How many species of hippos are there in Africa?

two species
There are two species of hippos — the large/common hippo and the smaller relative, the pygmy hippo. Hippos are the third-largest living land mammal, after elephants and white rhinos.

Is the hippopotamus The most dangerous animal in Africa?

Ungainly as it is, the hippopotamus is the world’s deadliest large land mammal, killing an estimated 500 people per year in Africa. Hippos are aggressive creatures, and they have very sharp teeth.

Do African lions eat hippos?

“Lions can kill anything—there are famous areas in Africa where the prides are large and get used to taking down elephants. [But] it still is pretty rare” for the cats to take on hippos, said Luke Hunter, president of the wild cat conservation group Panthera. Only one was a hippo killed by lions, Hunter said.

Do hippos eat people?

The hippopotamus. BBC News reports that the hippo is the world’s largest land mammal killer. It’s estimated that the aggressive animal with sharp teeth kills 500 people a year in Africa. Hippos can crush a human to death with their weight ranging anywhere from 3,000 to 9,000 pounds.

Where do hippos live in East and West Africa?

Where do hippopotamuses live? Two hippo species are found in Africa. The common hippo (also known as the large hippo), found in East Africa, occurs south of the Sahara. The other much smaller species of hippo is the pygmy hippopotamus. Limited to very restricted ranges in West Africa, it is a shy, solitary forest dweller, and is now endangered.

Why is the Hippo the most dangerous animal in Africa?

The spike-like teeth and enormous jaws of the hippo are quite frightening. Being Africa’s Most Dangerous Animal is however not the only fascinating fact about these massive mammals. It was originally thought that hippos bled from their skin because of the red skin oil residue in the water surrounding them.

How big is a full grown hippo in Africa?

While the big and burly hippo that resides in sub-Saharan Africa is what comes to mind when the word hippo is mentioned, it has a smaller cousin known as the pygmy hippo (Hippo liberiensis). This is a miniature hippopotamus – weighing a maximum of 275 kg – that resides in the jungles of West Africa.

How is a Hippo related to a horse?

While the word hippopotamus is Greek for “River Horse,” hippos and horses are not closely related. In fact, the closes living relatives to the hippo are whales, dolphins, and pigs. Hippos are the third-largest land mammals, after elephants and rhinos.