Hippopotamus - Wikipedia. The common hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius), or hippo, is a large, mostly herbivorous mammal in sub- Saharan Africa, and one of only two extantspecies in the family. Hippopotamidae, the other being the pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis or Hexaprotodon liberiensis). The name comes from the ancient Greek for . After the elephant and rhinoceros, the common hippopotamus is the third- largest type of land mammal and the heaviest extant artiodactyl. 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.) from which they diverged about 5. The common ancestor of whales and hippos split from other even- toed ungulates around 6. The earliest known hippopotamus fossils, belonging to the genus. Kenyapotamus in Africa, date to around 1. Hippopotamus Fascinating Facts. Hippos excrete a red liquid from their pores, which protects their skin from sun and infection! Hippos can open their mouths up to 150. The pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis or Hexaprotodon liberiensis) is a small hippopotamid which is native to the forests and swamps of West Africa. Hippos are ideally suited for their amphibious lifestyle and are the third largest land animals on Earth! Prepare yourself for the most fascinating nile crocodile facts for kids including nile crocodile diet, habitat, reproduction, and its ferocious behavior. Hippos also bask on the shoreline and secrete an oily red substance, which gave rise to the myth that they sweat blood. The liquid is actually a skin moistener and. Common hippos are recognisable by their barrel- shaped torsos, wide- opening mouths revealing large canine tusks, nearly hairless bodies, columnar legs and large size; adults average 1,5. Indian rhinoceros. Despite its stocky shape and short legs, it is capable of running 3. The hippopotamus is a highly aggressive and unpredictable animal and is ranked among the most dangerous animals in the world. During the day, they remain cool by staying in the water or mud; reproduction and childbirth both occur in water. They emerge at dusk to graze on grasses. While hippopotamuses rest near each other in the water, grazing is a solitary activity and hippos are not territorial on land. Etymology. The Latin word . Hippopotamuses are gregarious, living in groups of up to thirty animals. A group is called a pod, herd, dale, or bloat. Taxonomy and origins. Classification. The hippopotamus is the type genus of the family Hippopotamidae. The pygmy hippopotamus belongs to a different genus in Hippopotamidae, either Choeropsis or Hexaprotodon. Hippopotamidae are sometimes known as hippopotamids. Sometimes, the subfamily Hippopotaminae is used. Further, some taxonomists group hippopotamuses and anthracotheres in the superfamily Anthracotheroidea. Other artiodactyls include camels, cattle, deer and pigs, although hippopotamuses are not closely related to these groups. Five subspecies of hippos have been described based on morphological differences in their skulls and geographical differences. Broader nasals and more hollowed interorbital region. Cape hippopotamus or South African hippopotamus. H. A study examining mitochondrial DNA from skin biopsies taken from 1. The authors found low, but significant, genetic differentiation among H. Several lines of evidence, first from bloodproteins, then from molecular systematics. All branches of the anthracotheres, except that which evolved into Hippopotamidae, became extinct during the Pliocene without leaving any descendants. Their common ancestor would have lived in the Miocene, about 2. Hippopotamids are therefore deeply nested within the family Anthracotheriidae. The Hippopotamidae are believed to have evolved in Africa; the oldest known hippopotamid is the genus Kenyapotamus, which lived in Africa from 1. While hippopotamid species spread across Asia and Europe, no hippopotamuses have ever been discovered in the Americas, although various anthracothere genera emigrated into North America during the early Oligocene. From 7. 5 to 1. 8 million years ago, an ancestor to the modern hippopotamus, Archaeopotamus, lived in Africa and the Middle East. Taxonomists disagree whether or not the modern pygmy hippopotamus is a member of Hexaprotodon – an apparently paraphyletic genus, also embracing many extinct Asian hippopotamuses, that is more closely related to Hippopotamus – or of Choeropsis, an older and basal genus. Despite its massive bulk, this amphibious mammal moves underwater with grace, and trots on land with surprising speed. Indeed, the name hippopotamus (Hippopotamus. Because the polar bear's body requires a diet based on large amounts of seal fat, they are the most carnivorous member of the bear family. Food can be hard to come by. Spotting native alligators and crocodiles in Florida is common, but anyone who sees a large reptile may want to take a second look -- human-eaters that can grow to 18. You won't find too many useful hippo facts for kids elsewhere as are here. These insights include hippopotamu diet, habitat, reproduction, behavior and species. The Malagasy hippos were smaller than the modern hippopotamus, likely through the process of insular dwarfism. All three species became extinct before the last glaciation. Ancestors of European hippos found their way to many islands of the Mediterranean during the Pleistocene. Of these, the Cyprus dwarf hippopotamus survived until the end of the Pleistocene or early Holocene. 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. Mean adult weight is around 1,5. Male hippos appear to continue growing throughout their lives while females reach maximum weight at around age 2. They are incapable of jumping but do climb up steep banks. It is rarely found in deep water; when it is, the animal moves by porpoise- like leaps from the bottom. This allows these organs to remain above the surface while the rest of the body submerges. In addition, the penis retracts into the body when not erect. The genitals of the female are unusual in that the vagina is ridged and two large diverticula protrude from the vulval vestibule. The function of these is unknown. Brady Barr measured the bite force of an adult female hippo at 8,1. Barr also attempted to measure the bite pressure of an adult male hippo, but had to abandon the attempt due to the male's aggressiveness. The lower canines and lower incisors are enlarged, especially in males, and grow continuously. The incisors can reach 4. Hippos rely on their broad horny lips to grasp and pull grasses which are then ground by the molars. By contrast, its subcutaneous fat layer is thin. The secretion is sometimes referred to as . This secretion is initially colourless and turns red- orange within minutes, eventually becoming brown. Two distinct pigments have been identified in the secretions, one red (hipposudoric acid) and one orange (norhipposudoric acid). The two pigments are highly acidic compounds. Both pigments inhibit the growth of disease- causing bacteria; as well, the light absorption of both pigments peaks in the ultraviolet range, creating a sunscreen effect. All hippos, even those with different diets, secrete the pigments, so it does not appear that food is the source of the pigments. Instead, the animals may synthesize the pigments from precursors such as the amino acidtyrosine. She lived at the Mesker Park Zoo in Evansville, Indiana in the US. Archaeological evidence exists of its presence in the Levant, dating to less than 3,0. Pliny the Elder writes that, in his time, the best location in Egypt for capturing this animal was in the Saite nome. Hippos are still found in the rivers and lakes of the northern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya, north through to Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan, west to The Gambia, and south to South Africa. Four holes around top. From Naqada Tomb 1. Egypt. Naqada period. The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, London. Genetic evidence suggests that common hippos in Africa experienced a marked population expansion during or after the Pleistocene epoch, attributed to an increase in water bodies at the end of the era. These findings have important conservation implications as hippo populations across the continent are currently threatened by loss of access to fresh water. In May 2. 00. 6, the hippopotamus was identified as a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List drawn up by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with an estimated population of between 1. IUCN's 1. 99. 6 study. Zambia (4. 0,0. 00) and Tanzania (2. They were deemed too difficult to seize and move after Escobar's death, and hence left on the untended estate. By 2. 00. 7, the animals had multiplied to 1. Magdalena River. Males may be found in very small numbers in rapid waters in rocky gorges. Hippos leave the water at dusk and travel inland, sometimes up to 1. They spend four to five hours grazing and can consume 6. There are other reports of meat- eating, and even cannibalism and predation. These deposits have an unclear ecological function. Over prolonged periods, hippos can divert the paths of swamps and channels. The young have to breathe every two to three minutes. A hippo sleeping underwater rises and breathes without waking up. A hippo closes its nostrils when it submerges into the water. This is an example of mutualism in which the hippo benefits from the cleaning, while the fish receive food. Nile crocodiles, lions and spotted hyenas are known to prey on young hippos. Cases where large lion prides or cooperating groups of Nile crocodiles have successfully preyed on adult hippopotamus have been reported; however, this predation is generally rare. The reason they huddle close together is unknown. The largest pods can contain over 1. The territories of hippos exist to establish mating rights. Within the pods, the hippos tend to segregate by gender. Bachelors lounge near other bachelors, females with other females, and the bull on his own. When hippos emerge from the water to graze, they do so individually. While depositing the faeces, hippos spin their tails to distribute their excrement over a greater area. 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. A study of endocrine systems revealed that female hippopotamuses may begin puberty as early as three or four years. A study of hippopotamus 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. This is because of the female's oestrous cycle; as with most large mammals, male hippopotamus spermatozoa is active year- round. Studies of hippos in Zambia and South Africa also showed evidence of births occurring at the start of the wet season. Female hippos isolate themselves to give birth and return with 1. A mother typically gives birth to only one calf, although twins also occur. The young often rest on their mothers' backs when the water is too deep for them, and they swim under water to suckle. They suckle on land when the mother leaves the water.
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