Terrestrial Hippo

Pygmy hippos are semi-aquatic species, living in rainforests because of their terrestrial adaptations but need for water. Hippos spend their day near river banks, sleeping, then wake at night to feed. They’re herbivores, eating plants with higher sodium contents to satisfy their need for salt. Where these hippos are only predators to plants, they can easily scare off other animals by “yawning”. Due to climate change, the pygmy hippo has been forced to adapt to the savannah. Savannahs are much drier than rainforests; water rarely found. The terrestrial hippos now have fully terrestrial adaptations, and have grown a thick black skin that protects them from the sun and soaks up water. In savannahs, only dry grasses thrive, so the hippos group up and hunt animals for the salt they are unable to get from their plants. These animals have been forced to change thanks to the shift in their environment.