Appearance

The hippo's pig-like appearance is not a coincidence. The hippo and the pig are distant relatives. They both share a similar reaction from observers. "Ooh, is it ugly!" Although the hippo does not appear on the "Most Beautiful Animals of the World" list, its appearance directly relates to its habitat and life style. Its eyes, ears, and nose are located high on its head so it can see, hear, and breathe when submerged. It does close its nostrils while submerged.

The hippo uses its wide snout and thick lips to eat the multiple pounds of grass it eats each day. Its tough, leathery skin needs to be protected against the blistering sun of its native environment. Therefore, nature supplied the hippo with a reddish-pink oily secretion that moisturizes and protects its skin. The only hair on a hippo can be found on its nose, ears, and tails.

A full grown male hippo can be as long as 15 feet and can weigh up to 8,000 pounds. It can stand from four and half feet to five and a half feet high.

The average life span of the hippo is 40-45 years. media type="youtube" key="z3BFW5kHxOE&hl=en&fs=1" height="344" width="425" sweetjuliejules. "". Hippopotumus. . . 30 July, 2008.