Hippopotamus

Hippopotamus

In a continent that boasts predators as fearsome as cobras and lions, it may be surprising to learn that the hippo is also one of Africa`s deadliest animals. They are one of the largest African mammals. Adult males can reach up to 5m (16ft) long and weight up to 4,500 kg. Hippos have very short tempers, especially if they are protecting young hippos. An apparently docile hippo can suddenly turn into a lethal killing machine. These animals have two large, razor-sharp teeth on the lower jaw. These can reach up to 30 cm (12in) in length above the gum line. They spend most of the day wallowing in rivers and lakes. Unlike many other mammals, they cannot sweat, so life in the water keeps the hippos cool in the heat of the African savannas. Glands in the hippo`s skin secrete a thick fluid that acts as a natural sunscreen, protecting the skin from the strong sunlight. At night, hippos emerge from the water to feed. Typically, a hippo wanders more than 5 km, as it grazes on grasses and other plant material. Adults consume around 40 kg of plant matter on these nocturnal feeding expeditions.

Hippos are excellent swimmers and can dive for up to five minutes at a time. Webbing on the feet aids the swimming and helps to spread the weight of the hippo as it walks along the soft riverbed. The position of the eyes, nostrils and ears on the top of the head is another adaptation to the hippo`s aquatic lifestyle. It means the hippo can breathe and stay alert for danger while it is almost completely submerged in the water. The hippo can also close the ears and nostrils during a dive. Female hippos live in herds of up to 20 individuals. Females occupy a home range within the territory of one dominant male. The male marks his territory with huge piles of dung. A dominant male will tolerate others males in his territory, but confrontation occur if another male attempted to mate with a female.

Unlike the abundant hippo, the pygmy hippo is listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), one of the main threats is loss of habitat through forest clearance. Hunters also kill pygmy hippos for the bush-meat trade.

Reference

1. Britannica Reference Encyclopaedia

2. Knowledge Encyclopedia Animal!: The Animal Kingdom as you've Never Seen it Before

3. Images are taken from Zoo-Que and Google.

4. In Defense of Plants: An Exploration Into the Wonder of Plants

5. A Naturalist’s Guide to the Birds of India

6. Earth: A Sustainable Planet

Also See

• Migration & Navigation of Birds

• Archaeopteryx – The First Bird`s Fossil

• Parrots

• Bats