6 Fun Facts about Hippos!
6 Fun Facts about Hippos 🦛
Earlier this month we covered elephants, which are the largest land animal in the world. Today we’ll cover hippopotamuses, which are the third largest land animal!
Here’s some fun facts about hippos:
Like we mentioned earlier, hippos are the third largest land animal in the world. Male hippos can weigh up to 6,000 pounds, which can be as much as 2-3 small cars!
Not surprisingly given how large they are, hippos can eat up to 100 pounds of plants and vegetation a day!
Hippos have a unique “sweat” - an oily red substance that acts as a natural sunblock and moisturizer. It also has antibacterial properties to keep the hippos healthy!
However, despite this natural sunblock, because hippos don’t have hair, they still spend most of their day in rivers and lakes to stay cool and protect their skin from the sun.
Despite their size, don’t try to outrun a hippo! On land, they can run up to 19 mph for short distances!
Hippos have a unique jaw structure, powered by very strong muscles, which enable it to open its mouth almost a full 180-degrees! This gives them a very powerful (and lethal!) bite!
Hippos are the most dangerous animal in Africa! They are highly territorial and can get very aggressive if you get too close.
Here's the most dangerous animals in Africa (not including mosquitos, because they're insects):
🦛 Hippo - kills an estimated 3,000 people each year
🐘 Elephant - 500 people each year
🐊 Nile Crocodile - 300 people each year
🦁 Lion - 200 people each year
🐃 Cape Buffalo - 200 people each year
The takeaway lesson here is to not be fooled by outward appearances! 👀