Hippopotamus Soft Stuffed Plush Toy

THE RIVER'S ARMOURED GIANT

❃ Emerging from the rivers, lakes, and wetlands of sub-Saharan Africa, the hippopotamus is one of the largest mammals on Earth and one of the most distinctive animals of the African waterways. Its enormous barrel-shaped body rests on surprisingly short, sturdy legs, while a broad muzzle, massive jaws, and nearly hairless skin give it a formidable appearance. Despite spending much of its life in water, the hippopotamus is not closely related to pigs, but shares its closest living evolutionary relationship with whales and other cetaceans.

❃ Much of the hippopotamus's unusual biology is shaped by its semi-aquatic existence. Its eyes, ears, and nostrils sit high on the head, allowing the animal to remain almost completely submerged while still sensing the world above the surface. When threatened or moving underwater, a hippopotamus can close its nostrils and ears, while its dense body can sink rather than naturally float. After sunset, it leaves the water to graze on grasses, sometimes travelling considerable distances during the night in search of food.

❃ Hippopotamuses spend their days in groups within rivers and pools, where the water helps support their immense weight and keeps their skin cool beneath the intense African sun. Their territories can become heavily marked with dung, which they scatter using rapid movements of their tails and which contributes nutrients to aquatic ecosystems. Though seemingly slow and placid, they are powerful and highly territorial animals — ancient river giants whose lives connect the grasslands on land with the living waters of Africa.