5 fun hippo facts

4/25/2021

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The hippo is the third largest land mammal on earth. Their closest relatives are whales and dolphins. Here are 5 fun facts about these fascinating animals.

#1 Hippos can't swim

Although hippos spend a lot of their days in water, they can’t really swim. That’s why they’ll look for sandy banks or river bottoms to stand on. They will be found exclusively in shallow waters.

#2 Hippo calves suckle underwater

Like all mammals, hippo calves are dependent on their mother for nourishment. And since hippos are water dwellers, their bodies have evolved some interesting adaptations.

Baby hippo noses can close just like their eyes so that water doesn’t go through and they’re free to suckle milk underwater as well as on land.

#3 Hippos are loud

This animal is not shy about letting the whole world know it’s around. Their calls are strong enough to be heard for up to a mile and they also vocalize underwater, similarly to their distant cousins - the whales!

#4 Hippos produce their own sunscreen

Hippo skin can get sunburnt so, over the eons, they have evolved the ability to secrete their own sunscreen. It’s a form of oily sweat that has a pink hue. This substance will cover their entire bodies to prevent sun damage.

#5 Hippos can stay underwater for five minutes at a time

Hippos can hold their breath a lot longer than other land mammals. If they feel threatened, they sometimes dive underwater for cover for up to five minutes. Once they feel the coast is clear, they will resurface.

Do you like hippos? Have you ever seen a hippo? Do you know any other interesting facts about them?

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What are your thoughts on this subject?

22 Comments

Juliana Cloete

Hippos are the deadliest land animal on earth. They kill an estimated 500 people a year in Africa. I have seen many and they are fascinating to watch.

bina sarmah

Dermatologists should study hippos , if they want to create better sunscreen.

Ilias Tsiabardas

I have Seen them in person several times while being in Ethiopia for almost 9 years they're a powerful animal's and very Loud

Caroline Weis

We have a celebrity at the Cincinnati zoo. Several years ago a baby hippo was born that was premature and raised by bottle feeding. Fiona is her name and she's a right hefty girl now.

Derek Bookham

David Heinz, That’s your thoughts, not everyone agrees with you

Paulette Arnold

David Heinz,.maybe we just don't know exactly how God did creat everything .

David Heinz

Why is it that so many articles about animals, humans and other creatures promote evolution, when in fact, God created all that there is in the physical universe?

Julie Domaille

I'm I awe of them. Terrifying herbivore that can bite a person in half, even crocs mind their manners around them

dmarkc

Saw 4 lions attack a hippo. It bit one lion that later died. The hippo had to reapply sunscreen.

lmoores

Dudley Fleischman, they said calves not cubs.

Michael Keppie

Leading deaths are Mosquitoes

Dolt 2

Chriss Crockford, Same one I'm talking about too

vasily tchaikovsky

I saw Hippo in Zanzibar Africa so amazing but a lot of injuared never know what is dunjerous in wild nature how they could kill people? and what for ,food?Thank you

Dolt 2

Juliana Cloete, You better look up about the display they had about the deadliest animal back in the 1960's and they used a mirror to show what it was

maggieabirch

Interesting facts I didn't know.

flanderschristy

Interesting facts. I knew most of them but not all. I wish you had added how dangerous they are. I saw a documentary on hippos & they said that hippos are the leading cause of deaths in Africa. This surprised me as I would have guessed lion or Rhino.

Alana King

Hippos play a fundamental role in their ecosystem, as they help to create the "tunnels" for water to flow through the surrounding grasslands where they reside. This helps bring bountiful streams of water to them and other animals in the dry and wet season.

Dudley Fleischman

Firstly baby hippos are called calves and not cubs and secondly hippos can swim very well indeed. I have been in a boat which was chased by a hippo in deep water and it nearly caught up to the boat. If they couldn't swim they would drown as soon as they got into deep water.