Hippopotamus

Hippopotamus is a large, mostly herbivorous, semi-aquatic mammal native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is one of only two extant species in the family Hippopotamidae, the other being the pygmy hippopotamus.

Description

The hippopotamus is the third-largest type of land mammal, following the elephant and the rhinoceros. It is characterized by its barrel-shaped torso, wide-opening mouth with large canine tusks, nearly hairless body, columnar legs, and large size.

Habitat

Hippopotamuses inhabit rivers, lakes, and mangrove swamps, where territorial bulls preside over a stretch of river and groups of five to thirty females and young. They emerge at dusk to graze on grasses.

Behavior

While hippopotamuses rest near each other in the water, grazing is a solitary activity and hippos are not territorial on land. Despite their physical resemblance to pigs and other terrestrial even-toed ungulates, their closest living relatives are cetaceans (whales, dolphins, porpoises, etc.) from which they diverged about 55 million years ago.

Health

Hippopotamuses have a significant impact on the environments in which they live. A hippopotamus's diet consists mostly of grass, and they consume large amounts of vegetation. This can lead to significant changes in the landscapes around rivers and lakes where hippos live.

Conservation

The hippopotamus is considered vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Hippopotamus populations are threatened by hunting for their meat and ivory canine teeth, and by habitat loss.

See also

• Pygmy Hippopotamus
• Elephant
• Rhinoceros
• Cetaceans

References

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External links

• IUCN Red List - Hippopotamus

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