Skip to main content

Hippopotamus means river horse in the Greek language!

Did you know that Hippopotamus means river horse in the Greek language?  The Greeks choose this name since these enormous animals can spend 16 hours a day in lakes, rivers, or swamps.
Interesting hippopotamus facts
A group of playful hippopotamuses in the river
Some more interesting Hippopotamus trivia facts:
  • Hippopotamuses can weigh up to 4 tons and feed mainly on grass, fallen fruit, and sugar cane. 
  • They are the 3rd largest land mammal after the elephant and white rhinoceros.
  • If threatened, hippopotamuses can easily outrun a human at 19 miles per hour, in spite of their chubby appearance.  
  • Hippopotamuses produces loud noises that can be heard for several miles and sounds like roaring lions!
  • The Swahili name for a hippopotamus is Kiboko.
  • The gestation period for a female hippopotamus is 240 days.
  • Hippopotamus amphibius is the scientific name for the Hippopotamus.
  • They are thought as one of the most deadliest animals in Africa, since approximately 3,000 people are killed annually on the continent.
  • Hippopotamuses can live from 40-50 years.
  • The hippopotamus was considered a representation of pregnancy in ancient Egypt.
  • Two hippo species are found in Africa, the large hippo and the pygmy hippo.
  • Hippopotamuses are not very susceptible to disease, therefore, their numbers can quickly multiply.
  • Hippopotamuses like to graze on grass at night for several hours and can venture across the land for miles.
  • While submerged in water, hippopotamuses can hear, see, and breathe since their ears, eyes, and nose are located at the top of their heads. 
  • Not good swimmers, hippopotamuses usually walk or run on the bottom of the river bed.
  • Hippopotamuses secrete a red, oily substance that acts as a skin moisturizer and sunblock.
  • The African country of the Democratic Republic of Congo has seen a severe decline in the hippopotamus population.
  • The hippopotamus can bring down its temperature by resting in water
  • A male hippopotamus is known as a bull; a female is a cow, and the baby is a calf.  
  • Hippo calves weight approximately 45 kilograms at birth.
  • A hippopotamus consumers about 80 pounds or 36 kilograms of grass each night.
  • The long ivory teeth of a hippopotamus never stop growing, in fact, they can grow up to 20 inches, or 51 centimeters.
  • Hippopotamuses can open their mouths very wide, 150 degrees to be exact!
  • Hippopotamuses are related to the whale and dolphin and like to be in large groups.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

There are turquoise McDonald's arches in Sedona, Arizona!

Did you know that there are turquoise McDonald's arches in Sedona, Arizona? The reason that the arches are blue instead of yellow is because the town did not want to ruin the surrounding desert landscape with a ostentatious yellow logo. The turquoise McArches blend in perfectly with the adobe restaurant; tourists from all over the world come to Sedona to take photos next this fascinating logo. Sedona became an incorporated city in 1988, and a McDonald's franchise owner wanted to open up a McDonald's there a few years later.  He met with the Community Development Department and together they decided for the McArches to be turquoise. McDonald's had opened for business in May of 1993 and the rest is history! Beautiful turquoise McDonalds Arches in Sedona, Arizona!                               Some more interesting McDonald's restaurant facts: The first food item on the McDonald's menu was no...
Post a Comment
Read more

Mickey Mouse is known as Topolino in Italy!

Did you know that Mickey Mouse is known as Topolino in Italy? He also goes by Mikki Hirri in Finland, Mikki Mausu in Japan, and Michel Souris in France! Mickey Mouse was originally going to be called Mortimer Mouse, but Walt Disney's wife, Lillian, had insisted on the name, Mickey.  The official switch from Mortimer to Mickey took place on November 18, 1928. Mickey Rooney, famous American actor who starred in more than 300 films, felt that Walt Disney had named Mickey Mouse after him, since he had met Disney in the 1920's as a boy. The first Mickey Mouse cartoon was Plane Crazy and the first with synchronized sound was Steamboat Willie, both produced in 1928.  Steamboat Willie was a short black and white film produced by Walt Disney Studios and directed by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks. Mickey Mouse's ears are perfect circles and he was the first cartoon character to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Mickey's first recorded words were Hot Dogs in the car...
Post a Comment
Read more

For every human on Earth, there are 1.6 million ants!

Did you know that for every human on Earth, there are 1.6 million ants?  In fact, ants are found on every continent except Antarctica!  There are over 12,500 identified ant species in black, red, green, and metallic colors. Ant colonies can contain less than 100 ants up to millions.  They are social insects that work together to support the group while solving problems.  They have lived on Earth for over 100 million years and make up to 25% of the total biomass weight of land animals. Out of all the ants, the Queen ant can live up to 30 years. Worker ants can live up to 3 years, while the drones only live a couple of weeks.  Both the Queen and male drones have wings and mate with each other; the Queen is in charge of each ant colony and can lay thousands of eggs. Non-reproducing female ants build the nest, find food, guard the ant nest from enemies, and care for the Queen and the offspring. Some ants can swim and most can survive underwater for 24 hours. ...
Post a Comment
Read more