Hippopotamus
By: B.G.
Kingdom | Phylum | Class | Order | Family | Genius and Species | Fun Facts | Work Cited
Animal Name: Hippopotamus
Kingdom: Animalia
multicellular organisms
heterotrophs
most ingest food and digest it in an internal cavity
no cell wall
cells organized into tissues specialized to some degree to perform special functions
are capable of complex movement compared to plants and other organisms
Phylum: Chordata
have structure called notochord
bilateral symmetry
segmented body, including segmented muscles
single, hollow nervous chord
have a tail
ventral heart with dorsal, ventral blood vessels, and a closed blood system
bony or cartilaginous endoskeleton usually present
Class: Mammalia
three middle ear bones
hair
mammary glands
Order: Artiodactyls
modified stomach
skull is large and elongated
are native to every continent except Australia and Antarctica
Family: Hippopotamidae
can weigh up to 3600 kg. but can weigh less than 250 kg.
skin is thick and nearly hairless
tail is short
has short and stubby legs
eyes and nose at the top of the skull
Genius and Species: Hippoptamus amphibius
vegetarian
its diet consists mainly of terrestrial grasses
habitat is deep water with adjacent reed beds and grasslands
"The hippopotamus is strong and huge of head and broad of bustle; the limbs on which he rolls along are big with hippopotomuscle." A hippopotamus is a thick skinned vertebrate from the phylum Chordata. A hippopotamus has certain characteristics to survive and live in its habitat.
A hippopotamus has very unique characteristics. For example, a hippopotamus has thick, purple-brown skin. This shows that a hippo is waterproof since its skin is very thick. Another example is a hippo has a wide snout and can open its mouth very wide. This shows that a hippo can swallow better than other animals. In addition, a hippo also has webbed toes. This shows that a hippo can move fast through the water. In conclusion, a hippopotamus' unique characteristics make it different from other animals.
A hippopotamus lives in a very wet habitat. For example, a hippo lives near a body of water which is near grassland. This shows that a hippo needs water and grass to survive. Another example is that most hippo's live in Africa, south of the Sahara. This shows that hippo's can withstand the heat, but they need water. Therefore, they need to live near rivers, lakes, and swamps. This show that hippo's like to and need to be in water. In conclusion, a watery habitat is the best environment for a hippopotamus.
In conclusion, in order to survive in the hippo's habitat the hippopotamus has to use the characteristics that it has. And to maintain the hippopotamus' specie we must not pollute the air or the water.
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Cruising in the lake, Popping up once in a while, I am the hippo.
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Hippos need water deep enough to cover them, within distance of a pasture.
Gallops at 18 mph in an emergency and half that speed in a trot.
A hippo is unable to jump.
A hippo will not even step over obstacles, but tramples right over them.
As a hippo sub merges, its nostrils close and its ears fold into recesses. Resurfacing, the nostrils open as the hippo exhales and the ears spring erect.
Sleeping hippos rise to breathe, resurfacing automatically as breathing itself.
Name of the page is Mammals, Hippopotamus. When accessed was April 16, 2003. Yahooligans!
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Reference written by Nancy Shefferly. Page last updated May 2000. Nowak, R.M. and J.L. Paradiso. 1983. Walker's Mammals of the World, Fourth Edition. John Hopkins University Press. Baltimore and London. Date of access is April 16, 2003.
Yahoo Picture Gallery. Copyright © 2003 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved. Date access is April 16, 2003.
Muzzy, Catherine.
Personal interview. 16 Apr. 2003.