Hippos

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Hippos

Hippos are African mammals. They live most of the time in the water and just leave the river to go to late afternoon to graze in the bush a few miles from the banks. You can walk straight up to 10 miles at night. They are very voracious and eat up to 60 kilos of plants in one night.

At dawn they are back in the water, that free parasites, keeps them cool and protected from the African sun and also helps them support their enormous weight. They feed on grass that grows on the banks of rivers and aquatic plants.

These animals are good swimmers but sometimes in shallow areas instead of swimming prefer walking or running on dirt, rocks, plants or sand or what is in these shallow areas. The eyes and nostrils are at the top of the head, allowing them to see and breathe while keeping most of the body under water.

The hippopotamus is an extremely sedentary animal, a large part of the day resting in the water passes; Hippos also rest on the banks and secrete an oily substance in red, so it is sometimes said that south blood. However, it is a sunscreen that moisturizes your skin and protects against germs.

The baby hippo last 8 months gestation and at birth weigh about 45 kilograms and can be nursed on land and in water, closing their ears and nostrils. Females usually have one calf every two years. After birth, mother and son join the group, which will protect them from crocodiles, lions, hyenas, etc.

In your group, the hippo is well structured. The females and young males are located more or less together in the water. Older males are placed around them, keeping a respectful distance, as they are very aggressive.

The fights between them are so violent, but rarely end with death.

The inferred deep wounds in the fighting rarely become infected and heal quickly.

Is one of the largest mammals on earth (only get over it the whale and the elephant), and also large are extremely dangerous, if disturbed not hesitate to kill, an adult hippopotamus is capable of killing an alligator without a problem.

It has a weight between 2600 and 4500 kg, a length of 5 m and a height of 1.5 m. The cross It has a lifespan of between 40 and 50.

Hippos live in small herds of no more than ten to fifteen copies. Despite this, very favorable areas have seen herds of more than one hundred individuals. Although some males also prefer to live alone.

This species like most in the world is beginning to disappear and as with other species the cause of their possible extinction is man.