HIPPOPOTAMUS

HIPPOPOTAMUS

In the family of hippopotamus are two species.  The hippopotamus and the pygmy hippopotamus.  Each live in quite different habitats but both species live in Africa. The hippopotamus lives in lakes and rivers in open grassland. It lives from 40 to 50 years; measures 350-520 cm length and 150 cm height; weighs 1300 - 1500 kg and can run 30 km on land. 

FEEDING

Hippopotamus herds are dozing with their nostrils above the waterline during the day.  They also lying on the muddy shore of lakes and rivers, or standing almost submerged in the water.  It spares the animals’ legs from their enormous weight of their body.  In the night they come out for about five hours and feed on the vegetation surrounding. They pick up the grass with their broad lips. This can cause fully uprooting the plants and leaves the area totally bare. Each hippo eats about 40 kg vegetation each night.  If that happens they have to travel and often miles to find another substantial vegetation batch.  It had been noticed that they run under water on the tips of their toes or follow paths.

To save their energy the animals spend much of their lives lazing around in the supportive warm waters.

FAMILY LIFE

Hippopotamus are social animals. The male is in control of their territory and the group has many females with their calves.  It can measure up to 150 animal.

They reach sexual maturity at the age from four and 11 years. Families usually have one calf, seldom twins.  They are born in the wet season after a gestation of 240 days. The young suckle for about eight months.

SPECIAL  ADAPTATIONS

Hippopotamus have smooth skin which adapted to live in water.  It has a thin surface layer which dehydrates fast.  The dehydration is five times faster than man.  They have special glands emitting a viscous pink fluid which spreads of the surface of the skin to prevent it from sunburn and infection

The lower canine teeth of the hippo grow all its life. Eventually they become huge task. The male, when threatened, opens it mouth to show its giant teeth.  Males often fight and sometime its ends in death.

   

                                            
PYGMY HIPPOPOTAMUS

PYGMY HIPPOS IN 
KENYA WILDLIFE CONSERVATION

Pygmy hippopotamus are living in woodlands and are very secretive animals. It is a nocturnal animal and therefore very hard to study. Height 150 - 177 cm; length 150 - 177 cm; weight 180 - 275 kg; lifespan 30 - 55 year in captivity but in the wild it is doubtful it lives that long.

Many other species of pygmy and smaller hippos had been extinct.

FEEDING

Pygmy hippo spends more time on land. They are shy creatures and feed at night.

FAMILY LIFE 

They only live in small family groups.  The group contains only one male and a female and their calf.  The baby is born in the wet season after a gestation of 190 to 210 days and suckled for up to eight months.