Study of the Hippopotamus Amphibious
Study of the Hippopotamus Amphibious
Hippos have historically been found throughout all of Africa. Currently most populations have been greatly reduced. The only large population of hippos lives near the Nile river valley of east Africa.
The scientific name for hippo is hippopotamus amphibious. Hippos are about four and a half feet tall and eleven feet long. They weigh about three to seven thousand pounds and are the second largest land mammal.
A hippos skin is gray- brown. The upper parts are blue- black and the under parts are pink. Hippos have glands inside their skin that release thick red oil, the oil shields against sunburn. Hippos have excellent hearing, sight and smell. They also have fine hair that covers their entire body. The eyes and ears are small, set far back and high on the head. The neck is short with many folds of skin on it. A hippos muzzle can measure up to fifty centimeters wide. Each foot has four toes with thick nails on it. The tail is short and flat with thick bristles on the end. Males are much larger than females with thicker necks, more skin folds and larger tusks.
Hippos need water to submerge in, but they can temporarily survive in mud holes. They spend their days in the water to keep cool and avoid insects. They leave the water to sunbathe and eat. Hippos can swim on the surface of water or walk along the bottom, staying under water for up to six minutes. When they come to the surface they exhale by grunting.
Hippos can move very fast. They are active on land at night for five to six hours when grazing. They strictly eat grass. If there is a food shortage they will eat floating water plants.
A hippo’s life span is thirty-five to forty-five years. They mate in the dry season. Females give birth in shallow water. The young are reported to be able to swim before they can walk. Baby hippos lie across their mother’s back in deep water.
Hippos live in schools of thirty. There is a single nt bull that defends their stretch of water. Their tusks are used to fight, stabbing the thick...