Hippopotamus is a large herbivorous animal with a short tail, stumpy legs, an extremely large mouth, and a barrel-shaped body.
Hippopotamus (or ‘hippo’) is an exotic animal species found in various Zoological Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries all over the world. It belongs to the Sub-Saharan continent of Africa. Did you know it is the third-largest African animal after the Elephant and the Rhinoceros? Or it weighs up to 3,200 kg (or 7,000 lb)?
There are certain hippo facts that will leave you amazed. This article lists some interesting hippo facts you would love to know. Let’s have a look.
#1: Hippos love to hang with other hippos.
Hippos usually live in groups of 10 to 20 (or even more!). Often termed as ‘herd’ or ‘pod’, the group consists of a dominant male (the biggest and the strongest in the group), other adult males, adult females, and their young ones. A male hippo is called a ‘bull’, a female hippo is called a ‘cow’ and a baby hippo is called a ‘calf’.
#2: Hippos look quite and gentle, but they are agile and fierce.
Hippos are highly territorial. They spin their tail while pooping to spread their dung and mark their territory. They become extremely vigorous and can kill rival hippos, crocodiles and even humans when it comes to defending their territory (herd).
Did You Know?
Hippos are among the most dangerous animals on Earth.
#3: Hippos (technically) don’t swim, they bounce.
Hippos are semiaquatic animals who spend most of their daytime in rivers and lakes to stay cool. Their eyes, ears, and nostrils are located high on top of their head so that they could see, hear, and breath while keeping their bodies partially submerged in water. They come out of water during the late evening hours or night to feed in the nearby grassland. Because of their enormous body, they actually cannot swim. They bounce off water using their feet to reach the destination.
#4: Hippos are often referred as ‘River Horse’.
The word ‘Hippopotamus’ is a Latin word derived from the ancient Greek ιπποπόταμος (hippopotamos) translating to ‘River Horse’ (‘hippo’ means horse and ‘potamos’ means river). Also, the way they bounce off water using their feet and use their buoyant bodies to move further make them look like a horse travelling in the river.
#5: Hippos make their own sunblock.
Hippos can stand all day long in hot sun. They secrete a red oil-like substance that protects their skin from sunburn and drying out. The red-colored secretion in hippos is often termed as ‘blood sweat’; but it is neither blood nor sweat.
#6: Pygmy Hippos are just 1/5th the size of Common Hippos.
Hippopotamus belongs to the family Hippopotamidae. There had been many species of the family millions of years ago; though not all of them were able to survive. At present, there are only two surviving species, namely Common Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus Amphibious) and Pygmy Hippopotamus (Choeropsis Liberiensis). Pygmy hippo is native to the forests of West Africa and is often considered a mini version of the common hippo. However, there are differences between both of them. A common hippo is sociable and lives in herd while a pygmy hippo is solitary. Unlike common hippo, a pygmy hippo spends more time in marshy forests and is hard to spot.
Did You Know?
Hexaprotodon Sivalensis, an extinct species of hippopotamus is believed to live much in India around 700,000 years BP.
#7: Hippos are on the edge of extinction.
Hippo’s tusk-like canines and incisors are made up of ivory and don’t turn yellow with time. They are even more valuable than tusk of an elephant. Due to its unregulated and extensive hunting for meat and its ivory canine teeth, Hippopotamus has been identified as vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN).
Final Take:
Despite of being vegetarian, Hippos are considered one of the most dangerous animals on Earth. In general, they do not consider humans as prey and only turn violent in order to defend their territory. If you ever encounter a hippo, back off, give him space, and do not cross his territory or try to get close to his young ones. Remember, they may look bulky but can easily outrun humans if required.
Hope you’ve found these hippo facts interesting. Do leave your thoughts in comments.
