Hippopotamus
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| Hippopotamus | |||||||||||||||||
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| Pod of hippos, Luangwa Valley, Zambia | |||||||||||||||||
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| Hippopotamus amphibius Linnaeus, 1758 |
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 Range map
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The hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) (from Greek: hippos horse, potamus, river) (Hippo) is a large mammal of the Hippopotamidae family. It is from Africa.
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[change] Appearance
Hippos have big and heavy bodies, dark grey skin, and short legs. They do not have large tusks, as elephants do; a hippo's main defence is their extremely strong mouth. Hippos are actually strong enough to break an alligator in half with one bite, but they are usually not violent unless something attacks their babies.
[change] Habitat
Hippopotamuses live in Africa. They live in and near fresh water, like lakes and rivers.
[change] Life
Hippopotamuses are herbivores. They live in groups. Sometimes 30 hippopotamuses will live in the same place. In daytime they will sleep in the mud and water, but at night they come out to eat grass.
[change] Images
 Hippo under water |
 Hippo |
