The+Hippopotamus

The Hippopotamus "water or river horse" = =



Animal Family: Hippopotamidae __ Family Characteristics: __ The animal family Hippopotamidae includes only two different species of Hippos: The Common Hippopotamus (//Hippopotamus amphibius//), and The Pygmy Hippopotamus (//Hexaprotodon libriensis//). Both Hippos can be spotted around large bodies of water. The Common Hippo lives in lakes and rivers along the Sahara Desert. The Pygmy Hippo lives in the swampy forests of Western Africa. Hippos are large herbivores. They have a large head and mouth with very thick gray skin, but can be easily sunburnt in the scorching summer heats of Africa.

Common Hippo

__** Hippo Information: **__** Both Species of Hippos are found in South Africa and Asia. Both Species are still not on the endangered list, but males referred to as Bulls are still poached for their soft, ivory tusks, leaving the whole untouched body to waste. **
 * //Kingdom: Animalia//
 * //Phylum: Chordata//
 * //Class: Mammalia//
 * //Order: Artiodactyla//
 * //Family: Hippopotamus//
 * //Genus: Hippopotamus//
 * //Species: H. amphibius//

__Movement:__ Even though one Hippo can weigh up to 1-3 tons, then can move surprisingly fast. Their huge bodies are carried by muscular legs which can help them run up to 30 mph. If they are not running around, you can mainly find them grazing and swimming in swampy areas.

__Metabolism:__ Both Species of Hippos are Herbivores, which means they love to eat plants, grasses, and fruits. Their keen senses, such as their highly acute ears help them hear falling fruit from miles away. They can eat up to 45 kg per night. They can easily store up to two days worth of grass in their stomachs, then go without eating for three weeks if needed. They have large and strong teeth and mouths.

__Growth and Development:__ Most Hippos, both male and female can weigh up to 1 1/2-3 tons. For a female to mature into an adult, it takes about 5-6 years. For a male, it takes about 7 years.

__Response & Adaptions:__ Hippos have many incredible talents that help them survive in Africa. Since the summers can reach temperatures up in the hundreds, hippos have adapted by protecting their skin with a thick, mucusy substance called Blood Sweat. This process simply acts almost like a sunscreen so they don't get sunburnt. Second, when cold seasons come around, Hippos will lay up on the sand banks to stay warm. All day long the sun will bask on them so they don't get a chill. Hippo's ears and noses allow them to have a strong keen sense that help smell and pick up fruit and other foods that sometimes will fall from miles away.

__Reproduction:__ Since a Hippo baby can weigh up to 50-110 lbs. a female can only carry one baby at a time. They are part of the mammal class, so a mother will give birth after about eight months of gestation. When it is time for the female, called a cow to give birth it will leave the herd for about 1-2 weeks during the wettest time of the year. Mothers will wait for days without eating until her baby is strong enough to graze with the adult Hippos at night. Nursing takes place on land, or even under water. Mating season happens during the driest season of the month, so the female will give birth in the wet season.

__Males and Females:__ Males and females look the same, but their weight difference can be about 1-2 tons. Also, males are a lot more protective of their herd. Here is a mother cow pushing her offspring up to the surface of the water shortly after giving birth under water.

Sources: http://www.sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/t-hippopotamus.html http://www.abcnews.go.com http://www.zoopeeps.wordpress.com http://www.dailycognition.com

By: Caleigh McKay