The African Pygmy Goat (Capra aegagrus hircus) is a miniature domestic ungulate (hoofed) mammal. 

The African Pygmy Goat has caramel, white, grey, black, or patterned fur. It has brown eyes. Both the male and the female have beards and horns. 

It grows to 41-58 centimetres (16-23 inches) at shoulder height.

The African Pygmy Goat is native to central and west African countries, particularly in Cameroon. It is adaptable to most climates and habitats. 

It is a sure-footed climber. It has inner pads and cloven (split) hooves that spread apart, enabling it to stick to rocky slopes and cliffs. 

It is an herbivorous grazer, eating mainly grass. It also eats ferns, sedges, mosses, lichens, leaves, and twigs. 

The male is called a billy and the female is called a nanny or doe. The female is pregnant for about 150 days, before giving birth to 1-4 young, called kids. 

Kids are born precocial, meaning that they have hair and the can run and climb soon after birth. Kids feed on their mothers’ milk for the first 70 days. 

The average lifespan of the African Pygmy Goat is 8-18 years. 

[Location of photographs; Paris Zoo, France]

Photographer: Martina Nicolls

Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM