In the valleys of rivers and lake basins, the hippopotamus is the main grazing animal. Thanks to the wide mouth, the hippo does not have to choose during feeding, and it eats all the available vegetation. By eating coarse, large vegetation, the hippopotamus clears pastures for low-growing, succulent, nutritious grass, on which a variety of ungulates can already graze.

Social behavior

Hippos live in small groups, headed not by males, but by females. It is the females who are responsible for the territory occupied by the group.

Reproduction

Pregnancy lasts about 8 months. Baby weighing about 40 kg is born. Childbirth always takes place in water. Immediately after birth, baby floats up to take its first breath.

Species and people

The habitat of hippos decreases, many individuals fall victim to poachers, because hippo canines are more expensive than ivory. And once, in the middle of the twentieth century, in some countries, the idea of breeding hippos as domestic "meat" animals was considered.

Interesting Facts

The volume of the hippo's stomach can reach 500 liters.

On the skin of the hippo "blood sweat" is released - a natural sunscreen. Initially, this secretion is colorless. It turns red-orange within a few minutes due to the presence of special pigments that create the effect of sunscreen.