It depends on the weather. The dominant male is the only one allowed to mate with the females of the herd, although sometimes he will allow a subordinate male to mate. Hippos have been the subjects of various African folktales. The hippo produces its own natural sunscreen—a substance called "blood sweat" or "red sweat," it consists of red and orange acids that absorb ultraviolet light and inhibit the growth of bacteria. What Do Hippos Eat?Hippos are the third-largest land animals after elephants and rhinos (white).. Hippos mostly consume herbivorous diet.They draw their nutrients mainly from grass, and they can supplement this with fruits. This instinctive behavior is the same when the baby suckles on land. A young hippo can only stay submerged for about half a minute. Hippos spend most of the hours during the day immersed in slow-moving waters in order to cope with the hot conditions of the African savanna. There are two species of hippos in the world today, the Common Hippopotamus and the Pygmy Hippopotamus. Some animals from “hotter” climates can stand colder weather and some absolutely hate it. Firstly, hippos weigh in at more than 3,000 pounds and reach lengths of up to 17 feet, making them truly gigantic. They live in groups, called “bloats”, of about 15 to 30 individuals, with … Depending on where they live in the Delta, ... Hippos are found mostly in the areas of permanent water, Lagoons and deep channels in the Delta. Hippos do, however, have very delicate skin that needs to be protected from the harsh sun. We do not have evidence of this but there are concerns the hippos could displace native wildlife, such as otters and manatees. They’re highly gregarious, interacting often and tolerating close contact when they’re in water, and often lying in a heap when resting ashore each day, warming themselves up in the sun, but when they’re out grazing, usually at night, each animal becomes its own independent and unsociable unit. Behavior. Adult hippos can stay under water for up to six minutes. They are the third biggest land mammal, most weighing in excess of 3 tones. Soon after birth, the mother and her baby join up with other cows and calves for protection against predators, such as crocodiles, lions and hyenas. Hippos do tend to be extremely territorial animals. According to a San story; when the Creator assigned each animal its place in nature, the hippos wanted to live in the water, but were refused out of fear that they might eat all the fish. Hippos are gregarious animals which means they move around in groups, enjoying company of others. Hippos appear to suffer a form of social schizophrenia. Groups of 10-30 hippos live together with one dominant male. Over millions of years, many species of hippos existed. Both are mammals that live in Africa, and each is a member of the family hippopotamidae. 10) In the wild hippos live for around 40 years. During the dry season, the dominant male chooses a partner, and then the other males fight each other for the remaining females. 9) Female hippos, called cows, give birth every two years, usually to a single calf. In order to suckle under water, the baby must take a deep breath, close its nostrils and ears and then wrap its tongue tightly around the teat to suck. Though they feed on land, hippos do many other activities in the water, including mating and birthing. Hippos live in herds of 10 – 40 individuals, however, herds of 100 or more hippos have been observed. Where do Hippos Live? 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