Hippo milk – truth or myth, what are the conjectures and judgments

Mammals are a class of animals that includes a huge number of species. They inhabit all habitats, live in different climatic conditions. Their diversity is enormous. This article describes the features of one of the species, namely, hippos.

Distinctive features of the class of mammals

All mammals have common features, thanks to which they were united in this class. One of the key points due to which the name of the class is long is the ability to give milk to feed the cubs.

Characteristic features of all mammals:

1. Warm-blooded vertebrates.
2. Able to give milk for feeding offspring.
3. The presence of wool. In some species, it is very dense, with long hair, and vice versa, there is an extremely rare cover, with small, barely noticeable hairs.
4. Features of the structure of internal organs, consisting in the structure of the lungs, heart, digestive, genitourinary systems.
5. Bearing cubs, there is a unique organ of the reproductive system in females – the uterus.
6. The appearance during pregnancy of the placental circulation.
7. The sense organs have a very complex structure, the prevalence of which is closely interconnected with the habitat of each particular species.
8. The presence of sweat and sebaceous glands.
9. Highly organized structure of the nervous system.
10. Complex relationships of individuals with each other.
11. Caring for offspring can sometimes beat for quite a long time.

As mentioned earlier, mammals are the most common class of animals. A large number of them inhabit African continent, striking with its diversity. There are some very unique species. These, of course, include the hippopotamus.

Characteristic features of the hippopotamus

This species has long attracted the attention of man. Hippopotamuses leading a semi-aquatic lifestyle are large massive animal, thick enough. They inhabit only fresh water reservoirs. Their herds can sometimes be impressive in size. What is this kind of thing? What are its features?

1. Magnificent swimmers and divers, despite the rather large physique, the weight of an adult male can reach up to 4 tons, they are one of the largest mammals.
2. The hippopotamus does not have wool, on the muzzle there are long whiskers-vibrissae.
3. Teeth and fangs grow throughout life.
4. They are relatives of whales, previously considered relatives of pigs.
5. They can hold their breath underwater for as long as 5-6 minutes.
6. When running, their speed can reach up to 50 km / h.
7. Hippos sweat a lot, their sweat has a characteristic red color.
8. They live in families consisting of one male and about 15-20 females with cubs.
9. Childbirth can take place both on land and in water.
10. The weight of a newborn can reach 45 kg.
11. They release gases through the mouth, from the side it may look like a hippo yawns.
12. Their way of life has a clear daily activity, they prefer to sleep during the day, and at night they go ashore to have a snack.
13. Herbivores, their food is aquatic and coastal vegetation.
14. The hippopotamus is a fairly aggressive animal that can protect its offspring from any predators.

Females are caring motherszealously watching with their cubs. Pregnancy lasts 8 months, as a result, a sufficiently formed offspring is born, capable of standing on their feet 2 hours after birth.

Hippos, like all representatives of this class, feed their cubs with milk. There are many myths, conjectures and judgments regarding this fact. For example:

1. The milk of this species is pink.
2. Hippo milk can suddenly turn pink.
3. Milk color is not much different from the color of the milk of other mammals.

Features of the physiology of hippos

Since this species lives in a hot climate, it was forced to adapt to this habitat. This explains profuse sweating of hippos. Sweat glands that secrete hipposudoric acid, which can be mixed with the female’s milk during feeding. As a result of this, a chemical reaction occurs, and the milk acquires a pinkish tint.

The female always gives birth to only one baby. A newborn and young hippopotamus is an easy prey for predators, namely lions, hyenas, hyena dogs and leopards.

The relationship of hippos with each other

Hippo Possess highly developed nervous activity. They have their own behaviors.

These are herd animals, observing a clear subordination within the family. Young males who have not yet reached puberty often form herds. Young females always remain in the parent herd. If, for some reason, the male hippo was left without his harem, then he will have to stay alone until he forms a new one.

Behemoths are strong aggressive animals, ruthlessly straightening each other when it comes to females or dominance in the herd. Even in his own family, the male leader can be severely punished by females with babies if he breaks into them without asking.

These mammals have a magnificent loud voice, using it both to communicate with other individuals and to intimidate their opponents.

Hippos are magnificent and caring parents who teach their offspring all the wisdom of their lives. From a young age they demand strict obedience, if the baby resists and does not obey, severe punishment awaits him. So hippos protect their offspring, which is a tasty morsel for many predators. Surprising is the fact that, starting from the second day of his life, the hippo is able to swim well, following his mother everywhere.

It territorial animalswho love constancy, any changes cause rejection in them. During a drought, when water bodies are subject to shallowing, large herds of hippos form. This is where numerous conflicts between individuals flare up. They tend to mark their boundaries, for these purposes they use their litter, laying it out in a certain way. Scientists have long noticed that hippos come ashore using their trails.

Unfortunately, now the number of hippos has declined sharply. In the twentieth century, these animals were a popular object of hunting, which significantly reduced their population.

According to scientists, this species has amazing biological plasticity, which means that there is an opportunity to restore their livestock and preserve this wonderful species of mammals.