Vernacular Name: Hippopotamus

Scientific Name: Hippopotamus amphibius

Class: Mammalia         Order: Artiodactyla         Family:Hippopotamidae

Geographic Range: Tropical Africa

Habitat: Large rivers and lakes, sometimes estuaries

Physical Characteristics:

• Height 5 ft. tall at the shoulder with legs less than 2 ft. (0.6 m.) long
• Length 12 ft. (3.7 m.)
• Weight between 3-4 tons (2722-3629 kg.)
• Males larger than females
• Feet short and broad, all four toes on each foot support body
• Teeth include 4-6 upper and 2-6 lower incisors.Upper incisors are relatively small.The lower, innermost pair of incisors project forward (shovel-like) and are large.Upper and lower canines are very large and curved. Lower canines can be up to 2 ft. long, and lower incisors grow continuously throughout life. Molars at back of jaw are hidden by fold of skin.
• Muzzle is broad and round
• Stomach is enormous and complex and can hold 5-6 bushels (0.19-0.23 cubic meters) of grass and plants
• Skin is hairless, extremely thick (2 inches/5 cm.)(pachyderm) and underlain by fat. Some hair on tail, inside of ears, and on muzzle. Pores in the skin exude a thick oily red liquid (called “blood sweat”) that protects animal by forming a lacquer that dries to prevent dry skin and parasite damage. The lacquer also controls UV exposure and water retention.

Adaptations: 

• Amphibious, an excellent swimmer, can sink at will and remain under water 3-5 minutes
• Nostrils, eyes, and ears on top of head so only top of head needs to be above water to breath, see, and hear.
• Can close throat, ears, and nostrils by use of muscular valves

Ecological Niche:

• Primary consumer (herbivore) that feeds on grasses and aquatic plants
• Diurnal and nocturnal.In or under water during day and grazes on banks at night
• Lives in herds of 20-40 animals.Males have individual territories
• Has mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship with oxpecker bird.

Reproduction:

• Usually a single, underwater, precocial birth
• Babies weigh 60-80 lbs. (27-36 kg.) at birth and are precocial
• Young suckle in water and are carefully tended by dam

Predator/Prey Relationship:

• Crocodiles occasionally attack young

Conservation:

• Not threatened due to poaching for low grade ivory tusks

Other information:

• Survives extremely well in captivity, reproducing regularly
• Captive longevity - 30 years
• Kills more humans per year than any other animal in Africa (except other humans)

Zoo Diet:

• Hay, grain, and some fruit supplemented by vitamins

Location at Zoo:

• Aquatics Building.
• Come see our family group of Maggie (grandmother), Zambezi (granddaughter), and our new youngster, Kasai, a sister to Zambezi and granddaughter to Maggie.

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