The only representative of the genus Hippopotamus is the hippopotamus. This is a mammal creature that belongs to the category of artiodactyls. Someone calls it a clumsy water horse, others compare it with a pig. The animal spends most of the time in water, and goes to land only at night in order to get food and eat it. Because of this, the hippo's legs (or paws) have a clumsy structure. They are thick, short and uneven, as a result of which their owners move very funny, limping and clubfoot.
All view features
Today, the hippopotamus is considered one of the largest animals on the planet. In terms of body weight, it can compete with a rhino and at the same time take second place after an elephant. Previously, people compared this mammal to pigs, since the lifestyle, parameters and other features are very similar. However, scientists of our time are sure that the closest relative of this animal is .... whale! It is also important to note that, by virtue of a similar hypothesis, it becomes clear why the hippo's legs, or paws, have a slightly deformed structure. If this species is intended to live in large waters, and its extremely large body (weighing 4 tons or more) can plow the sea, then its large limbs can be considered a rudiment.
What is the structure of hippo limbs?
Nowadays, both children and adults are often interested in the question of what the extremities of this mammal are all about: legs or feet? In a hippo, from a scientific point of view, it is the legs that are the parts of the body that perform the supporting function. These are four limbs, rough and curved, which, in proportion to the animal’s main body, are very short and very thick. They are covered with rough skin, on the feet there are many calluses and corns, thanks to which the hippopotamus does not have too high sensitivity. There are four toes on each hippo leg, which on the outside are not separated, but have only a characteristic relief.
Features of the structure of the hippopotamus legs
As mentioned above, in a hippo, the legs have toes, but they are not divided among themselves. Instead, the front of the leg is covered with a kind of hoof that can be compared to a horse's. This allows the animal to move both on land and on the bottom of a reservoir and not injure its limbs. Because of this feature, many zoologists often attribute this mammal to the ranks of artiodactyls and equate it with horses, which is also very strange. In fact, these animals are one of a kind, moreover, in modern times they have begun to actively die out, which has forced the conservation community to veto the hunt for them.
Hippopotamus habitat
Today, these endangered animals live only in Africa. They occupy both desert territories and greener, cooler areas of the southern part of the mainland. In distant, one might say, prehistoric times this species could also be found in the Middle East, but then all the hippos migrated from there and concentrated in the Sahara region. It is important to know that, despite numerous bans, the local African population continues to hunt hippos. Here they are killed most often for food, because, according to the natives themselves, their meat in many countries of Africa is considered the most delicious.
Hippo and man
Following the plots of good tales, many children are convinced that hippos are the kindest creatures that live in lakes and rivers and at the same time are very neutral or even friendly to everyone around them. In fact, cases of attacks of these mammals on humans are far from rare in the vastness of Africa. Here, this beast is considered the most dangerous, and the number of attacks on its part in relation to humans is much greater than that of cheetahs, lions or buffalo. It only saves that the hippo's paws are in poor harmony with the mass of his body, as a result of which the animal moves relatively slowly by land. The beast also reacts strongly to external stimuli and in most cases, in the absence of visual and any other contact, does not touch anyone. However, the psyche of hippos has not been thoroughly studied, so it is recommended to stay away from them in wild places, and you can examine them in detail in zoos, in safe conditions for life.
Conclusion
Naming the limbs of animal bodies, many people are often confused: legs or feet. In a hippopotamus, these are definitely legs that have a slightly deformed structure due to extremely large body mass. Also, it is the limbs in this case that play a decisive role, as a result of which these animals are constantly assigned to different classes. Well, they have been carelessly and carelessly continuing to cool for many millennia in the waters of lakes and rivers, which they leave only at night.