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Jun 16, 2019 · Hippos are brilliantly adapted to living in water but they have had to make one major trade-off in order to enjoy their ecological niche – their skin is very sensitive to the sun. The smooth, hairless skin of the hippo is vulnerable to being burnt and dried out by the harsh African sun.
- What Is A Hippo?
- Appearance
- Life in The Water
- Aggression and Dominance
- Reproduction
- Threats to Survival
Hippopotamuses are large, semiaquatic mammals native to sub-Saharan Africa. Although their name comes from the Greek for “river horse”—because of the time they spend in the water—their closest living relatives are whales, dolphins, and pigs. They can’t swim, breathe underwater, or even float—but they have developed a tactic that lets them nap under...
Hippos are the world’s third-largest land mammals after elephants and white rhinos. Males can reach lengths of 10.8 to 16.5 feet, and weigh up to 9,920 pounds, while females weigh up to 3,000 pounds. These muscular animals have round torsos and pinkish brown bodies with two-inch-thick, waterproof skin, and short, stout legs. They might not look aer...
Hippos live in waterways such as rivers, lakes, and mangroves. Their skin may be thick but it is extremely sensitive and can easily burn or dry out in the fierce African sun. So, they spend most of their day in the water or mud to keep cool, wet, and protect their delicate skin. When basking on the shore, they secrete an oily red sweat-like substan...
These social animals live in groups called herds or pods, which typically include around 40 individuals or as many 200. They are highly territorial, and use dung middens—an area where they repeatedly poop—to mark their territory and communicatewith other hippos. Males will use their tail to flick their dung in all directions as a display of dominan...
Females reach sexual maturity around the age of 10. Gestation lasts eight months, and they give birth to one calf every two years. Hippos mate and give birth in the water. Weighing nearly a hundred pounds at birth, newborn hippos can hold their breath for 90 seconds. Once mother and calf have bonded, they join schoolsof other hippos for protection ...
The International Union for Conservation of Nature classifies hippos as vulnerable to extinction. Although the hippopotamus doesn’t have many predators, it is threatened by poaching for its meat, fat, and ivory teeth. Other threats include the loss of its habitat and human-hippo conflicts. Because the species is slow to reproduce, threats can signi...
- 2 min
- Rivers, lakes & mangrove swamps
- sub-Saharan Africa, Colombia
- 40-50 years
- 13-18 ft (4 to 5.5 m)
- Hippos are the deadliest large land animal on the planet. The Hippopotamus is one of the most dangerous animals in the world, killing an estimated 500 people a year in Africa.
- Hippos love the water! The hippopotamus is a semi-aquatic mammal. This means that even though they’re a mammal like humans, dogs, cats, and other similar species, they spend a majority of their life in the water.
- There’s only one wild herd famous outside of Africa… And it has its roots entangled with Pablo Escobar! During his time, Escobar ran a private zoo which featured hippopotamuses.
- The hippo is a victim of ivory poaching. When you think about poaching and ivory, you probably think about rhinos and elephants. However, the hippopotamus is also a victim of this crime, which is another reason aside from habitat loss that they’re endangered.
Feb 18, 2022 · Though hippos move easily through the water, they can't actually swim. According to the San Diego Zoo, these animals glide through the water by pushing themselves off other...
- Hippos are large semi-aquatic mammals, with a large barrel-shaped body, short legs, a short tail and an enormous head! They have greyish to muddy-brown skin, which fades to a pale pink colour underneath.
- They are considered the second largest land animal on Earth (first place goes to the elephant!). Males measure around 3.5m long and 1.5m tall, and can weigh up 3,200kg.
- To stay cool in the blistering African heat, hippos spend most of their day in rivers and lakes. Their eyes, nose and ears are located on the top of their head, which means they can see and breathe whilst submerged in the water.
- These magnificent mammals were once found throughout all sub-saharan Africa. Sadly, populations have declined due to habitat loss and hunting. Today, they are largely confined to protected areas in East African countries.
Hippos frequently wallow in the water as a means of thermoregulation and as a form of social interaction. The water helps to cool their bodies and protect their skin from the sun’s harsh rays. Wallowing also provides an opportunity for hippos to bond and communicate with other members of their group.
Oct 8, 2024 · The ears and nostrils can be folded shut to keep out water. The body is so dense that hippos can walk underwater, where they can hold their breath for five minutes. Although often seen basking in the sun, hippos lose water rapidly through the skin and become dehydrated without periodic dips.
