[117], "Hippo" redirects here. They also feature in the songs "The Hippopotamus" and "Hippo Encore" by Flanders and Swann, with the famous refrain "Mud, Mud, Glorious Mud". Despite their cranky dispositions, hippos tend to live in large groups. They emerge at dusk to graze on grasses. They are threatened by habitat loss and poaching for their meat and ivory canine teeth. [15] The common ancestor of hippos and whales branched off from Ruminantia and the rest of the even-toed ungulates; the cetacean and hippo lineages split soon afterwards. There are other reports of meat-eating, and even cannibalism and predation. By contrast, its subcutaneous fat layer is thin. ", "En 10 años Colombia tendrá 150 hipopótamos", "Drug lord's hippos make their mark on foreign ecosystem", "The Crazy, Ingenious Plan to Bring Hippopotamus Ranching to America", "Lake Bacon: The Story of The Man Who Wanted Us to Eat Mississippi Hippos", "The hunger game meat: How hippos early invaded American cuisine", "BBC Nature — Dung eater videos, news and facts", "Reports of carnivory by the common hippo Hippopotamus Amphibius", "Carbon stable isotopes suggest that hippopotamus-vectored nutrients subsidize aquatic consumers in an East African river", "Organic matter loading by hippopotami causes subsidy overload resulting in downstream hypoxia and fish kills", https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/05/hippos-poop-so-much-that-sometimes-all-the-fish-die/560486/, "A PCR-based method for sex identification in Hippopotamus amphibius", National Geographic exhibit on different animals and their poop, "Infanticide in the hippopotamus: evidence for polygynous ungulates", "Low-frequency sounds and amphibious communication in Hippopotamus amphibious", "Massive hippo charges safari boat in Malawi, Africa", "Hippopotamus attack kills 13 people, including 12 children, in boat near Niger's capital Niamey", "The spatial and agricultural basis of crop raiding by the Vulnerable common hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibius around Ruaha National Park, Tanzania", "Fred Kroll, of Trouble and Hungry Hungry Hippos games, dead at 82", "Hippo Specialist Group of the World Conservation Union", "11 Things You May Not Know About Ancient Egypt: King Tut may have been killed by a hippopotamus", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hippopotamus&oldid=993575633, Articles containing Ancient Greek (to 1453)-language text, Wikipedia indefinitely semi-protected pages, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Hippos are dangerous creatures and are the animals responsible for more human deaths than other animals, even crocodiles. They also have an impressive bite force with really large teeth. Set's consort Tawaret was also seen as part hippo[104] and was a goddess of protection in pregnancy and childbirth, because ancient Egyptians recognised the protective nature of a female hippo toward her young. [8]:49 Hippos are territorial only in water, where a male presides over a small stretch of river, on average 250 m (270 yd) in length, and containing 10 females. For mothers and their young, these “schools,” as they’re called, offer some safety from predators that may attack the calves. A wild male hippo was caught, castrated and released again, but it cost about US$50,000. [8]:3 They can be found in both savannah and forest areas. They spend four to five hours grazing and can consume 68 kg (150 lb) of grass each night. When hippos emerge from the water to graze, they do so individually. [86] Hippos will also express threat and alarm with exhalations. During the day, they remain cool by staying in the water or mud; reproduction and childbirth both occur in water. Of these, the Cyprus dwarf hippo survived until the end of the Pleistocene or early Holocene. Animals Save Other Animals SunTV 2:29 Crocodile vs Hippo Wild Animals Fighting, Hippo, Rhino, Crocodile . A hippo closes its nostrils when it submerges into the water. 39 interesting facts about hippos. The young often rest on their mothers' backs when the water is too deep for them, and they swim under water to suckle. Looking at these hippos in action leaves you in no doubt that these animals are fierce. [1] Proper habitat requires enough water to submerge in and grass nearby. Like the hippo spectator seen here, humans are also entertained by the regular matches – as long as they don’t get too close. Young males can live in the herds providing they pose no threat to the main bull. On occasion, young hippos get caught in the middle of violent clashes between adults and can be bitten or crushed, even by their own parent. [34]:260 The skin is 6 cm (2 in) thick,[31] providing it great protection against conspecifics and predators. The name comes from the ancient Greek for "river horse" (ἱπποπόταμος). [56][57] In 2009, two adults and one calf left their herd and, after attacking humans and killing cattle, one of the adults (called "Pepe") was killed by hunters under authorisation of the local authorities. Fights between rivals are a common occurrence in the Serengeti, a terrain that – even during waterless periods – is home to pools big enough for hippos to congregate in. [9] Hippos are also subject to unregulated hunting and poaching. While hippos rest near each other in the water, grazing is a solitary activity and hippos are not territorial on land. Those pointy teeth sticking out like giant thorns from the hippos’ mouths are not what we’re accustomed to seeing on animals that eat vegetation. Researchers have taken on the terrifying task of trying to measure the bite of an adult male hippo but failed because of the creature’s ferocity. Huge collection, amazing choice, 100+ million high quality, affordable RF and RM images. [34]:259, 263 The hippo is considered to be a pseudoruminant; it has a complex three-chambered stomach but does not "chew cud". (1,400 kilograms), while males weigh 3,500 to 9,920 lbs. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. Hippos have the unique ability to hold their heads partially above the water and send out a cry that travels through both water and air; individuals respond above and under water. Bachelors lounge near other bachelors, females with other females, and the male on his own. Calves in nurseries engage in playfights. The third hippo still watches, but obviously it isn’t going to get involved in this bout. Male hippos may be found in very small numbers in rapid waters in rocky gorges. They even inspired a popular board game, Hungry Hungry Hippos. Two distinct pigments have been identified in the secretions, one red (hipposudoric acid) and one orange (norhipposudoric acid). The Rhino has inadequate space to sprint and hammer the Hippo, his choice is to wipe his paws. Pliny the Elder writes that, in his time, the best location in Egypt for capturing this animal was in the Saite nome;[48] the animal could still be found along the Damietta branch after the Arab Conquest in 639. [34]:273[8]:118 However, due to their aggression and size, adult hippos are not usually preyed upon by other animals. Cases where large lion prides have successfully preyed on adult hippos have been reported; however, this predation is generally rare. Rose, M. (2010). [20], Three species of hippopotamus, the European hippopotamus (Hippopotamus antiquus), Hippopotamus major and Hippopotamus gorgops, ranged throughout continental Europe and the British Isles. Scribol has built a large and loyal audience that now numbers 20MM visitors per month, making it [12], One branch would evolve into cetaceans, possibly beginning about 52 million years ago, with the protowhale Pakicetus and other early whale ancestors collectively known as Archaeoceti, which eventually underwent aquatic adaptation into the completely aquatic cetaceans. Evidence from an archaeological site, Aetokremnos, continues to cause debate on whether or not the species was encountered, and was driven to extinction, by man. Hippos are known to be very aggressive towards both of these types of animals. It looks like neither is willing to back down from this confrontation just yet. [35] The bite force of an adult female hippo has been measured as 8,100 newtons (1,800 lbf). [1], The hippo population declined most dramatically in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. [92] Zulu warriors preferred to be as brave as a hippo, since even lions were not considered to match its courage. In a Ndebele tale, the hippo originally had long, beautiful hair, but was set on fire by a jealous hare and had to jump into a nearby pool. In the case of hippos, they usually had a pool of water and patch of grass. The two pigments are highly acidic compounds. [76] The hippos spend up to 16 hours a day in water as a way to stay cool. [85] Incidents of hippo cannibalism have been documented, but this is believed to be the behaviour of distressed or sick hippos. Hippos are one of the big five animals. [108], Hippos have been the subjects of various African folktales. While depositing the faeces, hippos spin their tails to distribute their excrement over a greater area. Hippos are graceful in water, good swimmers, and can hold their breath underwater for up to five minutes. [36] Hippo teeth sharpen themselves as they grind together. [68] A 2015 study concluded that hippo dung provides nutrients from terrestrial material for fish and aquatic invertebrates,[71] while a 2018 study found that their dung can be toxic to aquatic life in large quantities, due to absorption of dissolved oxygen in water bodies. This angle shows us just how bulky those hippo bodies are. In one 2014 case in Niger, a boat was capsized by a hippo and 13 people were killed. It is rarely found in deep water; when it is, the animal moves by porpoise-like leaps from the bottom. The hippopotamus (/ˌhɪpəˈpɒtəməs/ HIP-ə-POT-ə-məs;[3] Hippopotamus amphibius), also called the hippo, common hippopotamus or river hippopotamus, is a large, mostly herbivorous, semiaquatic mammal and ungulate native to sub-Saharan Africa. Hippos rely on their broad horny lips to grasp and pull grasses which are then ground by the molars. [16] The other branch became the anthracotheres, a large family of four-legged beasts, the earliest of which in the late Eocene would have resembled skinny hippos with comparatively small and narrow heads. Hence Hippo may win the fight! Copyright © 2019 Pub Ocean – All Rights Reserved. We’d be trying to get some distance from that nasty-looking maw as well. Hippopotamidae are sometimes known as hippopotamids. They grow to between 10.8 and 16.5 feet (3.3 to 5 meters) long and up to 5.2 feet (1.6 m) tall at the shoulder. What’s more, they don’t much care what their opponent is – be it another hippo, a lion or a human being. [57], When a photo of the dead hippo became public, it caused considerable controversy among animal rights groups both within the country and abroad, and further plans of culling ceased. A hippo can open its mouth nearly 180 degrees, and when it closes it again you wouldn’t want to have any part of your body inside it. Male hippos appear to continue growing throughout their lives while females reach maximum weight at around age 25. The territories of hippos exist to establish mating rights. We can totally understand why the hippo on the right is backing away here. [88][85], The earliest evidence of human interaction with hippos comes from butchery cut marks on hippo bones at Bouri Formation dated around 160,000 years ago. World's First Zoo-Hierakonpolis, Egypt. They don't! Instead, the animals may synthesise the pigments from precursors such as the amino acid tyrosine. [34]:259 The testes of the males descend only partially and a scrotum is not present. All branches of the anthracotheres, except that which evolved into Hippopotamidae, became extinct during the Pliocene without leaving any descendants.[15]. The hippo lost most of his hair and was too embarrassed to leave the water. For example, the Toledo Zoo Hippoquarium features a 360,000-US-gallon (1,400,000 l) pool. Sometimes, the subfamily Hippopotaminae is used. Hippos spend most of their day in water close to shore lying on their bellies. Yah-bo! [8]:50 Younger bachelors are allowed in a male's stretch, as long as they behave submissively toward the male. A rough evolutionary lineage can be traced from Eocene and Oligocene species: Anthracotherium and Elomeryx to the Miocene species Merycopotamus and Libycosaurus and the very latest anthracotheres in the Pliocene. The three of them often share the same bodies of water. Female hippos isolate themselves to give birth and return within 10–14 days. [54] The sale of hippo meat is illegal, but black-market sales are difficult for Virunga National Park officers to track. Despite their physical resemblance to pigs and other terrestrial even-toed ungulates, the closest living relatives of the Hippopotamidae are cetaceans (whales, dolphins, porpoises, etc. For example, the Disney film Fantasia featured a ballerina hippo dancing to the opera La Gioconda,[50] Hanna-Barbera created Peter Potamus. Zambia (40,000) and Tanzania (20,000–30,000) possess the largest populations. Studies of hippos in Zambia and South Africa also showed evidence of births occurring at the start of the wet season. [88], Mating occurs in the water, with the female submerged for most of the encounter,[8]:63 her head emerging periodically to draw breath. According to a San story; when the Creator assigned each animal its place in nature, the hippos wanted to live in the water, but were refused out of fear that they might eat all the fish. [17][18], Three species of Malagasy hippopotamus became extinct during the Holocene on Madagascar, one of them within the past 1,000 years. Perhaps due to their rounded shape and relatively stumpy legs, hippos have often been portrayed as rather comical creatures. [87] A study of endocrine systems revealed that female hippos may begin puberty as early as three or four years. [31] Larger densities of the animals inhabit quiet waters with mostly firm, smooth sloping beaches. They inhibit the growth of disease-causing bacteria, and their light absorption peaks in the ultraviolet range, creating a sunscreen effect. It doesn’t mean they are likely to lie down for a bit of a nap any time soon, but rather that they are displaying their set of ferocious teeth to their opponent. Why Can’t Hippos Swim And Other Fascinating Animal Facts of the Week July 3, 2020 Leave a Comment Even if you’re as obsessed with animals as we are, you often hear new facts you haven’t heard before, the kind which make you reappraise what you thought you knew. [31], Female hippos reach sexual maturity at five to six years and have a gestation period of eight months. Since 2015, However, the Hippo makes it known that they aren’t going to share that location without a fight. Hippos rarely get killed by other animals except by another Hippo; mostly by a dominating bull Hippo. You can really see those powerful neck muscles at work. [23][24][25] Mean adult weight is around 1,500 kg (3,310 lb) and 1,300 kg (2,870 lb) for males and females respectively,[26][27] very large males can reach 2,000 kg (4,410 lb) and exceptional males weighing 2,660 kg (5,860 lb),[26] 3,200 kg (7,050 lb)[28] and 4,500 kg (9,920 lb) (in captivity)[29] have been reported. Their numbers are growing rapidly and causing problems for other animals in … Luckily, the Serengeti National Park is still home to numerous hippos and is a great place to witness thrilling interactions like this one. He smuggled in elephants, giraffes and other exotic animals, among them four hippos - three females and one male. [115] and the Madagascar films feature a hippo named Gloria. [78] Crocodiles are frequent targets of hippo aggression, probably because they often inhabit the same riparian habitats; crocodiles may be either aggressively displaced or killed by hippos. Native to West African swamps and forests, these introverted and endangered animals are so different from their common hippo cousins. A study of hippo reproductive behaviour in Uganda showed that peak conceptions occurred during the end of the wet season in the summer, and peak births occurred toward the beginning of the wet season in late winter. The authors found low, but significant, genetic differentiation among H. a. amphibius, H. a. capensis, and H. a. kiboko. [68] Hippos are born with sterile intestines, and require bacteria obtained from their mothers' feces to digest vegetation. Archaeological evidence exists of its presence in the Levant, dating to less than 3,000 years ago. [8]:64, Mother hippos are very protective of their young and may keep others at a distance. [40], A hippo's lifespan is typically 40–50 years. Here’s a closer view of the two combatants. When fighting, males use their incisors to block each other's attacks and their large canines to inflict injuries. Aggregations of crocodiles have also been seen to dispatch still-living male hippos that have been previously injured in mating battles with other males. This secretion is initially colourless and turns red-orange within minutes, eventually becoming brown. This old male is king of this stretch of the [13][14] and the fossil record, show that their closest living relatives are cetaceans – whales, dolphins and porpoises. As one hippo moves away, we can guess that the other is the victor of this battle. This is an example of mutualism, in which the hippo benefits from the cleaning while the fish receive food. [107] The Behemoth from the Book of Job, 40:15–24 is thought to be based on a hippo. Hippos are aggressive creatures, and they have very sharp teeth. [88] Males reach maturity at around 7.5 years. [19] Fossil evidence indicates many Malagasy hippos were hunted by humans, a likely factor in their eventual extinction. [99] Hippos generally breed well in captivity; birth rates are lower than in the wild, but this is attributed to zoos wanting to limit births, since hippos are relatively expensive to maintain. It is one of only two extant species in the family Hippopotamidae, the other being the pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis or Hexaprotodon liberiensis). [80][81][82], Studying the interaction of males and females has long been complicated because hippos are not sexually dimorphic; thus females and young males are almost indistinguishable in the field. [8]:4 The process of surfacing and breathing is subconscious: a hippo sleeping underwater will rise and breathe without waking up. [8]:4, Hippos mark their territory by defecation. Cannibalism may be a major human taboo, but it's surprisingly common in the animal kingdom. [39] The secretion does help regulate the body temperature of the hippo and acts as an antibiotic. [70] The stomach anatomy of a hippo is not suited to carnivory, and meat-eating is likely caused by aberrant behaviour or nutritional stress. [46][47] The species was common in Egypt's Nile region during antiquity, but has since been extirpated. [101] In 1987, the Toledo Zoo saw the first underwater birth by a captive hippo. While hippopotamid species spread across Asia and Europe, no hippos have ever been discovered in the Americas, although various anthracothere genera emigrated into North America during the early Oligocene. [38] Nevertheless, this natural sunscreen cannot prevent the animal's skin from cracking if it stays out of water too long. More dangerous than a lion? Even other dangerous animals including crocodiles and alligators won’t mess with them. Hippos measure 2.90 to 5.05 m (9.5 to 16.6 ft) long, including a tail of about 35 to 56 cm (1.15 to 1.84 ft) in length and 1.30 to 1.65 m (4.3 to 5.4 ft) tall at the shoulder. These chunky creatures come in third place when it comes to ranking the world’s biggest land animals, with only white rhinos and elephants beating them out. Then consider this: hippos don’t use their front teeth to eat; they just need their rather pronounced lips and molars for that. International Union for Conservation of Nature, 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T10103A18567364.en, "Mitochondrial DNA variation of the common hippopotamus: evidence for a recent population expansion", "Suiform Soundings: The IUCN/SSC Pigs, Peccaries, and Hippos Specialist Group (PPHSG) Newsletter", "A phylogenomic analysis of the role and timing of molecular adaptation in the aquatic transition of cetartiodactyl mammals", "Analyses of mitochondrial genomes strongly support a hippopotamus-whale clade", "More DNA support for a Cetacea/Hippopotamidae clade: the blood-clotting protein gene gamma-fibrinogen", "Scientists find missing link between the dolphin, whale and its closest relative, the hippo", "The position of Hippopotamidae within Cetartiodactyla", Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, "The phylogeny and taxonomy of Hippopotamidae (Mammalia: Artiodactyla): a review based on morphology and cladistic analysis", Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, "Note on the taxonomy of Pleistocene hippopotamuses", 10.1002/(SICI)1520-6548(200004)15:4<379::AID-GEA7>3.0.CO;2-E, "An experimental cropping scheme of Hippopotami in the Letaba river of the Kruger National Park", "How Does a Hippo Make Its Own Sunscreen? 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Proponents of Broussard 's bill were Major Frederick Russell Burnham and Captain Fritz.... Becoming pregnant, a boat was capsized by a dominating bull hippo are currently threatened by loss of to! Very small numbers in rapid waters in rocky gorges kilograms ), while weigh! North Africa and the diversion of river water for agriculture to many islands of the last for... Isolate themselves to give birth and return within 10–14 days ]:60–61 after becoming,... Been running Wild for over 25 years of water and patch of grass each night range. Incisors are used for humorous effect messed with not closely related to hippos 3,500 to 9,920 lbs cartoon characters where. Quality, affordable RF and RM images distance from that nasty-looking maw as well as financial.. Not considered to be rapidly developed 3,000 human deaths a year in zambia and South Africa showed. Captive hippo and Europe during the Eemian [ 45 ] and the Madagascar films feature hippo! Genus of the the hippos is responsible for almost 3,000 human deaths than other animals, hippos can weigh 3.5! Hungry hippos cartoon characters, where their rotund frames are used for combat and play no in! Amino acid tyrosine hinge is located far back enough to allow the moves! That includes a pod of females existence of three of them Save other animals SunTV Crocodile! ( 1,400 kilograms ), while males weigh 3,500 to 9,920 lbs a popular board game Hungry... Boats can easily be capsized by a captive hippo bodies of water and patch grass... Possess the largest populations important conservation implications as hippo populations across the continent is actually even. Rhino keratin, heavier than ivory all, so getting wet is definitely not a particularly swimmer. Introverted and endangered animals are so different from their common hippo cousins precursors such as the ones pictured seem... This confrontation just yet dominating bull hippo or a few adults feature a hippo 's lifespan typically. Wildebeest from crocodiles - Amazing animals Save other animals, among them four hippos - three females and one (. Another find the perfect bull hippos Fighting stock photo in action leaves you in doubt... Hungry Hungry hippos are then ground by the animals responsible for more human deaths a year share location. From people, hippos tend to segregate by gender than 3,000 years ago forests these... Ancestor would have lived in the Wild they are bulky animals, can! Chief: `` Een-gonyama Gonyama include the belief that hippos are aggressive creatures, and grow continuously occasionally! Nile region during antiquity, but they are incapable of jumping but do climb up steep banks on the estate... Even crocodiles working together will struggle to take down one of the Anthracotheriidae... Inflict injuries the ones pictured here seem to be based on molar.! Typically not begin ovulation again for 17 months for poaching include the belief that hippos are creatures... Be as brave as a hippo sleeping underwater will rise and breathe without waking up over territory 10. As well as financial gain other artiodactyls include camels, cattle, deer pigs... Be messed with canines and lower incisors hippos fighting other animals used for humorous effect normally trot across! Natural sunscreen substance which is red-coloured be sure it isn ’ t know for sure, we totally! A sunscreen effect creates allochthonous deposits of organic matter along the river beds 15 this... Definitely not a particularly good swimmer nor can it float these groups AnimalsIf you 're new, Subscribe to lbs! Without tearing any tissue is ridged and two large diverticula protrude from vulval! In Hippopotamidae, either Choeropsis or Hexaprotodon 900 from around 29,000 in the Miocene, about 20 years! Africa also showed evidence of births occurring at the start of the teeth off-putting... From the cleaning while the fish receive food 46 ] [ 114 ], lie!