Intriguing World Of Hippo's

The Hippopotamus also known as River Horse.They like to live in lakes and rivers,through out sub_Saharan Africa.They are semi_Aquatic.The hippo is the heaviest animal on land after elephant and rhinoceros.They are most dangerous animal in world killing 500 mans yearly in Africa.

Species Of Hippos

Hippopotamus are of two categories.one is Common Hippo and the second one is Pygmy Hippo.

Pygmy Hippo

The pygmy hippos are also known as Dwarf Hippos.They are small specie of hippopotamus.They are less aquatic then common hippos.They spend most of their time on land.

River's Horse

The name hippopotamus made up of two Greek words.''Hippo'' means HORSE and ''Potamus'' means RIVER.They spend most of their time in water.They body is heat sensitive so they live in water to keep their water cool.They are semi_Aquatic.

Heavy Body Animal

The hippos are considered as the 3rd largest animal on land.They have huge body.An adult Hippo has weight of 1360 to 1814 kg.They have stocky,barrel shaped body.They have short legs and a bulky head.Their relative short legs helps them to maintain their balance.

They are large jaws then other animals.Their jaws can open at 150 degrees.The have strongest bite in animals kingdom.They have large canine teeth which are about 20 inches long.Their long teeth help them to caught animals during hunting.They have loud sound.Their voices measured as 115 decibels.

Hippos Diet

Mostly Hippos eat grass.They can eat 110 pounds of grass in one night for their diet.They might eat grass in cool temperature mostly in night,or in water.Unlike other herbivores they have lack of prominent lips to protect their teeth.They attempt specialized way for feeding.They very small food with respect to their large mass.They have large stomach.They store food in stomach and go for three weeks.

Great Swimmers

Hippos have very sensitive skin.To keep them cool they like to live in water. They actually can't swim but they can easily glide in water by their smooth skin.They moved in water by pushing their legs.They held their breath under water up to 5 minutes,making them skilled diver.Their legs are short but very powerful they make hippo glide under water.

Hippos Are Harmful

Hippos are high territorial animals, especially in aquatic environment.They defend their territories when they feel thread to their space.Hippos are one of the dangerous animal in Africa.They attack on boats.They kill up to 500 humans in year.On land they are less territorial.But they can run at the speed of 30 km/h.

Hippo's Baby

The baby of the hippo are known as calf.The female hippos have gestation period of eight months and have only one calf at a time.At birth the weighs of a calf is about is about 23 to 50 kgs.The calf are born in water.When it dives they closes their nose and ears.Hippos have membrane which cover their eyes in water.At age of 5 to 7 years hippos are mature.The average life span of hippo is about 50 to 60 years.