Why is the hippopotamus called "river horse"?

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:47

A river horse is a massive thick-skinned herbivore that lives in rivers or other bodies of water. These unusual barrel-shaped creatures live in Africa and are called hippos. It is the third largest land animal, after the elephant and rhinoceros. Slightly smaller, but heavier than the white rhinoceros, the weight of this giant can reach 1800 kg.

Why is the hippopotamus called the "river horse"?

The hippopotamus has a short thick neck and small ears. Despite the fact that this amazing animal sounds like a "river horse" in translation, numerous gene studies have shown that hippos are closer to whales and dolphins than to any artiodactyls. Their vegetarian diet usually includes fallen fruits, leaves, grass, sugar cane, corn, and so on.

Why is the hippopotamus called "river horse"? In fact, its name consists of two Greek words for "river" and "horse". They are well adapted for a long stay in the water. Hippos prefer deep water rivers andnearby reed beds, some species live in s alty waters near estuaries. Ears and nostrils are located on the top of the head, which close automatically, as soon as the animal descends into the water.

Herbivorous Giants

These animals prefer to stay in the water all day long, coming out to land only at night to get food. Sometimes the search for food can take them a decent distance (7-8 km) deep into the mainland, so they abundantly mark their path so that later it is easy to find the way home before dawn. In one night, these bulky mammals can absorb up to 100 kilograms of vegetation.

Adults can consume massive amounts of grass by grabbing it with their wide lips rather than their teeth like most other herbivores. The so-called river horse has an almost smooth, hairless and very sensitive skin that oozes a red oily liquid from its pores that acts as a sunscreen, keeping the skin moisturized and protected when the animal is on dry land. Because of this interesting feature, it has been erroneously suggested that hippos sweat blood.

Hippopotamuses have large tusks (incisors) and fangs, the growth of which does not stop throughout life. These tusks are considered more valuable than elephant tusks because they do not turn yellow with age. The "river horse" has the widest mouth of any living land mammal, and when this herbivorous giant opens its mouth,to yawn, the distance between the jaws can reach 60 cm!

herd animal

Despite its large size and volume, the hippopotamus is a fast enough mammal that can easily overtake a person. Hippos can be quite grumpy animals, and two males can fight each other for long periods, sometimes causing serious injury.

A herd usually consists of ten to fifteen animals, including one dominant male, several subordinate males and females, and growing young. Pregnancy of the female lasts, as a rule, about 230 days. Births usually take place in the water, as does breeding itself, during the months of heavy rainfall, but can also occur at other times of the year. Young hippos are very attached to their mothers and often spend time basking on their broad backs.

Habitat

The natural habitat of these large mammals is limited to Africa, predominantly south of the Sahara desert. In ancient times, hippos were also found in the north, in the Nile Delta, and their images were quite common in ancient Egyptian art. Hippopotamuses currently inhabit the lakes, rivers and swamps of East and Central Africa.

Hippos see underwater

An interesting feature of hippos is the presence of special biological glasses - a transparent membrane that covers their eyes for protection, and at the same time allows them to seeunder the water. While diving, their nostrils close and they can hold their breath for five minutes or more. Hippos can even sleep underwater, using a reflex that allows them to shake their heads in such a way that they manage to inhale and sink down without even waking up.

However, despite all these adaptations for life in the water, this animal ("river horse") cannot swim. Their bodies are too dense for swimming, hippos move in circles, pushing off the bottom of the river or simply walking along the riverbed at a leisurely gallop, lightly touching the bottom with slightly webbed toes.

Hippos live an average of 40-50 years, there is a known case when one member of their family lived for 61 years, however, in captivity. Surprisingly, this massive herbivore only uses its huge, scary teeth for defense and fighting with its own kind.