[PDF] Hippo-HABITAT - Association Peau

Are hippopotamus dangerous?

With a broad mouth, a hairless body, and a set of semi-aquatic habits, the common hippopotamus ( Hippopotamus amphibius) has always struck humans as vaguely comical creatures. Found only in sub-Saharan Africa, a hippo in the wild can be almost as dangerous (and unpredictable) as a tiger or hyena .

How many hippos are there in Africa?

The Internal Union for the Conservation of Nature estimates that there are 115,000–130,000 hippos in central and southern Africa, a sharp drop from their census numbers in prehistoric times; they classify hippos as "vulnerable," experiencing a continuing decline in area, extent, and quality of habitat.

Do hippos have hair?

Hippos have hair only around their mouths and on the tips of their tails. To make up for this deficit, hippos do have extremely thick skin, consisting of about two inches of the epidermis and only a thin layer of underlying fat—there's not much need to conserve heat in the wilds of equatorial Africa.

How do hippos live in the water?

In the water, hippos live in loose polygynous groups made up mostly of females with their offspring, one territorial male and several unallied bachelors: The alpha male has a section of beach or lake edge for a territory.