The hippopotamus is characterized by a large round body, short stubby legs, and a big broad head. Their bodies are often a brownish-grey color with a pink belly. Their ears, eyes and nose are found on the top of their head, for when they are submerged in water they are still aware of what is going on around them.
Their thick, tough skin is actually covered by a thin and very sensitive outer epidermis which is subject to drying out from the harsh rays of the sun. This is why they spend so much of their time in the water- to keep their epidermis moist. Although they appear hairless, tiny hairs cover their whole body, in addition to thicker hairs, called bristles, found on the head and end of the tail. Specail glands in the skin of the hippo produce a thick pinkish-red oily substance that helps to keep the skin healthy and acts as a sunscreen and moisturizer. It also acts as a healing agent, repairing wounds or scratches on the skin.
Hippos move much better in water than on land. Although they have been clocked at top speeds of up to 20 mph, their webbed toes make for great paddles. They are excellent swimmers and extremely buoyant. They are the second largest land animal, right behind the elephant. It is disputable though because some white rhinos can outweigh the average hippopotamus.
|
