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Do you know that the name Hippopotamus actually means "river horse"? Some ancient civilization who perhaps did not appreciate the beauty of the Hippo, simply decided it look like a horse and since it likes to "float" around rivers ... let's call it a "river horse", how nice. A Hippo, having such a big mouth (opens up to 4 feet wide), you might expect it to be a meat eater, especially with it's huge teeth. But be surprised, Hippos are plant eaters ... yes, vegetarians. A relative of camels, whales, and deer, the hippo has two lives in one, well sort of depending on the way you look at it. |
Hippos spent most of the day in water ... sort of like a pool-party we're so familiar with. Up to hundreds of Hippos will gather in a single location, wobbling and squashing around. Whether they're playing, fighting, mating or whatever events they're up to, they do it in water. They just love water ...
But, during the night, just after sunset, they will, all in a group, leave the water pool/river behind and lay around looking at the moon. From this kind of daily pattern, you can somewhat conclude that Hippo's do not like the heat of the sun.
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Hippos make a of variety grunts, growls, screams and other sounds underwater to communicate with each other.
Hippos have huge mouths and teeth, even though they eat grass ...hum! Mother Nature always puzzles me.
So many hippos may use the same path out of the water at dusk that it will become worn five or six feet deep ... talking about "follow the leader".
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A Hippo can grow up to 11 feet with a shoulder height of 4.5 to 5 feet; weight of male 3,500 to 7,000 pounds, of female 3,000 pounds. They are able to remain fully submerged for as much as 30 minutes but normally remain below for 3 to 5 minutes. |
Hippo @ birth
 Come to think of it, Hippo's are not that unfriendly. Even a turtle can get along with them. |
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CLASS: MAMMAL
ORDER: ARTIODACTYLA
FAMILY: HIPPOPOTAMIDAE
GENUS & SPECIES: Hippopotamus amphibius
CLASSIFICATION: Family consists of 2 genera with one species in each. The other genus, Choeropsis liberiensis, is the pygmy hippo.
RANGE:
Historical: Widely distributed over large parts of Africa and Palestine.
Current: National parks of western Uganda and the eastern Congo. Around rivers and lakes, preferably near grasses.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION:
Length: 10.8 to 11.3 ft.
Height: 4.6 ft.
Weight: Male - 3,500 to over 7,000 lbs.; Female - over 3,000 lbs.
Coloration: Upper part of body is gray-brown to blue-black; lower part is pinkish; albinos are bright pink.
DIET: Zoo: Cubed hay, horse pellets, steer food supplement
Wild: Mainly grasses and reeds; also eat aquatic plants and other vegetation; nocturnal feeders.
BEHAVIOR: Hippos are gregarious and gather in herds with an average group size of 10-15 animals. Some males are solitary and territorial. Excrement is used for territorial marking, and flung with the tail. Other males maintain territories containing nursery groups of females and young. At mating time, bulls engage in fights which can be fatal. The primary weapons are the huge lower canine teeth.
They can be found asleep in the sun or resting in water during daytime, and usually go ashore at night to feed. Hippos are sedentary, and do not migrate.
ADAPTATIONS: Prefers walking along the river bottom rather than swimming. Protruding eyes, ears, and slit-like nostrils are located on top of the head to allow the hippo to see, hear, and breathe while almost completely submerged. Valve-like nostrils close during a dive. Skin pores secrete a thick, oily, reddish pigment which protects the skin from sunburn and extended periods in the water. This secretion may also have a protective function against infection.
BREEDING & GROWTH:
Gestation period: 7-8 months
Sexual maturity: male - 7 yrs.; female - 9 years
Longevity: Average life span in the wild is 45 years.
Mating takes place in water, probably due to more favorable weight conditions. Birth and nursing may also take place in the water. One, rarely two, precocial calves born. Weight at birth, 100 lbs. Mother may carry calf on her back in the water. Duration of lactation, 8 months.
Young hippos are susceptible to predation by lions, leopards, hyenas, and wild dogs. Adults are comparatively safe from predators.
STATUS: Endangered
GENERAL INFORMATION: The incisors and canines are tusk-like and are continuously growing. Are amblers - legs on same side of the body move together. The hippo has a complex, three-chambered, non-ruminating stomach, well developed sense of sight, hearing and smell.
