El hipopótamo común (Hippopotamus amphibius) es un gran mamífero originario de los ríos del África subsahariana. Son unos grandes animales acuáticos con largos dientes, orificios nasales en la parte superior del hocico, orejas pequeñas y una piel gruesa de color marrón grisáceo. Los machos miden de 4 a 5 m de largo y pesan de 1500 a 2000 kg, mientras que las medidas de las hembras van de los 3,3 a los 4,2 m de largo y pesan entre 1000 y 1500 kg.
Latin Name
Hippopotamus amphibius
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hippopotamus
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Animal Facts
The hippopotamus' closest living relatives are whales and dolphins.
The skin of the hippopotamus is 6cm thick and secretes a red substance that acts as sunscreen.
Hippos can open their mouths to 150º, this is called a 'hippo yawn' and is usually an aggression display.
Hippos have very large teeth; their canines can be 50cm long.
Hippos spend daylight hours in the water keeping cool and come out of the water at night to graze. They may travel up to 5km, and defecate on leaving so they can smell their way back to the water.