Baby hippo facts the hippo is the third largest animal in the world, after the elephant and the rhinoceros. Fiona is a hippopotamus born at the cincinnati zoo and botanical garden in cincinnati, ohio, united states, on january 24, 2017. The hippopotamus is a herbivorous mammal that inhabits african rivers and streams south of the sahara desert. Third in size among land animals only to the elephant and the white rhinoceros, the male hippopotamus can weigh more than 9,000 pounds. The name hippopotamus comes from the ancient greek river horse. Hippopotamus description, habitat, image, diet, and.
Hippopotamus is a large animal that lives in the wild. It is one of two animals in the hippopotamidae family, the other being the pygmy hippopotamus. Hippos live in herds and are possessive about their territories. Animal planet hippo facts african wildlife foundation fact sheet. The hippopotamuss smaller cousin, the pygmy hippopotamus, is only found in swampy forest areas of west africa. Mar 16, 2020 hippopotamus, hippopotamus amphibius, also called hippo or water horse, amphibious african ungulate mammal.
It seems strange that such short and stubby legs can carry such a large creature around, but it works very well for the hippos. Two species of dwarf hippopotamus from madagascar are extinct hippopotamus madagascariensis and hippopotamus lemerlei fun facts. The hippopotamus or hippo is a large mammal that is considered one of the most dangerous animals where they live. Hippopotamuses can be dangerous, especially if their young are threatened. Hippopotamuses hippopotamus amphibius are large, round, waterloving animals that are native to africa. Find out why hippos are often found up to their snouts in water. The other only surviving species of the same family being the pygmy hippopotamus. The hippopotamus can weigh as much as 7000 pounds and they can measure feet long and 5 feet tall. The word hippopotamus is a greek one which means river horse. Dec, 2019 the branch leading to the modern genus of hippopotamus split off from the branch leading to the pygmy hippopotamus genus choeropsis less than 10 million years ago. Amazing facts about the hippopotamus bali safari marine park. The common hippo also known as the large hippo, found in east africa, occurs south of the sahara. Most closely related to whales, hippopotamuses are highly territorial and.
Finally, poachers kill hippos for their ivory tusks and for sport. Hippos bask on the shoreline and secrete an oily red substance, which gave rise to the myth that they sweat blood. The hippo is the third largest land mammal after the white rhino and the elephant and weighs up to half a ton. Wade and wallow hippos are not seafaring creatures. Hippopotamus herds consist of 10 to even 40 females, which is proved by one male. They spend most of their time in the water, but not. Both species rely on water or mud to keep cool this accounts for the amount of time they spend in the water.
Apr 25, 2017 the word hippopotamus is a greek one which means river horse. Hippos live in group that consists of 1030 animals. A hippopotamus photographed at san antonio zoo in texas photograph by joel sartore, national geographic photo ark. As we talking about semantics, a baby hippo is a calf, a male is a bull and a female a caw.
Fun hippopotamus facts for kids interesting information about. It is one of only two species in the family hippopotamidae that are still alive. The name hippopotamus comes from an ancient greek word that translates to mean river horse and the hippo is the thirdlargest land mammal following the elephant and rhinoceros. This is however almost a forced nocturnal behavior due to the fact that hippo cannot sweet and have very sensitive skin, best keeping their skin cool and moist during the hot african days. Despite residing in the water for a large portion of their lives, hippos cant swim or float. The hippopotamus is one of africas largest mammals, living along its rivers and lakes.
Instead of sweating, they secrete a viscous red fluid, which protects the animals skin against the sun and possibly acts as healing agents. They have greyish to muddybrown skin, which fades to a pale pink colour underneath. Hippopotamus facts and information gk for kids mocomi. Hippopotamus is the largest land mammal after elephant. The magnificent hippopotamus ancient greek for river horse is most commonly and frustratingly spotted with its enormous, bulky body.
They are largely recognized as africas most dangerous animal. They can reach 12 feet in length and weigh up to 7000 pounds. Hippopotamus amphibius, also called the common hippopotamus is a large, mostly herbivorous, semiaquatic mammal and ungulate native to subsaharan africa. Despite their massive size, the hippopotamus is an herbivore, meaning they only eat plants and vegetation. The female hippopotamus breeds in the water, one cub twin pregnancy is very rare, which later feeds for a year, also without leaving the water. Lets check out some cool and amazing facts one of natures powerful animals. Fun hippopotamus facts for kids interesting information. The common hippopotamus hippopotamus amphibius, or hippo is a large semiaquatic mammal that is found wallowing in the rivers and lakes across subsaharan africa. Hippos from the greek word horse, potamos from the greek river or rushing water physical features. Hippopotamus is the largest land mammal after elephant and rhinoceros. Hippos have a very large body that looks like a barrel, but also have very large teeth and mouths. Hippo facts for kids what is a hippopotamus dk find out.
Read on and enjoy a variety of interesting information about hippopotamuses. Hippopotamuses love water, which is why the greeks named them the river horse. The hippopotamus is an african animal, and the name comes from the greek for water or riverhorse. Hippopotamus teeth are made of ivory, similar to the tusks of elephants. The thick sweat that their skin excretes looks like blood. Theyre big, bulky and can deliver one serious chomp. The name hippopotamus comes from an ancient greek word that translates to mean river horse and the hippo is the thirdlargest land. The hippopotamus is generally considered the third largest land mammal after the white rhinoceros and elephant. The greeks named the hippopotamus and the name translates to river horse.
They walk or stand on surfaces below the water like sandbanks. Hippopotamus hippos spend most of their time in the water. Get ready to meet one of natures most powerful animals with our ten facts about the hippopotamus. Common hippopotamus, river hippopotamus, nile hippopotamus, large hippo. Check out our awesome range of animal facts for kids and learn some fun trivia about our friends in the animal kingdom.
The first nile hippo imaged on ultrasound prenatally and the first born at the zoo in 75 years, she was born prematurely and cared for. Found only in subsaharan africa, a hippo in the wild can be almost as dangerous and unpredictable as a tiger or hyena. With a broad mouth, a hairless body, and a set of semiaquatic habits, the common hippopotamus hippopotamus amphibius has always struck humans as vaguely comical creatures. The liquid is actually a skin moistener and sunblock that may also provide. Did you know that a hippo can open their mouth wide. Fun hippopotamus facts for kids kids play and create. Jul 21, 2016 the magnificent hippopotamus ancient greek for river horse is most commonly and frustratingly spotted with its enormous, bulky body submerged beneath the water with only its nostrils. The magnificent african animal hippopotamus ancient greek for river horse is commonly found submerged beneath the water with only his nostrils peeking out. Here are 12 fascinating facts about the hippopotamus. The common or river hippopotamus is the third largest living mammal on earth after the elephant and rhinoceros.
As mentioned above, the hippopotamus is a large semiaquatic animal. Learn more amazing facts about these amazing creatures in this video from national geographic kids. The magnificent hippopotamus ancient greek for river horse is most commonly and frustratingly spotted with its enormous, bulky body submerged beneath the water with only its nostrils. The hippo is the third largest animal in the world, after the elephant and the rhinoceros. It is commonly believed that george washingtons false teeth were made of wood. They secrete an oily red substance that acts as a moisturiser, sunblock and protects them from germs. They walk or stand on surfaces, like sandbanks, below the. Baby hippos are some of the strangest looking, most adorable little guys and gals out there. The hippopotamuss smaller cousin, the pygmy hippopotamus, is. The other is the pygmy hippopotamus the hippopotamus is the second largest land animal in size, and the third largest land animal in weight.
Hippos can reach speeds of almost 20 miles per hour. The pygmy hippopotamus of western africa weighs less than 500 pounds but otherwise looks uncannily like a fullsized hippo. Amazing facts about the hippopotamus onekindplanet education. The hippo, short for hippopotamus, is as uniquelooking creature, as it is interesting. Hippopotamus, hippopotamus amphibius, also called hippo or water horse, amphibious african ungulate mammal. Learn all about hippopotamuses and how theyre born with these 10 fascinating baby hippo facts. They are perfectly built for survival in their aquatic african habitats, and are highly specialized creatures. While they may look slow and cumbersome, the hippopotamus is actually one of the most aggressive animals in the world. The hippopotamus is the animal that kills the most humans per year in africa. A male hippo is called a bull and female hippo is called a cow. Only very lucky or patient nature lovers get to witness their various. Hippos also bask on the shoreline and secrete an oily red substance, which gave rise to the myth that they sweat blood. Hippos spend up to 16 hours a day submerged in rivers and lakes to keep their massive bodies cool. Click for more kids facts and information or download the worksheet collection.
Hippopotamus are generally nocturnal animals, spending the majority of the day resting in the cooler water. Hippopotamus habitats are infringed upon by humans, who use their grazing land for farming and also divert water for farming needs. Did you know that the hippo is one of the deadliest african animals. Although hippos might look a little chubby, they can easily outrun a human 5.
They have torsos that look like barrels, mouths that can be opened wide and a huge size which weighs about 1500 kg for males and 0 kg for females. Hippopotamus or shortly hippo is a huge herbivorous mammal commonly found in the subsaharan africa. Hippopotamus live in waterways and shorelines in africa. Hippopotamus facts, pictures, diet, habitat, behavior, characteristics. The more you learn about these semiaquatic beasts, the more you will discover several surprising hippopotamus facts. Hippopotamuses or hippos, may look like cute, comical giants, but they are among the worlds most dangerous animals. Click here for more animal facts scientific name is hippopotamus amphibiusmeaning river horse hippos are the 3rd largest land mammal after the elephant and the rhino a hippo can be 12 feet long and 5 feet tall.
Even so, they spend most of the day in water to protect their sensitive skin from the sun. Hippos cant swim, even though they spend most of their time in water. Often considered to be the second largest land animal after the elephant, the hippopotamus is comparable in size and weight to the white rhinoceros ceratotherium simum and the indian rhinoceros rhinoceros unicornis. Learn what they look like, where they live, what they eat and much more. Limited to very restricted ranges in west africa, it is a shy, solitary forest dweller, and is now endangered. War in the regions that hippos inhabit has also wrecked havoc on hippopotamus populations. Check out our range of fun hippopotamus facts for kids. Hippos have powerful jaws and sharp teeth that can crush a continue reading 10 fun facts about hippos. The common or river hippopotamus is considered a vulnerable species by the iucn red list of threatened species. Their name means river horse and they spend a large amount of their life in water, such as streams and lakes.
Hippopotami plural for hippopotamus are simply brimming with amazing adaptations. A hippos stomach has four chambers in which enzymes break down the tough cellulose in the grass that it eats. Mar 10, 2015 the hippo is worlds largest, angriest animal. Although it looks plump and cute, these animals can kill you in second. They can live to be 45 years old and most hippos live in protected areas. One of our wellknown hippopotamus facts is that while they are generally slow and languid, they can move very fast in short bursts.
The other much smaller species of hippo is the pygmy hippopotamus. Unlike us, the hippopotamus does not have sweat or sebaceous glands. The hippopotamus hippopotamus amphibius, or hippo, ancient greek for river horse, is a large mammal in africa that usually eats plants. Although crocodiles are considered to be extremely dangerous creatures, they stand very little chances against a fullgrown adult hippo. Another of the commonly accepted hippopotamus facts among locals is that hippos frequently attack crocodiles. Hippopotamus hippopotamus amphibious facts about animals. The common hippopotamus hippopotamus amphibius, or hippo is a large semiaquatic mammal that is found wallowing in the rivers and lakes across subsaharan africa the name comes from the ancient greek for river horse. The name is derived from ancient greek and translates into river horse. The hippopotamus, also known as the common hippopotamus, or simply hippo, is a large african mammal. The male hippo leads the group while the females come behind with the young calves. In reality, hippos are larger than horses and are the second largest land animal just after.
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