[PDF] Hippo l`hippocampe - Conception

Is a hippo amphibious or pygmy?

Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibious): The name “hippopotamus” comes from a Greek word meaning “water horse” or “river horse.” There are two species of hippopotamus: the common river hippo (Hippopotamus amphibious) and the much smaller pygmy hippo (Choeropsis liberiensis). The hippo is one of the largest mammals on Earth.

Are Hippo adapted for life in water?

Hippos are adapted for life in the water and are found living in slow-moving rivers and lakes in Africa. Hippos were once common to all of Africa, but they are now most abundant in East Africa. The hippo breeding season is linked to the dry season. Therefore, most births happen during the wettest time of the year.

Where did Hippo come from?

"Hippos stem from the longest sequence of terrestrial cetartiodactyl evolution in Africa". Nature Communications. 6: 6264. Bibcode: 2015NatCo...6.6264L. doi: 10.1038/ncomms7264. PMID 25710445. ^ Lihoreau, F. (19 June 2015). "New Fossils from Kenya Precise Hippo Origin". Serious Science. Retrieved 5 June 2021. ^ Boisserie, Jean-Renaud (2005).

Why is a hippo called a river horse?

Their name comes from the Greek word for “river horse” because they're often found in water, which helps them stay cool in the hot, tropical climate where they live. The hippo's nose, ears, and eyes are on the top of its head, and they protrude from the water while the rest of its head and its body lie beneath the surface.