This huge mammal is currently only in localized areas of the African
continent, where many years ago spread throughout Europe, Africa and
Asia. Its territory is located in the southern part of the Sahara, and
dwarf its kind in the area of Ivory Coast, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
This is a peaceful animal, but when it defends against any kind of
threat cause dread. Their weight ranges from three thousand to four
thousand pounds and height reaches the subway and a half. Stresses its
huge head, with small eyes and ears, and large mouth and nose. From
thick and short legs and a thick skin about two centimeters.
It has two huge tusks in the lower jaw that could measure up to 50 cm,
superiors are smaller. His teeth consists of about 38 pieces. When
feeding dives into the water, starting from the bottom plants that can
be found, and returns to the surface to ingest.
As curious information, the hippopotamus has three sacks or cavities
differentiated in the stomach. This paquidermo develops much of its
daily activity near or within the water and, although it can not be
maintained for a long time under water, is an excellent swimmer. When
it reduces the flow of the river, hippos can not satisfy their
nutritional needs, so you must go to the forest vegetation.
They are grouped in herds of a dozen members and are rarely isolated,
with the exception of older males, are sociable animals. They spend the
day preferably in the water and sunbathing, in fact, when resting or
sleeping lies down half length on the shore, in contact with water, and
other means in contact with the earth.
An animal is usually quiet, just before the threat of man is alerted
and aggressive when threatened or their offspring. The man seems to be
his worst enemy. The reproductive season comes with the rains, when his
basic food is abundant. A hippopotamus is sexually mature environment 4
years. The mother constantly sailing for his breeding and breastfeeding
in the water.
|
The Hippopotamus