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The hippopotamus is a semi-aquatic ungulate mammal native to parts of sub-Saharan Africa that spends most of the day either partially submerging in rivers and lakes or foraging nearby. It ranks third after rhino and elephant as the largest land mammal still living today. As a result, he needs to consume a huge amount of food in order to stay alive.
There are only two types of hippos left in the world: the common hippopotamus and the pygmy hippopotamus. Unless otherwise stated, this article will only cover the common hippopotamus. The pygmy hippopotamus is quite similar in its diet and behavior, so it does not require further explanation.
What does a hippopotamus eat?
In the wild, hippos mainly feed on herbivores. Herbs supplemented with nutrient-rich fruits appear to make up the bulk of their dietary intake; they also like small shoots and reeds growing out of the ground, but aquatic plants seem to make up a surprisingly small percentage of their diet. Pygmy hippos, in contrast, eat more leaves and roots than grasses. On very rare occasions, common hippos have been observed eating dead animals, but there is some controversy about how often this actually happens in the wild.
Traditionally, it has been argued that hippos harvest meat only during exceptional periods of food scarcity, because their stomachs are not equipped to consume meat. However, one scientific study from 2015 argues that hippos are not limited to carcass harvesting; this carnivorous behavior is actually part of a much broader meat-eating pattern. Hippos are known to attack and eat other animals and even steal meat from predators; Wildebeests, zebras and kudu seem to be some of the most common kills. They have even been seen in cases of cannibalism with members of the same species. The document argues that the digestive system of hippos is not an obstacle to eating meat, as traditionally assumed, and incidents of predatory behavior are underreported because it is difficult to watch them eat at night.
The common hippopotamus (if not necessarily the pygmy hippopotamus) is certainly large and aggressive enough to slay almost any other animal (even the most formidable predator will refuse to eat if it sees a hippopotamus), but hunting takes a lot of effort. energy expenditure that the hippopotamus is trying to avoid. If the research is correct, then this probably means that the hippopotamus is taking advantage of the opportunity to kill other animals when they arise, but does not refuse to hunt. Without further investigation, it’s hard to say for sure.
Regardless of their exact dietary composition, it is estimated that they consume about 1% or more of their body weight each day. Since the common hippopotamus can easily weigh between 2,800 and nearly 10,000 pounds, this can amount to 30 to 150 pounds of food, which sometimes leaves entire areas without grass and shoots. To prevent unnecessary waste of energy, the hippopotamus is a sedentary animal that walks in water or mud for most of the day, hardly moving. Surprisingly, for a semi-aquatic animal, a hippopotamus cannot swim or even swim. Their bodies are just too heavy. Instead, they appear to be walking or standing at the bottom of a waterbed.
What do hippos eat in zoos and in the wild?
Compared to the wild diet, captive hippos in zoos eat a wider range of foods carefully selected and provided by trainers and staff. For example, the San Diego Zoo feeds its hippos with a mixture of herbivore pellets, alfalfa and Bermuda hay, lettuce and other vegetables, and sometimes melons. In most zoos, pygmy hippos also consume high fiber pellets, hay, and greens.
How does a hippo eat food?
The hippopotamus is nocturnal. With the onset of dusk, he leaves the water and settles on the lawn near the reservoir, arriving every day along the same trail for feeding. They are known as “hippo trails” and their pastures are “hippopotamus lawns.” Both areas are often unique to each group or individual. If food is particularly scarce, it may be miles away from the body of water, but they prefer to stay as close to the sleeping area as possible. Their excellent sense of smell helps them find edible food wherever it is. They are also skilled enough to hear the sound of fruit falling nearby.
During grazing, the very muscular lips of the hippopotamus allow them to pull food out of the ground or tear leaves off plants. The hippopotamus actually softens food in its mouth without chewing to prevent nutrient loss. Although they have incisors and canines, they actually appear to play a minimal role in feeding, except when eating meat; the teeth are instead adapted for self-defense. Its grazing time lasts about six hours every night. Once this is done, the hippopotamus will return to its water hole shortly before dawn.
The hippopotamus is well adapted to feeding on herbivorous animals. Their highly complex stomachs, divided into three separate chambers, are designed to digest plant matter, but unlike cattle, they do not regurgitate or chew gum. All hippos are born with relatively sterile intestines and get the bacteria from their mother’s feces. These bacteria live in the intestines and help them break down complex plant material into smaller nutrients.
Complete list of the 5 best foods a hippopotamus eats
Hippos rely heavily on only a small number of food sources. They very rarely eat anything other than their usual eating behavior. These five food sources appear to be common to all hippos:
Next: what do cockroaches eat?
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