“I wanna hippopotamus for Christmas. Only a hippopotamus will do…”
Remember that old song? Okay, so maybe it isn’t the most frequently heard Christmas carol, and I am sure very few of us added the huge beasts to our Christmas wish lists. But that doesn’t mean we can’t learn more about them!
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Hippopotamuses, also known as river horses, are the heaviest land mammals after elephants and are found only in Africa. They are purple-brown colored, heavy-lidded, short-legged, short-tailed animals with large rotund bodies on stubby legs that resemble pigs more than horses. They have large heads with small eyes and ears; their nostrils are equipped with special flaps that close down tight when the animal goes under water. Their huge mouth is filled with long, pointed incisor and canine teeth even though they are herbivores. Adult male hippos also have tusk like canine teeth in the lower jaw; these teeth can grow up to 28 inches long and weigh up 6 pounds each! These tusks are prized as a source of ivory, but obtaining them can be very dangerous— tusks can inflict terrible wounds. When most people think of hippos, they think of their huge gaping mouths: these jaws can open up to 150 degrees, displaying not just the teeth of the animal, but a good portion of the throat as well! Hippos have skin is can be up to 1.75 inches thick and is actually highly sensitive to the sun. The animals secrete an oily, red liquid that helps to protect their skin and makes them appear to “sweat blood.” Hippos are covered by a 2-inch layer of fat that is prized for making various products by many native tribes. Adult hippos can reach up to 16 feet long and can weigh up to 8,000 pounds; because of the animals’ short legs, they usually stand no higher than 5 to 5.5 feet at the shoulder.
Hippos are semi-aquatic, and actually learn to swim before they can walk. They can remain underwater for as long as 25 minutes with one breath. During the day, it spends most of its time with only its eyes, ears, and nostrils above the surface of the river, feeding on aquatic vegetation and often swimming over 19 miles in search of food. After nightfall, the animals emerge from the water to feed on land plants. It eats grasses, leaves, and fruit. Hippos also love sugar cane and corn, and have been known to cause great damage on plantations near water sources (most of the damage comes from trampling rather than eating).
Hippos are highly social animals, living in heard of 10 to 15 animals; when not foraging for food, they often lie close enough to be in physical contact with each other. The mating system is polygamous, with bulls competing in fierce battles for the rights to monopolize the females. Females (cows) bear a single calf after an 8 month gestation period. Cows will fight ferociously if their calf is threatened or attacked.
Generally hippos are very peaceful animals, but should you come across one or more in the river, turn around and leave them be. They can be very fierce if they feel their territory is invaded. So admire these great animals from afar, and snap many pictures to show your friends. A hippo sighting can be very exciting!
S. Brown, January 2002, Niamey
Activities
- Hippo maze (pdf document)
- Hippo coloring page (pdf document)
- Hippo bag puppet (pdf document)
