Hippopotamus ordinary

The hippopotamus is the most dangerous animal in Africa. Its attacks kill far more people than predators.

The blood of a hippopotamus produces "bloody sweat" - a natural sunscreen. The secretion secreted by the glands turns red-orange in the air within minutes due to the presence of special pigments that create the effect of sunscreen.

The habitat of hippos is declining, and many individuals are falling prey to poachers, as hippopotamus fangs are more expensive than ivory.

Hippos live in small groups, which under adverse conditions (drought) can unite in a herd of up to several dozen individuals.

Hippos spend daylight hours in the water. With the onset of twilight go to land, where they feed on coastal vegetation. Despite their large size, they are very moderate in food. Their daily diet is only 1-2% of body weight. (40 kg).

Hippos, hippos - a genus of ungulates, which includes one modern species, the common hippopotamus, and a significant number of extinct. Molecular studies have shown that this is one of the oldest groups of ungulate mammals [1].