The hippopotamus, or hippo, is a large, mostly herbivorous mammal in sub-Saharan Africa, and one of only two extant species in the family Hippopotamidae. The name comes from the ancient Greek for "river horse". After the elephant and rhinoceros, the hippopotamus is the third-largest type of land mammal and the heaviest extant artiodactyl.
Similar species: Even-toed Ungulates
By GarydejongPhotography
All rights reserved
Uploaded Jun 11, 2014.
comments (1)
Mouths are up for discussion today! Click the photos to learn why these creatures have magnificent mouths! #JungleDragon
Open wide! The hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibious) has the largest mouth of any land animal. Its mouth is 60 cm (2 ft) wide and is powered by serious muscles. Plus – it has 36 super sharp teeth, the largest of which are 50 cm (1 ft 8 in) long! Hippos can open their mouths to an astounding 150 degrees. And, they are capable of biting an alligator (or even a small boat) in half! Aside from eating, they also use their mouths to communicate. They ‘yawn’ to show aggression. These creatures can be unpredictable, and their powerful mouths make them an animal that you don’t want to mess with. {Spotted by GarydejongPhotography} #hippopotamus #hippo #Hippopotamusamphibious
https://www.facebook.com/jungledragonwildlife Posted 4 years ago