Why is a hippopotamus called a riverhorse?

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

Why is a hippopotamus called a river horse?

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

Why is a hippopotamus called a river horse? In fact, its name consists of two Greek words "river" and "horse." They are well adapted for a long stay in the water. Hippos prefer rivers with deep water and nearby reed beds, some species inhabit saline waters near the mouths of rivers. On the top of the head are the ears and nostrils that close automatically, it is only the animal that descends into the water.

Herbivorous giants

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

Adult individuals can consume a huge amount of grass, grabbing it with their wide lips, and not with teeth, like most other herbivores. The so-called river horse has a practically smooth, hairless and very sensitive skin, from the pores of which a red oily liquid acts as a sunscreen, which keeps the skin hydrated and protected when the animal is on land. Because of this interesting feature, the erroneous assumption was made that the hippopotamus was sweating with blood.

Hippos have large tusks (incisors) and canines, the growth of which does not cease throughout life. These tusks are considered more valuable than elephants, because they do not turn yellow with age. "River horse" has the widest jaw among any now existing terrestrial mammals, and when this herbivorous giant opens his mouth to yawn, the distance between the jaws can reach 60 cm!

Herd Animal

Despite its large size and volume, the behemoth is a fast enough mammal that can easily outrun a person. Hippos can be quite grumpy beasts, and two males can fight for a long time with each other, sometimes causing serious injuries.

The herd usually consists of ten to fifteen animals, including one dominant male, several subordinate males and females, as well as young growth. Pregnancy of the female lasts, as a rule, about 230 days. Genera usually occur in the water, as well as actual reproduction, in months of heavy rainfall, but may occur in other seasons. 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, mainly to the 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. Currently, habitats of hippos are lakes, rivers and swamps of Eastern and Central Africa.

Hippopotamuses see under water

An interesting feature of hippos is the presence of special biological glasses - a transparent membrane covering their eyes for protection, and at the same time allowing them to see under water. During the dive, their nostrils are closed, they can hold their breath for five or more minutes. Hippos can even sleep under water using a reflex, allowing them to shake their head in such a way that they manage to inhale and sink down, and yet not even wake up.

However, despite all these adaptations for living in water, this animal ("river horse") can not swim. Their bodies are too dense for swimming, the hippopotamuses move in a circle, pushing from the bottom of the river or simply walking along the channel unhurried gallop, slightly touching the bottom with slightly webbed toes.

Hippos live from an average of 40-50 years, a case where one representative of their family lived for 61 years, true, in captivity, is known. Surprisingly, this massive herbivore uses its enormous terrible teeth only for defense and fighting with its own kind.