The most recent theory of the origins of Hippopotamidae suggests that hippos and whales shared a common semi-aquatic ancestor that branched off from other artiodactyls around 60 million years ago. There is also a colony of non-zoo hippos in Colombia introduced by Pablo Escobar. They are still threatened by habitat loss and poaching for their meat and ivory canine teeth. The hippopotamus is one of the most aggressive creatures in the world and is often regarded as one of the most dangerous animals in Africa. Hippos have been clocked at 30 km/h (19 mph) over short distances. The hippopotamus is one of the largest quadrupeds and despite its stocky shape and short legs, it can easily outrun a human. It is the third largest land mammal by weight (between 1½ and 3 tonnes), behind the white rhinoceros (1½ to 3½ tonnes) and the three species of elephant (3 to 9 tonnes).
Hippos are recognizable by their barrel-shaped torso, enormous mouth and teeth, nearly hairless body, stubby legs and tremendous size. While hippopotamuses rest near each other in the water, grazing is a solitary activity and hippos are not territorial on land. During the day they remain cool by staying in the water or mud reproduction and childbirth both occur in water. The hippopotamus is semi-aquatic, inhabiting rivers, lakes and mangrove swamps, where territorial bulls preside over a stretch of river and groups of 5 to 30 females and young. The earliest known hippopotamus fossils, belonging to the genus Kenyapotamus in Africa, date to around 16 million years ago. The common ancestor of whales and hippos split from other even-toed ungulates around 60 million years ago. Despite their physical resemblance to pigs and other terrestrial even-toed ungulates, their closest living relatives are cetaceans (whales, porpoises, etc.) from which they diverged about 55 million years ago. The hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius), or hippo, from the ancient Greek for "river horse" (ἱπποπόταμος), is a large, mostly herbivorous mammal in sub-Saharan Africa, and one of only two extant species in the family Hippopotamidae (the other is the Pygmy Hippopotamus.) After the elephant and rhinoceros, the hippopotamus is the third largest land mammal and the heaviest extant artiodactyl. A partially submerged hippopotamus tries to keep cool in the hot African sun. Hippos once had a broader distribution but now live in eastern central and southern sub-Saharan Africa, where their populations are in decline. Soon after birth, mother and young join schools that provide some protection against crocodiles, lions, and hyenas.
Each female has only one calf every two years. Hippo calves weigh nearly 100 pounds (45 kilograms) at birth and can suckle on land or underwater by closing their ears and nostrils. If threatened on land hippos may run for the water-they can match a human’s speed for short distances. Considering their enormous size, a hippo’s food intake is relatively low. They may travel 6 miles (10 kilometers) in a night, along single-file pathways, to consume some 80 pounds (35 kilograms) of grass. At sunset, hippopotamuses leave the water and travel overland to graze.
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The liquid is actually a skin moistener and sunblock that may also provide protection against germs. Hippos also bask on the shoreline and secrete an oily red substance, which gave rise to the myth that they sweat blood. Their eyes and nostrils are located high on their heads, which allows them to see and breathe while mostly submerged.
However, they are often large enough to simply walk or stand on the lake floor, or lie in the shallows. Hippos are graceful in water, good swimmers, and can hold their breath underwater for up to five minutes. Hippopotamuses love water, which is why the Greeks named them the "river horse." Hippos spend up to 16 hours a day submerged in rivers and lakes to keep their massive bodies cool under the hot African sun.
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