Hippopotamus

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Hippopotamus
Scientific Classification
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Superorder Cetartiodactyla
Order Artiodactyla
Family Hippopotamidae
Genus Hippopotamus
Species H. amphibius
Binomial name Hippopotamus amphibius

Hippopotamuses (from the Greek for 'River Horse') are large herbivorous semi-aquatic African mammals, and the only four-toed ungulates. Once living in northern Africa, the hippopotamus is now only found south of the Sahara. The hippopotamus may have been the behemoth mentioned in Job 40:15-24. The hippopotamus and pygmy hippopotamus are the only living species, a small number of extinct species are also known from fossils.

Contents

Description

Hippopotamuses may weigh up to 7000 pounds and reach 5 feet in height. They live in schools[1] and submerge themselves in rivers to protect themselves from the sun, coming up for air every 5 minutes or so, although they are able to remain submerged for up to thirty minutes.

Diet

A hippopotamus is a herbivore, eating up to 150 pounds of grass in a night. They are able to regurgitate their food, chew it again as cud, and then swallow it for digestion.

Reproduction

Hippos are born underwater and have to swim to the surface to breath. They are also able to suckle underwater.

References

  1. http://www.hipposchool.com/
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