Picture courtesy Alan Morton, Wildlife Photographer
Hippopotamus
Shoulder height: 1,4 m
Mass: 1700 to 2 000 kg
Gestation: 215 days
Duration of life: 40 to 50 years
They are grazers, feeding mostly on grass but also on young shoots of reeds. They come out at night to feed on land. Adults can eat more than 100 kg of food at night. Hippos destroy almost the same amount of grass by trampling on it. They pluck the grass with their strong lips - not their teeth. The molars are used to masticate the food. Their canine teeth grow continuously thoughout their life. Hippos do not eat fish. Very dependent on water.
Prolonged exposure to the sun will cause severe blistering on their skin. This in turn will cause festering sores. Sometimes their hide shows a reddish colour and this is due to a glandular secretion that serves to protect the skin against the rays of the sun.
They have four toes encased in rounded hooves on each of their short legs. Hippos mate both in water and on land.
Their major enemies, other than man the super predator, are lion and crocodiles. Although crocodiles seldom if ever takes a chance with a full grown hippo.
Hippos are extremely dangerous.
Sounds of the Hippo
From CD 'Animal Calls of Africa'
Donation made to World Wildlife Fund South Africa for each copy purchased
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