However, they can move underwater at a speed of 15 mph (8 km/h). A hippopotamus is commonly just called a hippo. No, hippos are not endangered, but they are declared vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). And I'm a co-founder of this site. Although the hippopotamus is only half as small as an elephant, it only needs one-sixth of what the elephant eats to eat. For years this fluid was thought to be a mixture of blood and sweat, giving it the nickname “blood sweat.”. They walk or stand on surfaces below the water like sandbanks. A hippopotamus has a barrel-shaped body, a big head with a long muzzle, short legs and a short tail. I have seen a hippo kill a large crocodile with a single bite, and a human would offer little to no resistance if a hippo was to become aggressive. Where can I see hippos in Uganda? You could say that hippos love hanging out with their bloats. Hippopotamuses are the 3rd largest land mammal, after elephants and rhinos. On land, their heavyweight stirs up the soil and clears vegetation around the wetlands. What is the habitat of the common hippo? Do you know what it sounds like to stand about 15 feet away from a speaker at a rock concert? 4 Places. But there is actually no evidence to suggest that this ever happens. Are hippos Africa's most dangerous animal? Its weight sometimes reaches 4 tons. https://www.ugandasafariexperts.com/blog/39-interesting-facts-about-hippos You would think that an animal that spends a majority of its time in the water could swim, but hippos cannot. After Pablo Escobar's death, the 4 Hippopotamuses he kept as pets have … The average Hippo has a head and body length of 3 to 4 feet and weighs close to 300 tons. If a hungry crocodile dares to go after a young, less dangerous hippo, the calf’s mother and all her sisters will come after the crocodile. They have thick, mostly hairless skin. Want to know why? Hippos are highly aggressive and unpredictable, especially when their calves are present, which is why they are considered so dangerous. If they are in shallow water, they will rest with their nostrils protruding just above the surface. A baby hippo is called a ‘calf’. Others claim the hippo has more advantages that include its enormous mouth that can dole out lethal damage. A group of hippos in known as a ‘herd’, ‘pod’, ‘dale’ or ‘bloat’. The typical lifespan for a hippo is between 35 and 50 years. At birth, the calf weighs between 50 and 110 lbs. It is more likely that the popularity of their meat is the reason for this strategy. 25 Fun facts about Hippos. They also have a membrane that closes over their eyes underwater. Neither blood nor sweat, this secretion is a natural sunscreen that protects the hippo’s naked skin from the harsh African sun. Their skin is harder than any other animal. They also have a membrane that closes over their eyes underwater. Why do male hippos attack baby hippos? The best places to see hippos in Uganda are these four national parks: Watch this traveler video of a boat ride in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda. Hippos are a semi-aquatic mammal, usually inhabiting shallow lakes, rivers, and swamps in Africa. They need to resurface every 3 to 5 minutes to breathe. There are many great facts about the elephant though that you should learn about, and this is the place to do so. This commonly stated “fact” is actually a debunked legend. For some bull hippos, it’s 180 degrees. 50. Here are some more amazing hippo facts for you: Surfacing and breathing are automatic for hippos. They love the water and can spend up to 16 hours a day in it, keeping their skin cool. Here are a couple other hippopotamus facts about their teeth that you may find interesting: How's your Swahili? Like almost any herbivore, they consume other plants if presented with them, but their diet in nature consists almost entirely of grass, with only minimal consumption of aquatic plants. These highly acidic compounds inhibit bacteria (reducing disease) and absorb ultraviolet light (helping prevent sunburn and sun damage). Several fish species in Africa can keep busy feeding on the food remnants and dead skin cells found on the hippo’s skin. Hippos are huge, docile mammals. Hippos may look lazy and sluggish, but don’t be deceived. In fact, studies suggest that Sri Lanka has the highest density of elephants in Asia.. Some people say the rhino would triumph because of its larger size, vicious horn, and faster speed. I am not sure what hippo meat tastes like, but I have heard it tastes bland. 34. The gestation period for a female hippo is eight months. By changing up the ecosystem like this, hippos construct shelter and habitats for smaller creatures. Females have a gestation period of eight months and have only one baby at a time. Their digestive systems are not suited for digesting meat. Hippopotamuses (or hippos), may look like cute, comical giants, but they are among the world’s most dangerous animals. 14. And not only can adult hippos not swim, but they aren’t even buoyant. You'll learn about their size, habits, physical traits. Hippos have a natural built-in reflex that causes them to reach for the surface to breathe. When the female nears the time to give birth, she leaves the herd for one or two weeks to give birth to her young and create a bond with her baby. (23 to 50 kg). 1-5 Hippopotamus Facts 1. Very large males can grow to 4,400-pounds with exceptional large ones reaching 5,800-pounds. Another reason is that hippo cows love big bull mouths. Hippos may look lazy and sluggish, but don’t be deceived. An adult female hippo gives birth approximately once every two years. By Matt Ayres on March 23, 2018. A male hippopotamus is called a ‘bull’. Hippos can even sleep underwater, using a reflex that allows them to bob up, take a breath, and sink back down without waking up. Whoops! Yes, hippos do roar. Hippos are ways to develop running speeds of up to 30 kilometers per hour. A clear membrane covers and protects their eyes while allowing them to see underwater. Hippos live exclusively in fresh water and are absolutely not adapted for living in salt water. If you see a hippo yawning, you may think it’s cute, but in reality, a hippo yawn is a warning signal. A clear membrane covers and protects their eyes while allowing them to see underwater. 43. Some people say a rhino can kill a hippo, but there is much debate about that. They can charge without a moment's hesitation and do serious damage. They weigh 1.5 to 4 tons. Females average weight is 1,400 kilograms (3,000 pounds); males weight from 1,600 to 4,500 kilograms (3,500 to 9,920 pounds). A hippo needs plenty of water to accommodate its large size, but it usually doesn’t like water that is too deep or too shallow. ). Female usually mate every other year, due cost of parental investment into the young. Hippos vocalize on both land and in the water and are the only mammals that make amphibious calls. Their tusks are twice as long in males, an example of sexual dimorphism. It is even tougher than elephants. It can, however, be removed with a zipper located underneath the torso of the animal. In theory, when the hipposudoric acid (red) mixes with the milk (white), it produces a pink solution. The population is in decline; declining most dramatically in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Hippos live in large groups, from 10 to 100 or even 200! Grass hippos plait their lips. One of the most interesting hippo facts is that this animal secretes a red, oily substance that many have described as “blood sweat.”. So, you won't be able to outswim them! Just behind elephants and white rhinos, hippos are among the world’s largest land mammals. Hippos are a very social species, living in groups of about 10 to 100. 4) The Sri Lankan Elephant is the largest of the Asian subspecies, measuring 6.6 to 11.5 feet tall and weighing 4,400 and 12,100 pounds. According to the San Diego Zoo, their vocalizations have been measured at 115 decibels. In this post, you'll learn 57 hippo facts about one of Africa's most dangerous animals. Experts believe hippos that eat meat are nutrient-deficient, sick or distressed. Because they are up most of the night foraging for food, they spend a majority of the daytime in the water which is when they sleep. Male Hippos are larger than the females. Blood sweat is made up of two secretions: one red (hipposudoric acid) and one orange (norhipposudoric acid). They secrete an oily red substance that acts as a moisturiser, sunblock and protects them from germs. Over the centuries, native African tribes have traditionally eaten hippos, but few animals are ever willing to take on a hippopotamus for supper. Hippos sink to the bottom of the water and then move by walking, trotting, jogging or running. Habitat loss and unregulated poaching and hunting are the top reasons why hippo numbers are declining. 35. The way they look at it is, the bigger the mouth, the better husband and father. Under the right conditions, a Hippo can live in the wild for 45 to 50 years. Or are they? The hippo’s head is large and elongated with the eyes, ears, and nostrils situated on the top part. Underwater, the hippos run along riverbeds, creating channels and redirecting water. Type: Mammal; Diet: Herbivore; Life span: Up to 40 years; Size: Head and body, 2.8 to 4.2 m; tail, 35 to 50 cm; Weight: 2,268 to 3,629 kg; Habitat: The hippopotamus is semi-aquatic, inhabiting rivers and lakes. 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