Rare Baby Pygmy Hippo Stars in Zoo Photoshoot

Pygmy hippos (Choeropsis liberiensis) are one of two living hippo species to still exist in the world, the other being the common hippo (Hippopotamus amphibius).

As their name suggests, pygmy hippos are relatively much smaller than their well-known cousins. An adult common hippo usually weighs at least 3,000 pounds, with males reaching up to 9,000 pounds; they’re also 10 to 16 feet long, and about 5 feet tall at the shoulders. Adult pygmy hippos are about as half as long and tall and weigh a still-hefty 400 to 600 pounds. There are more subtle differences between the two species, such as pygmy hippos having separated toes with sharp nails, compared to the webbed toes of common hippos.