pygmy hippopotamus
Refers to the species Choeropsis liberiensis, a small hippopotamus native to West Africa.
The pygmy hippopotamus is much smaller than the common hippopotamus.
カバ is the common hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius), while コビトカバ is a distinct, much smaller species.
Hiragana spelling, also common.
Rarely used kanji form.
Compound of 小人 (kobito, 'dwarf') and 河馬 (kaba, 'hippopotamus'), literally 'dwarf hippopotamus'.