Pygmy Hippo

This is a distinct evolutionary species that is about one fifth the size of its cousin, the common Hippopotamus. It resides in low-lying, forested areas, never far from a source of water. It has less webbing between its feet and spends less time in the water than its relative, but it enjoys cooling off in the mud. It is dark brown on top and lighter underneath and has large glands in its skin that produce a glossy secretion, referred to as blood-sweat, that protects its skin from the sun. 

The Pygmy Hippo plays an essential role in the ecosystem and uses its feces to mark its presence. It is a solitary species and strictly herbivorous, feeding primarily on plants including grass, herbs, ferns and fruits. Eating on land and excreting in the water, it brings nutrients into the water that wouldn’t otherwise be there. It also creates and changes the landscape around it due to its sheer size, creating channels and paths which, in time, provide shelter for other species. This species’ main predator is the leopard.