Wikipedia:Today's featured article/June 27, 2009



The hippopotamus is a large, mostly plant-eating African mammal, one of only two extant species in the family Hippopotamidae (the other being the pygmy hippopotamus). It is the heaviest extant artiodactyl, despite being significantly shorter than the giraffe. The hippopotamus is semiaquatic, inhabiting rivers and lakes in sub-Saharan Africa in groups of 5–30 hippos. The hippopotamus uses water to keep itself hydrated and able to carry out its life functions. During the day they remain cool by staying in the water or mud; reproduction and childbirth both occur in water, where territorial bulls preside over a stretch of river. They emerge at dusk to graze on grass. Despite their physical resemblance to pigs and other terrestrial even-toed ungulates, their closest living relatives are cetaceans (whales, porpoises, etc.). The hippopotamus is recognizable for its barrel-shaped torso, enormous mouth and teeth, hairless body, stubby legs and tremendous size. It is the third-largest land mammal by weight, behind the white rhinoceros and the elephant. The hippopotamus is one of the most aggressive creatures in the world, and is often regarded as the most ferocious animal in Africa. There are an estimated 125,000 to 150,000 hippos remaining throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, of which Zambia and Tanzania have the largest populations. They are still threatened by poaching for their meat and ivory canine teeth, and by habitat loss. (more...)

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