Malagasy Hippopotamus: Discovery, Habitat, and Extinction

The Malagasy hippopotamus is an extinct species that once roamed the island of Madagascar. It's hard to believe that this massive creature is now gone.

The Malagasy hippopotamus was first discovered in the 19th century. Its discovery sparked great interest among scientists and the public alike.

This massive creature was a type of hippopotamus that was found only in Madagascar.

A unique perspective: What Is Birds in Madagascar Prey

The Malagasy hippopotamus was first described in the mid-19th century by Alfred Grandidier, who unearthed nearly 50 individual hippos from a dried-up swamp at 'Ambolisatra' (thought to be Ambolisaka, near Lake Ihotry).

Researchers initially identified four different species of hippopotamus, but subsequent studies revealed that there were only two species, which were classified as Hippopotamus lemerlei and Hippopotamus madagascariensis.

A careful revision of the fossil record by Solweig Stuenes concluded that these two species were indeed the only ones that existed, but more research was needed to confirm this.

Discover more: Hippopotamus in Colombia

Taxonomists have debated the classification of the modern pygmy hippopotamus, with some placing it in the genus Hexaprotodon and others in the genus Choeropsis.

The fossil record of the Malagasy hippopotamus is extensive, with at least seven hippopotamus bones showing unequivocal signs of butchery.

The evidence suggests that the hippos survived until humans arrived on Madagascar, and it's likely that human activity led to their extinction.

The discovery of many fossils has been overshadowed by the more exotic megafauna of Madagascar, such as the giant lemurs and the elephant birds.

Here are the two species of Malagasy hippopotamus that have been identified:

Hippopotamus laloumena was a distinct species that was identified in 1990 by Faure and Guerin, and it's considered to be the oldest of the Malagasy hippopotamus species to range in the Pleistocene epoch.

It's worth noting that the species was identified with only a lower jaw and limb bones, recovered from a site near Mananjary on the east coast of Madagascar, which makes it a bit more challenging to learn about.

See what others are reading: Hippopotamus Problem in Colombia

The Malagasy pygmy hippopotamus was a unique species that lived in the forested highlands of Madagascar. It had eyes on the side of its head, rather than high orbits like the common hippopotamus.

This species was less aquatic than the common hippopotamus, and many of its fossils were found in the highlands of Madagascar. Its fossils show a cursorial adaptation, meaning it was a better runner than the hippos found on the African continent.

The Malagasy pygmy hippopotamus is classified along with the modern Liberian pygmy hippopotamus, but researchers sometimes place the Liberian hippo in two different genera.

Additional reading: Common Snapping Turtle Growth Rate

The Malagasy pygmy hippopotamus, also known as Hippopotamus madagascariensis, is a fascinating species that was once thought to be closely related to the common hippopotamus.

It had eyes on the side of its head, rather than high orbits like the common hippopotamus, and its teeth were similar to those of the modern pygmy hippopotamus.

Expand your knowledge: Common Snapping Turtle Predators

The Malagasy pygmy hippo was less aquatic than its African counterparts, with many of its fossils found in the forested highlands of Madagascar.

This species had a cursorial adaptation, meaning it was well-suited for running, unlike the hippos on the African continent.

The Malagasy pygmy hippopotamus is classified along with the modern Liberian pygmy hippopotamus, but its exact classification is still a topic of debate among researchers.

A fresh viewpoint: Malagasy Giant Chameleon

Madagascar's hippos were forest dwellers. They lived in the forested highlands of Madagascar, a far cry from the open grasslands preferred by common hippos on mainland Africa.

These ancient hippos were not grazers, but rather browsers, feeding on sedges and leaves. They had eyes on the side of their head, similar to the modern pygmy hippopotamus, and were less aquatic than their mainland counterparts.

Researchers studied the isotopic analysis of stable carbon and nitrogen found in the bones of extinct Malagasy dwarf hippos. This analysis revealed that these hippos did not regularly graze on grass in dry, open habitats.

Related reading: Mainland Clouded Leopard

Their diet consisted mainly of sedges and leaves, with grass representing only a small part of their diet. This suggests that hippos likely had little influence on maintaining or expanding grasslands on the island.

The Malagasy pygmy hippopotamus is classified along with the modern Liberian pygmy hippopotamus. However, researchers sometimes place the Liberian hippo in two different genera.

Here's a summary of the differences between the Malagasy pygmy hippopotamus and the common hippopotamus:

The Malagasy hippopotamus was surprisingly common in Malagasy oral legends, with different regions of Madagascar recording stories of animals resembling hippopotamuses.

These oral traditions were so strong that the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classified H. madagascarensis as recently extinct, meaning it went extinct some time after the year 1500.

At least seven hippopotamus bones show unequivocal signs of butchery, suggesting that they survived until humans arrived on Madagascar.

Humans and hippos may have coexisted for about 2,000 years, which is a long time for two species to live together.

It's possible that overhunting by humans led to the extinction of the Malagasy hippopotamus.

Discover more: Hawaii Extinct Birds