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Hippopotamus Information
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Hippopotamus
Hippopotamus amphibius
Physical Characteristics
- Broad snout, large mouth, short barrel-like body and short, stocky legs. The nostrils are located on top of the snout and can be closed. The sparsely-haired skin contains special pores which secrete "blood sweat." This thick, oily, pinkish substance allows them to remain in water or on dry land for long periods.
- Size of average adult
- length: 12 - 15 feet
- height: 5 feet
- weight: 2,000 - 14,000 lbs.
- Approximate life span is 41 years.
Diet
- Wild: grass
Behavior
- May live alone or in large groups of up to 30. Adult males compete with each other for control of a herd. The chief weapons are the lower canines.
- Bulls have a loud roar that can be heard over a great distance.
- Spends practically the entire day sleeping or resting in or near water; then emerges to feed at night
- Normally stay submerged 3-5 minutes, but can remain under for up to 30 minutes
- Reproduction
- sexual maturity: 3-4 years in captivity, 6-15 years in the wild
- breeding season: any time of year
- gestation: 227-240 days
- normally single births, birth weight 60 - 110 pounds, young can swim before they can walk and may nurse underwater.
Environmental/Global
- Habitat: areas of deep water with adjacent reed beds
- Distribution: African rivers, including the Nile and the Mara
