| Información de la foto |
Copyright: Aires Mario da Cruz (oscarromulus)
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1144 W: 189 N: 2131]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif) (5682) |
| Género: Animals |
| Medio: Color |
| Tomada el: 2009-04-03 |
| Categorías: Mammals |
| Cámara: Canon EOS 5D Mark II |
| Exposición: f/4, 1/100 segundos |
| More Photo Info: [view] |
| Map: [view] |
| Versión de la foto: Versión original |
| Fecha enviada: 2009-04-06 9:48 |
| Vista: 1254 |
| Puntos: 6 |
|
| [Normas para las notas] Notas del fotógrafo |
"HIPPOPOTAMUS".
"Hippopotamus" comes from a Greek word meaning “water or river horse.” But hippos are not related to horses at all—in fact, their closest living relatives may be pigs or whales and dolphins! There are two species of hippopotamus: the river, or common, hippo Hippopotamus amphibius and the much smaller pygmy hippo Hexaprotodon liberiensis. The hippo is heaviest land mammal (after the elephant).
Hippos are definitely adapted for life in the water and are found living in slow-moving rivers and lakes in Africa. With their eyes, ears, and nostrils on the top of the head, hippos can hear, see, and breathe while most of their body is underwater. Hippos also have a set of built-in goggles: a clear membrane covers their eyes for protection while still allowing them to see when underwater. Their nostrils close and they can hold their breath for five minutes or longer when submerged. Yet despite all these adaptations for life in the water, HIPPOS CAN'T SWIM! They can't even float! Their bodies are far too dense to float, so they move around by pushing off from the bottom of the river or simply walking along the riverbed in a slow-motion gallop, lightly touching the bottom with their toes like aquatic ballet dancers. It was, perhaps, because of this "slow motion gallop" that they earned their name of RIVER HORSE = HIPPOPOTAMUS.
They eat about 60 kilos of freshly sprouted short grass per night.
Hippos have unique skin that needs to be kept wet for a good part of the day. Staying out of the water for too long can lead to dehydration, so hippos try to stay in the water during the day. They don’t have true sweat glands; instead, hippos secrete a thick, red substance from their pores known as "blood sweat" because it looks like the animal is sweating blood. But not to worry! The blood sweat creates a layer of mucous that protects hippo skin from sunburn and keeps it moist. It is thought that this mucous may also prevent infections because even large wounds don't get infected despite the filthy water hippos sometimes live in.
The hippopotamus is a social animal, living in groups of 10 to 30 animals. They have even been seen in much larger groups of up to 200 animals! The herd has several cows and several bulls (males), but there is one dominant bull. He has the right to mate with all cows in his herd, although he will sometimes allow subordinate bulls in and around his territory to mate. The dominant bull reminds other hippos of his territory by flinging his dung as far as possible with his fan-shaped tail! Watch this: "WHAT A MESS". When rival bulls meet, they stand nose to nose with their mouths open as wide as possible, up to 150 degrees. This is called "gaping," a way to size each other up. Usually the smaller bull will then retreat without being pursued by the larger hippo. When two hippos do decide to fight, they slash out with their tusks or swing their enormous heads like sledgehammers while bellowing loudly. They have been known to die as a result of a very aggressive battle.
Although the hippo is not yet endangered, its habitat has been greatly reduced over the last 200 years. Once common to all of Africa, hippos are now abundant only in East Africa. Poachers sometimes hunt hippos for their large, soft ivory tusks, which are easier to carve than elephant tusks. Humans have moved into hippo habitat, using the fresh water where hippos live for farming needs. A new threat to hippos these days is hunters who kill them for their meat, which has become a popular food item. |
Alex99, gannu, Nephrotome2 ha puntuado esta nota como útil.
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes. |
|
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 4 N: 3262]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(14691)