Pygmy goat
Capra aegagrus hircus
![Pygmy goats Two pygmy goats in the Hellabrunn Zoo both eat from a large pile of vegetables.](/fileadmin/_processed_/f/e/csm_zwergziege-tierpark-hellabrunn-afrika-tierlexikon_d85ddf5d5f.jpg)
- FamilyBovids (Bovidae)
- Weight18 – 25 kg
- HabitatWet savannahs and forests
Colourful animal
Pygmy goats come in a wide variety of colours and coat patterns. They range from pure white to brown-black pied, or any pattern combination of these colours. Both the male and female have horns, which are small and sickle-shaped.
![West African Dwarf Goat One dwarf goat kitten.](/fileadmin/_processed_/e/e/csm_westafrikanische-zwergziege-tierpark-hellabrunn-tierlexikon-europa-istock_07cfd38bc1.png)
Little master of survival
The pygmy goat is the smallest breed of goat in the world. The growth of cartilage in the body is inhibited by a genetic change in the goat, which limits bone development. The resulting dwarfism gives the pygmy goat a robust appearance and allows the hardy animal to thrive even in rugged terrain with little vegetation.
Pygmy goats give birth to their first offspring before they are one-year-old. Additionally, they give birth to twins, sometimes even triplets.
Distribution
![Distribution](/fileadmin/_processed_/5/c/csm_tph-verbreitungskarten-afrika-zwergziege-eng-2022_0057aba321.png)