , they are still able to see , hear and breath whilst keeping cool in the hot sun .
➦ the average age of maturity of a pygmy hippopotamus lies between three to five years . ➦ not much is known about their breeding behavior in the wild . however , a considerable number of studies have been conducted on the ones in captivity . ➦ in captivity , pygmy hippos mate as monogamous pairs , one to four times during an estrous period . also , they mate during any time of the year . ➦ the gestation period ranges anywhere between 190 to 210 days , and generally , a single calf is born . there have been some rare instances of twins as well . ➦ the pygmy hippopotamus can mate and give birth , both in water and on land , unlike their greater cousins , who mate only in water . ➦ the young pygmy hippos usually wean by the age of six to eight months , only after which they accompany their mother for foraging into the forest .
the pygmy hippopotamus resembles its large relative closely , with short legs and a stout body , however , this species is about half as small as its cousin is . the pygmy hippo reaches an average body length of 5 . 8 feet , a height of 2 . 6 feet at the shoulders , and an average weight between four hundred and six hundred pounds . its skin can be green - black in color , or brown , with a light creamy colored underbelly . like the large hippopotamus , the pygmy hippo secretes a pinkish colored substance , known as “blood - sweat” , although it is neither sweat nor blood . it is thought that this secretion holds a mixture of sun screening and antiseptic properties . this aids the hippos in keeping their dry skin moist .
thug and nicky will be joining up with the other animals in into africa . just like the giraffes , okapi , and warthogs , pygmy hippos hail from africa . in fact , pygmy hippos are very rare animals and can only be found in west africa .
and forages in the forest at night for a wide variety of plant matter and fallen fruits . like their larger cousin , the pygmy
pygmy hippos are distributed across west africa , more specifically , in sierra leone , guinea , côte d ' ivoire , and liberia .
some zoologists replace the genus hexaprotodon with choeropsis . more pig - like than its larger relative , the pygmy hippo ' s scientific status has been quite varied - when it was first described , many dismissed it as a stunted freak , a dwarf subspecies or a juvenile specimen of the common hippopotamus . after its initial description , when no more news of the pygmy hippo reached the west , many scientists wrote it off - whatever it was - as extinct . however , its true status - as a distinct and existent species - was proven by schomburgk in 1911 , when he captured five live specimens and brought them back to europe . the name hippopotamus is from hippos ( greek ) a horse , and potamos ( greek ) a river - although
river - pig
would be much more appropriate ! while this ungulate is large in comparison to most others , it gets its name ' pygmy ' from the fact that it is much smaller than the river hippopotamus . .
in captivity , the populations of pygmy hippos are increasing , causing the survival of the species in in zoos to be higher than the chances of wild pygmy hippos surviving . the number of births in zoos doubled between the years of 1970 and 1991 , but only nineteen percent of births in captivity since 1919 have been males . the zoo basel , located in switzerland , oversees the breeding of pygmy hippos around the world , holding the international studbook of breeding males . there are some wild populations that can be found in protected areas , and the species was listed as a “focal species” by the evolutionarily distinct and globally endangered ( edge ) project in 2007 . the pygmy hippopotamus appears on the iucn red list with a conservation status of “endangered” .
part i . discovery , history and capture . what is a pygmy hippopotamus ? the small details that define them / gabriella l . flacke ; hippos in popular culture and folklore / gabriella l . flacke ; looking for enigmas in the fores : a chronicle of travelers , trappers , and researchers / phillip t . robinson ; the use and abuse of hippos in nature : no peace treaty in sight / phillip t . robinson ; heslop ' s pygmy hippopotamus : the nigerian extinction / phillip t . robinson ; hans schomburgk : hunter , trapper , bush bicyclist / phillip t . robinson ; frans van den brink : the master hippo catcher / phillip t . robinson
at the san diego zoo , our pygmy hippos are fed a super high - fiber pellet , a bit of hay , and greens .
two hippo species are found in africa . the large hippo , found in east africa , occurs south of the sahara . the other , much smaller ( 440 to 605 pounds ) species of hippo is the pygmy hippopotamus . limited to very restricted ranges in west africa , it is a shy , solitary forest dweller and is now rare .
billy , a pygmy hippo , the common ancestor of most pygmy hippos in u . s . zoos , was presented to the u . s . president calvin coolidge by an american businessman in 1927 . it was then donated to the national zoo , washington , d . c .
that are becoming more and more isolated . although hippopotamus populations are considered stable in a number of countries in the south and the east of the continent , they are declining in many others and are particularly
the pygmy hippopotamus ( choeropsis liberiensis or hexaprotodon liberiensis ) , also known as the pygmy hippo , is native to western areas of africa . its range includes liberia , with smaller populations occurring in ivory coast , sierra leone , and guinea . it prefers a habitat in swamps and forests , where a body of water is available to keep its skin moisturized . it is a semi - aquatic creature , and can perform tasks such as breeding or giving birth in the water or on land .
has a long barrel - shaped body that is covered in slate - grey skin , which lightens towards the underside . the head of the pygmy
and along with its narrower mouth , makes it easier for them to run through the forest at speed . due to the fact that the pygmy
such as pythons , that are able easily ambush the unprotected young calf whilst its mother is out foraging . the biggest threat to the remaining pygmy
at taronga zoo we currently have two pygmy hippos , a male named fergus and a female named kambiri ( dob : 26 june 2010 ) .
want to know the key differences between pygmy hippos and their large cousins ? here are some ways to sort between your common hippos and pygmys .
it is estimated that there could be less that 2000 pygmy hippos left in the wild , with a nigerian subspecies already believed to be extinct . in the wild , pygmy hippos come under threat from hunting and habitat loss . many populations of hippos have become fragmented due to logging , mining , farming and other human activity . as pygmy hippos are forced to engage with local communities , they come under more and more danger from extinction .
part iii . biology and natural history . the flora and fauna of pygmy hippo country : meet the neighbors / gabriella l . flacke ; pygmy hippo feeding behavior and nutrition / knut m . hentschel ; the pygmy hippo hunters : our guides in the forest / phillip t . robinson ; common ground for hippos in west africa : their overlapping occurrence in nature / phillip t . robinson ; sly , shy or focused ? the origins of elusiveness / phillip t . robinson ; husbandry , health , and pathology of pygmy hippos : optimizing well - being in captivity / gabriella l . flacke .
zsl has pioneered in situ conservation of pygmy hippos in liberia since 2008 , in collaboration with fauna and flora international ( ffi ) and liberia’s forestry development authority ( fda ) . because the pygmy hippo is so poorly known , we have carried out surveys of where they exist and threats to their populations , using methods such as camera trapping . in 2008 zsl and our partners obtained the first photos of pygmy hippos in the country . in november 2010 , zsl held the first ‘international pygmy hippo conservation strategy planning workshop’ in liberia and produced a regional conservation strategy under the umbrella of the iucn ssc hippo specialist group . the strategy articulated the vision , goal , objectives and actions required for in situ conservation of pygmy hippos . also in 2010 zsl began working with a team from njala university in sierra leone to research and protect a population of pygmy hippos around loma mountain in northern sierra leone .
birth weight : common hippo 25 - 55 kg ( 55 - 121 lb ) ; pygmy hippos 5 . 73 kg ( 12 . 7 lb )
➦ the pygmy hippopotamus is found mainly in the forests and swamps of west africa . ➦ though the creature is adapted to terrestrial life in many ways , its semi - aquatic characteristics requires it to dwell in the vicinity of water bodies , to help moisten its skin and maintain proper level of its body temperature . owing to this , it makes its burrow close to a freshwater body . ➦ it is interesting to note that the range of habitat of the pygmy hippo , in spite of being so closely related to the common hippo , does not overlap with it . the common hippo is usually found in grasslands , whereas the pygmy hippo is an inhabitant of the forests .
the pygmy hippo ' s feet are less webbed and its toes more free than those of the hippo , and its legs are longer than its huge cousin ' s . the pygmy hippo ' s teeth are also different : it only has one pair of incisors , while the hippo has two or three .
hippos display tusk - like canines sharpened by wear against their upper teeth . to the front of a pygmy hippo jaw are a single pair of incisors .
origin of name and closest relatives : the name hippopotamus comes from the greek word meaning ‘river horse’ , although hippos are not related to horses . hippos are actually related to cetaceans i . e . whales , dolphins and porpoises
pygmy hippos are different than common hippos in more ways than just their much smaller physiques . the birthing practices are also very different between the two creatures . while common hippos welcome their young to the world in the winter , pygmy hippos do so on land . the youngsters are capable of swimming immediately after birth .
so far the response to our project has been excellent . residents are proud that their island is an important habitat for this rare animal , as demonstrated during the ambassador’s visit , and they believe this project will help advertise tourism and research on tiwai island . when people view pygmy hippos and other wildlife as more than protein or pests , they are more willing to help in conservation efforts . our hope is that one day the pygmy hippo can be seen as the diamond of sierra leone . as kenewa once said “we shall never again eat pygmy hippo meat . we have tasted pygmy hippo benefits , and they are sweeter . ”
the pygmy hippopotamus usually lives in swamp and river settings that are in the midst of thick and damp tropical lowland forests . these nocturnal hippos often like to stay in burrows closely surrounding rivers . since they are semi - aquatic , it ' s important for them to never be far from water . h20 is vital for these hippos as it both cools their bodies and hydrates their skin .
forages under the cover of night eating grasses , ferns , leaves , shrubs and fruits that have fallen onto the forest floor from the branches above . the pygmy
the pygmy hippo population is currently decreasing , being assessed as an endangered species by the iucn red list ( retrieved 23 . 02 . 16 from urltoken ) .
in the field , zsl carries out vital research into pygmy hippo ecology , distribution and behaviour . we also work with local communities and government wildlife authorities to protect them . alongside this , zsl london zoo and whipsnade zoo are part of a captive breeding program and in 2010 produced the iucn ssc regional pygmy hippo conservation strategy .
baby pygmy hippos weigh between 9 . 9–13 . 7 pounds at birth , and are able to swim almost immediately after birth . instead of following the mother out of the water , the baby pygmy hippo will remain hidden in the water for safety as she forages for food . the baby will nurse up to three times a day and is weaned at six to eight months of age . the average age at which the pygmy hippo reaches sexual maturity is between three and five years of age .
a 1993 population estimate suggested that only 2000 - 3000 pygmy hippo individuals still existed , and their numbers are likely to have declined since then . they are classified as endangered on the 2010 iucn red list of threatened species . a distinct pygmy hippo subspecies ( c . liberiensis heslopi ) that once existed in nigeria has most probably gone extinct . these declines result from habitat loss and hunting . the fragmentation and destruction of the pygmy hippo ' s forest habitat due to logging , mining , agrobusiness expansion and farming activities have brought pygmy hippos into closer contact with humans and as a result they are at much greater risk of being hunted and disturbed by human activities .
unlike the common hippopotamus , the pygmy hippo was not known outside of its range until the 19th century . in liberia , it was known as the water cow . early reports of this species described it as a wild hog . the first captured individual , from sierra leone , was taken to europe by a british colonial service member , but it did not live long after its arrival . it was not until 1911 that the pygmy hippo was successfully introduced into europe . some of these european individuals were shipped to germany and to the bronx zoo in new york after that .
unlike many animals , pygmy hippos breed easily in captivity , and international captive breeding programs for the species have been successful . as of 2004 , the most recent count , 303 pygmy hippos lived in captivity , 209 of which were captive - born . this represented more than twice the number of captive - born pygmy hippos since 1970 . many of these were born from parents who also had been bred in captivity . captive breeding faces challenges because much of pygmy hippo behavior in the wild is unknown , causing some to die in captivity . for example , although wild individuals live in solitude , coming together only to mate , many captives are kept in pairs , causing hostility .
inhabits areas of dense , lowland tropical forest and swampland , where it spends the majority of its time foraging for food and resting on land . despite the fact that pygmy
researchers can help generate more direct funds by providing employment for local residents , introducing capital directly into the local economy . in countries with few educational opportunities , any sharing of knowledge between researcher and resident is beneficial . field assistants often bring the scientific knowledge they learn during their employment to their families and friends . my field assistants became ambassadors for the pygmy hippopotamus , and helped to disseminate new findings to the communities .
zsl ' s edge of existence programme identified pygmy hippos as a priority for conservation in 2007 , and since then , zsl have worked to conserve them in liberia’s sapo national park and loma mountains in sierra leone . we carry out research to understand pygmy hippo ecology , distribution and behaviour and work with local communities and government wildlife authorities to protect them . zsl london zoo and whipsnade zoo also carry out captive breeding of these animals . zsl led the production of the iucn ssc regional pygmy hippo conservation strategy in 2010 .
as a result of habitat loss , the pygmy hippopotamus population is dropping and the species is considered to be endangered by the iucn red list of threatened species as of 2008 . some of the causes for the habitat loss and ruination are pollution in their water environments , poaching , logging and human development within the forests that serve as their homes . hunting is also associated with the drop in population . according to bristol zoo , there may be fewer than 2 , 000 free - roaming pygmy hippopotamuses remaining . however , captive reproduction efforts are in full swing , including one in the united kingdom .
when my peace corps tenure ended in 2007 , i returned to the university of georgia to obtain a doctorate in forest resources . at the end of my first year of classes , i received an email about an endangered , elusive creature - the pygmy hippopotamus . i was intrigued . there was a possibility for funding field research to study pygmy hippos on a river island in sierra leone . i searched the scientific literature , and did not find much information . with the help of my advisors , i wrote a proposal to conservation international , who agreed to fund me for my first field season .
dedication foreword - david . p . mallon , manchester metropolitan university preface - phillip . t . robinson authors ' introduction - the authors i . discovery , history and capture 1 . what is a pygmy hippopotamus - gabriella l . flacke 2 . hippos in popular culture and folklore - gabriella l . flacke 3 . looking for enigmas in the forest - phillip t . robinson 4 . the use and abuse of hippos in nature - phillip t . robinson 5 . heslop ' s pygmy hippopotamus - phillip t . robinson 6 . hans schomburgk - hunter , trapper , bush bicyclist - phillip t . robinson 7 . frans van den brink - master hippo catcher - phillip t . robinson ii . working in pygmy hippo country phillip t . robinson 8 . arriving in west africa 9 . just getting there is most of the journey 10 . wrestling the town chief in pygmy hippo country 11 . journeys without destinations 12 . going bush in sierra leone 13 . traveling hammocks and piggyback rides 14 . a six to six walk 15 . small planes 16 . navigating pygmy hippo country co - authors and contributors 17 . pygmy hippo research on tiwai island - april l . conway 18 . living the dream - gabriella l . flacke 19 . pygmy hippo research in the ivory coast - knut m . hentschel 20 . the hippo hotel of ivory coast - waldemar bülow iii . biology and natural history 21 . the flora and fauna of pygmy hippo country - gabriella l . flacke 22 . the feeding behavior of pygmy hippos in the wild - knut m . hentschel 23 . the pygmy hippo hunters - phillip t . robinson 24 . common ground for hippos in west africa - phillip t . robinson 25 . sly , shy or focused ? the origins of elusiveness - phillip t . robinson 26 . husbandry , health and pathology of pygmy hippos - gabriella l . flacke iv . conservation during wartime 27 . staying alive during the war - phillip t . robinson 28 the disruptions and setbacks of civil war - phillip t . robinson and henk dop 29 . the shortcut from master sergeant to president - phillip t . robinson v . conservation and the future 30 . a very sad story of greed - knut m . hentschel 31 . conservation genetics and fragmented populations - gabriela l . flacke and phillip t . robinson 32 . distribution and population estimates - gabriella l . flacke 33 . conservation planning and priorities - gabriella l . flacke afterword - the authors image credits index
formerly included in the genus hexaprotodon but a review of the taxonomy and phylogeny of the hippopotamids has restricted the definition of hexaprotodon to extinct indian and southeast asian hippos and revalidated choeropsis for the extant pygmy hippo ( boisserie 2005 ) . two subspecies are recognized . the nominate subspecies c . l . liberiensis occurs in côte d’ivoire , guinea , liberia and sierra leone . the subspecies c . l . heslopi ( heslop’s pygmy hippopotamus ) is known only from the niger delta , nigeria . it was considered a distinct subspecies by corbet ( 1969 ) and coryndon ( 1977 ) , based on variations in cranial anatomy .
that lasts for around eight months , the female hippopotamus gives birth to a single calf generally during the rainy season . although like many other activities ( including mating ) the hippopotamus often gives birth in the water , it is not actually that uncommon for their young to be born on land . the female protects her calf fiercely and it rides on her back to keep it safe . hippopotamus calves are fully weaned by the time they are 18 months old but tend to remain with their mother until they are fully grown , often not leaving her until they are 7 or 8 years old . although young males will become more independent and find their own patch of bank to patrol , females will join a herd of other females and young but despite this seemingly sociable
pygmy hippos ( hexaprotodon liberiensis ) are native to west africa , with the largest population in liberia . they live in dense forests near rivers and streams . they are good swimmers and have muscular valves that close their ears and nostrils when submerged . as the name suggests , the pygmy hippo is far smaller than the common hippopotamus ( hippopotamus amphibiou s ) , and are either solitary or live in small family units . they have large and extremely sharp teeth , which they use for protection . hippopotami have extremely high rates of water loss ( three to five times the rate in man ) which is due to their unique skin structure ; this explains why they must spend the day in water . pygmy hippos are herbivores . they uproot swamp plants which they bite with their lips and crush hard fruit with their teeth and strip leaves from shrubs and trees . they also eat leaves and grasses . after a gestation period of around 6 months , the female hippo will give birth to a single calf . for the first few weeks , the calf is hidden in bushes as it cannot walk very far . pygmy hippo calves do not instinctively know how to swim – their mother teaches them how to do this . mothers defend their calf aggressively and they stay together for at least two years . pygmy hippos are facing very serious threats in the wild . populations are declining rapidly due to habitat destruction caused by logging , farming and human settlement . pressures from wars in the hippos’ native range are another dire threat . sadly , pygmy hippos are also increasingly being threatened by bushmeat hunters .
there is much more to learn about the pygmy hippo ' s herbivorous diet . researchers believe that they most likely feed on leaves , roots , ferns , and fruits near rivers and streams . pygmy hippos search for food on the forest floor or in swamps but can stand on their hind legs to reach food higher up in trees if they need to .
tthe pygmy hippopotamus ( choeropsis liberiensis ) is a unique and endangered species endemic to the upper guinea forests of west africa . sierra leone , one of four countries home to these animals , recently ended a decade - long war that left the country devastated . the iucn / scc pigs , peccaries , and hippos specialist group has set forth several objectives , including identification of populations at risk , establishment of distributions and abundance estimates , and dissemination of information ( eltringham 1993 ) . the recent pygmy hippo conservation strategy workshop in monrovia , liberia , pulled together stakeholders from across the range states to accumulate current knowledge of the status of pygmy hippos , and identified current threats , mainly habitat degradation and poaching . in sierra leone , the forests are rapidly shrinking and bush meat is a common source of protein .
little is known about the behavior of pygmy hippos in the wild , but they are usually found by themselves or in pairs . with their cavernous mouth and formidable teeth and tusks , the hippos need only “yawn” at potential enemies to send them packing . other ways to stay safe include rearing , lunging , scooping water with the mouth , and head shaking . unlike their larger relative , pygmy hippos are shy and would prefer to flee rather than stay and fight . leopards seem to be the only natural predator able to successfully attack pygmy hippos .
follows well - trodden and marked paths between its feeding and resting grounds and can dart through these tunnels at a remarkable pace if it feels in danger . although pygmy hippopotamuses roam individual
is hunted for both its teeth and its meat , which despite not being closely related , is said to taste like pork . people however , have also had devastating affects on pygmy
of grasses are the main source of food for the hippopotamus that are found growing on plains relatively close to water . when they come onto land at night , hippo ' s may travel up to 5km during the night to get to their feeding grounds which they do by following paths that are marked with dung . oddly enough , the hippopotamus doesn ' t even use its large canines for eating at all but instead has strong lips that are used to clip the grasses and cheek teeth which then grind them up . despite its large