Rhinoceros and hippopotamus
![rhinoceros and hippopotamus rhinoceros and hippopotamus](https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2784/4138249866_e474bfe2be_b.jpg)
The five subspecies of hippos are descriptive of the shape of their skulls and where they are found geographically. This is based on the fact that they are extremely aggressive and unpredictable. The Hippopotamus is one of the most dangerous animals in the world, believe it or not. Despite their appearance, the Hippo is not to be messed with. They have bodies that contain little hair, short columnar legs and can weigh up to 3,300 pounds for males and females are slightly smaller at 2,800-pounds. The hippo mouth is wide and open which contains large canine tusks. They are characterized by their barrel-shaped torsos. The hippo generally grazes after dusk when it is cooler. Hippos may be seen near each other at rest, but feeding is done in solo and they are not territorial on land. Childbirth also takes place in water as does mating. During the hot daytime a hippo will either stay in water or mud in order to cool down. The main reason why hippos are often found near bodies of water is that this is how they stay cool. Territorial males will control a pre-determined stretch of water which will include a group of five to thirty females and their young. The hippo can be found in lakes, rivers and mangrove swamps. The name hippopotamus comes from an ancient Greek word that translates to mean ‘river horse’ and the hippo is the third-largest land mammal following the elephant and rhinoceros.Ĭrocodiles, lions & hyenas can prey on baby hippo. The hippopotamus, or hippo, is native to sub-Saharan Africa and is a large, mostly herbivorous mammal.