A group of Hippopotamus in and out of the water, Kruger National Park, South Africa
Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibicus) Shoulder height: males about 1,5 m; mean mass: males about 1 500 kg, females 1 300 kg. It is found in areas where there is adequate open water and adjacent food supplies. It prefers open stretches of permanent water, deep enough to allow it to submerge totally, with gently sloping sandbanks allowing it to rest during the day with its back and the top of its head out of the water. The hippopotamus is characterised by its great size, short, barrel-shaped body, and smooth, naked, greyish black skin, which is pinkish yellow in the skin folds and around the eyes and ears. The head is massive and the eyes, nostrils relatively small ears are raised above the general level of the upper surface, allowing the hippo to lie in the water with only the top of its head showing and yet retain its sense of sight, smell and hearing. It can remain under water for periods of up to six minutes. It fills its lungs with air and sphinkter muscles close the nostrils and ears to prevent the entry of water. The toes are webbed to assist in swimming and it can walk on the bottom under water. The huge permanent incisor and canine teeth are a feature. The males establish pear-shaped territories, the narrow end where they leave the water. The schools, which may number up to 15 individuals, consists of the terrirorial male, adult females and juveniles of both sexes. During the day they rest in the water, emerging about sundown to graze on dry land. Young males are evicted from the schools by the territorial male when they reach puberty at about six years of age. They eat about 130 kg of green grass at a feed. Mating takes place in the water. A single calf is born at any time of the year after a gestation period of 225 - 257 days. The female hides the calf in the reed beds. At this time she is particularly aggressive and inclined to attack if disturbed.
Size: 5300px × 3533px
Photo credit: © Emile Wessels / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
Keywords: amphibius, big, blubber, cute, dangerous, fat, game, grass, graze, grey, herbivore, hippo, hippopotamus, puddle, river, scary, seekoei, strong, swim, tourist, vieving, water
