Friday, May 8, 2009



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  THE THIRD LARGEST ANIMAL ON LAND


                                                                                                                           Hippopotamus is the third largest animal on land, next to elephant and white rhino. It is one of the only two extant species in the Hippopotamidae family, with the other one being the Pygmy Hippopotamus. Hippopotamuses are found inhabiting rivers, swamps and protected areas, in Sub-Saharan Africa, and are herbivorous in nature. They spend majority of their time underwater and mostly walk along the bottoms of lakes and rivers, rather than swimming. To help you know more about hippopotamus.

              Hippopotamuses are so big that they can easily walk underwater, along the bottoms of lakes and rivers.
A hippopotamus does not sweat; rather it excretes an oily, red liquid that protects its skin. This red liquid has given birth to the myth that it sweats blood.
The ears and nostrils of a hippopotamus close automatically when it goes underwater.


   
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     The tusks of a hippopotamus are even more valuable that that of an elephant, since they do not turn yellow with time.
There are five subspecies of hippos, namely H. a. amphibius, H. a. kiboko, H. a. capensis, H. a. tschadensis and H. a. constrictus.
Hippopotamuses are territorial in water, where each male hippo controls a small stretch of the river.