VMD 512: Zoo/Wild Animal Breeding, Management, Nutrition and Health Care (1+1)

HIPPOPOTAMUSES

• Two types of hippos as quoted below and these are confined to Africa:
  • Nile hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius)
    • The Nile hippos live in matriarchial units living on a central mud bank or sandbar called a “crèche” in the middle of the established herd territory.
    • The territory marking is carried out by swishing of the soft fecal materials by tail movements.
  • Pigmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis)
    • Pigmy hippos live in solitaries and these mini-hippos have large circular nostrils and eyes set to the side of the head instead of raised up.
    • These animals mark their territory by feces.
• They are unique in artiodactylids, in the way that they all walk on all four toes that are attached to one another by a membrane. Among the artiodactls, uniquely, these animals walk on all four toes that are attached to each by a membrane “web”.