| Malagasy hippopotamus | |
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| Scientific classification |
Malagasy hippopotamus (also known as Malagasy dwarf hippopotamus or Malagasy pygmy hippopotamus) is an extinct species of hippopotamus that lived on the island of Madagascar. The animals were very similar to the extant hippopotamus and pygmy hippopotamus. The fossil record suggests that at least one species of the dwarf hippo lived until about 1,000 years ago and other evidence suggests that the species may have survived until much more recently. A non-fossilized skull and tusk were found in Madagascar in 2019 by biologist Forrest Galante, were dated to less than 200 years old, possibly even surviving into the present day.
Discovery and taxonomy[]
There are no footage or pictures of the Dwarf Hippo exist. It was recorded in the mid-1800s by a French explorer who unearthed nearly 50 hippo fossils from a dried-up swamp near the Mozambique Channel. The fossil data suggests they were alive 1,000 years ago and many showed signs of being butchered.
They were the only species of hippos that ever lived in Madagascar.
Description[]
The Malagasy dwarf hippopotamus is been known to be usual for loosely resembles it's African cousin and while the African Hippo stands 6 feet tall and can be as long as 16 feet long while the Dwarf Hippo were nearly 2 1/2 feet long and less than 6 feet long. Their small size is the result of insular dwarfism, which is when a species evolves to a smaller size to accommodate a smaller environment, like an island and limited food supply.
Species[]
Diet[]
Oral legends and the kilopilopitsofy[]
Gallery[]
