Facts about hippos: he's the behemoth of the wild - the mighty hippopotamus. Learn all about awesome hippo here.
3,500 years ago the Bible referred to him simply as Behemoth. What modern day creature fits such an imposing description? It is none other than that thick skinned herbivore - the hippopotamus. The Bible gives us an interesting insight into the hippo. In Job Chapter 40 we learn that the hippo eats grass just as the bull, that its strong bones are like wrought iron rods, that it resides in swampy places and that it is not easily startled. All of these facts can be by studying the modern day hippo. What else do we know about this enormous creature?
The hippo is, indeed an eater of vegetation. In a year, in fact, around 200 pounds of soft water plants, grass, reeds, and other greenery pass between it's jaws every year. All of this food keeps the animal growing and a full grown hippo can reach up to 14 feet in length. They are also extremely heavy, reaching fully grown weights of about 3 or 4 thousand pounds. The heaviest recorded was 8,960 pounds. The weight of the hippo is supported on four rather stubby legs. These legs, however, contain extremely bones. They can also move quite rapidly, with the hippo easily being capable of outdistancing a human.
The hippo has an extremely thick hide, allowing it to scrape alongside rocks and stones in the water without discomfort. The skin is equipped with special pores that secrete a thick, oily substance to keep the skin moist while out of the water. They spend the majority of their time in the water and can usually be spotted in herds of twenty or thirty. Spending their days submerged, allows the hippo to avoid the potentially damaging effects of the suns rays on it's skin. At night, though, he comes onto dry land to graze for his food.
Amazingly, the hippo can even run under water. One specimen was clocked at 8 kilometres per hour running along a riverbed. Te head of a hippo can weigh as much as one ton. It's jaws are fitted with tusks which are about two feet long. These have been known to pierce the hide of a crocodile. Although, he is not a carnivore, the hippo is still a threat to humans. His powerful jaws can quickly put an end to any human nuisances who decide to get too close.
The hippo is a majestic beast. It may look like a blimp on four legs, but it's speed, strength and agility deserve our repect and our caution. As described so long ago, he is truly the behemoth of the wilds.
