About the Hippo
The hippopotamus is a semi-aquatic African mammal and the third-largest land mammal on Earth. Despite spending their days in rivers and lakes to keep cool, these herbivores cannot actually swim. Instead, they use their dense bones to walk along riverbeds, emerging at night to graze on grasses.
Fascinating Hippo Traits
- Semi-Aquatic Senses: Eyes, ears, and nostrils are on top of their heads so they can see and breathe while submerged.
- Natural Sunscreen: They secrete an oily red-pink liquid that protects their sensitive skin from sunburn.
- Powerful and Protective: Known to be highly aggressive, they are considered one of the most dangerous large animals in Africa.
Description of the Hippo
Size and Weight
- Length: Ranges from 9.5 to 16.5 feet long.
- Height: Stands up to 5 feet tall at the shoulder.
- Weight: Females average around 3,000 lbs. , while larger males typically weigh between 3,000 and 9,900 lbs.
Head and Jaw
- Enormous Gape: The hippo’s jaw is hinged far to the back, allowing it to open its mouth up to 150 degrees.
- Impressive Teeth: It features continuously growing, tusk-like canine teeth that can grow up to 20 inches long and sharp, protruding incisors.
- Aquatic Senses: The eyes, ears, and nostrils are uniquely positioned high on top of the head so the animal can see, hear, and breathe while the rest of the body is completely submerged.
- Underwater Modifications: When fully submerged, the hippo can fold shut its ears and nostrils to keep water out.
Skin and Color
- Coloration: The body is generally a dark purplish-gray to slate brown, fading to pale pink around the eyes, ears, and underbelly.
- Thickness: The skin is hairless, practically feather-like in its scant covering of fine hairs, and extremely thick—up to 2 inches on the flanks.
- “Blood Sweat”: Hippos lack true sweat glands. Instead, they secrete a thick, oily reddish-pink substance often called “blood sweat,” which acts as a natural sunblock and prevents their skin from drying out.
Limbs and Tail
- Feet: They have four toes on each foot, connected by partial webbing that helps distribute their massive weight on land and provides stabilization while walking on riverbeds.
- Tail: The tail is relatively short (about 16 inches) and flat, used primarily to spread excrement to mark territory.
Hippo Species / Subspecies
There are only two living hippopotamus species, classified into two distinct genera:
1. Common Hippopotamus
The common hippo is large, semi-aquatic, and highly social, living in rivers and lakes across sub-Saharan Africa. While traditionally debated, genetic and morphological studies generally divide the species into five recognized subspecies:
- Great Northern / Nile Hippo: Native to the northern regions, primarily found in the Nile River basin, Mozambique, and Tanzania.
- East African Hippo: Found in the Great Lakes region of Africa, primarily inhabiting Kenya and Somalia.
- Southern African / Cape Hippo: Distributed across the southern tip of the continent, spanning from Zambia down to South Africa.
- West African / Chad Hippo: Resides in West Africa and the Lake Chad region.
- Angola Hippo: Restricted to Angola, Namibia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
2. Pygmy Hippopotamus
The pygmy hippo is a solitary, reclusive species native to the dense forests and swamps of West Africa (primarily Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Ivory Coast). Unlike the common hippo, no distinct subspecies of the pygmy hippo are officially recognized.
Suitable Weapons
The .375 H&H Magnum is the minimum cartridge used to hunt Hippos.
Hunting Area
Hippopotamus hunting is legally permitted and regulated through outfitters in Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Africa, Tanzania, and Namibia.
