The claim that the hippo is “the most dangerous animal in Africa” is a bit of a safari cliché. It is true that behind the friendly grin is an aggressive disposition and a mouthful of deadly teeth, even though there may be some exaggeration in such a claim. This enormous herbivore is the third largest mammal in Africa, behind the white rhino and elephant.

Five Interesting Facts Regarding Hippo

At one point, scientists believed that pigs were the closest cousins of hippopotamuses. Since then, DNA evidence has established that the hippo and whales and dolphins have a similar semi-aquatic ancestor. It was about 55 million years ago that they split from them.

To help shield their hairless skin, hippopotamuses create a natural sunscreen. The two pigments that make up this colorless discharge turn reddish-orange and then brown when exposed to sunshine. The hippo’s characteristic rose color comes from this. In addition to being highly acidic, it acts as a disinfectant to keep bacteria out of its wounds.

The hippo is not a proficient swimmer, even though they spend their waking hours submerged in water. Hippos favor shallow waters where they can rest on sandbars and migrate by leaping a few feet off the bottom when they are out of depth.

The renegade hippos of Puerto Triunfo, Colombia, are descended from four that drug lord Pablo Escobar owned. The hippos fled the neglected estate and roamed the nearby farmland when Escobar was apprehended. They assaulted cattle and people there. Nowadays, it’s estimated that up to 40 people reside in and around the Magdalena River.

Among mammals, hippos are unique in that they call with their heads partially submerged. This indicates that their resonant bellow can be heard above and below the water’s surface. They can be heard spreading their territorial message over the entire area. They are non-territorial and silent at night on land.