Nile hippopotamus
Also known as river hippopotamus, common hippopotamus, hippo, hippopotamus
The hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius; ; : hippopotamuses), often shortened to hippo (: hippos), further qualified as the common hippopotamus, Nile hippopotamus and river hippopotamus, is a large semiaquatic mammal native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is one of only two extant species in the family Hippopotamidae, the other being the pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis or Hexaprotodon liberiensis). Its name comes from the Ancient Greek for "river horse" ().
AI overview
The Nile hippopotamus is a large semiaquatic mammal native to sub-Saharan Africa, and one of only two living species in the hippopotamus family. It matters as a significant part of African ecosystems and wildlife, representing an important branch of mammalian diversity that has survived to the present day.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Species
Common Hippopotamus
species
Conservationvulnerable
Observations16,271
河馬（學名：Hippopotamus amphibius）是生活於撒哈拉以南非洲的大型雜食性[3]半水生哺乳類動物。它是河馬屬現存的唯一物種。河馬為第三大的現存陸生哺乳動物，僅次於象與犀牛；同時也是現存最重的偶蹄目。儘管身形外表類似豬，河馬親緣關係上其實更接近於鯨豚類。 河馬著名的特徵包括筒狀無毛的身軀、長了長牙的大嘴以及粗短的四肢。成年雄性體重平均約1,500公斤（3,310磅），成年雌性體重平均約1,300公斤（2,870磅）。河馬看似笨重，但是能以30 km/h（19 mph） 的速度進行衝刺。 河馬主要受到的威脅是棲息地的喪失以及人類的偷獵行為。人類會為了河馬的肉與牙獵殺牠們。 目录 1 名称 2 分類 2.1 演化 3 特征 4 习性 5 危險性 6 分布 7 死於河馬嘴下的名人 8 參考 名称 河马属的学名“Hippopotamus”源自於希臘語「ιπποπόταμος」（英文名稱即hippopotamus，希臘語的hippos即「馬」，potamus即「河」），英文常縮寫成“hippo” 分類 依據顱骨外型以及分布地理位置可分為五個亞種[4]:3： 北方河馬（尼羅河馬） H. a. amphibius：為指名亞種，分布地區包括埃及（埃及區域現已滅絕）至坦尚尼亞與莫三比克一帶的尼羅河流域 東非河馬 H. a. kiboko：分布地區包括肯亞大湖地區與非洲之角的索馬利亞，鼻部較寬，眶間隔較為深陷。 南非河馬 H. a. capensis：分布地區自尚比亞至南非，頭顱骨較扁平。 西非河馬（查德河馬） H. a. tschadensis：遍布西非以及查德，頭顱較為寬短，具有較突出的眼眶。 安哥拉河馬 H. a. constrictus：分布地區包括安哥拉、納米比亞與剛果民主共和國南部，具有較收束的前眶骨。 演化 河馬與鯨豚的演化關係[5] 直到1909年前，自然歷史學家透過大臼齒樣式的相似性將河馬與豬分類為同一群。然而諸多證據，包括血液蛋白質、分子系統發生學[6]、DNA[7][8]與化石紀錄，都顯示河馬現存關係親緣最近的類群為鯨豚類[9]。河馬與鯨豚的共同祖先自反芻亞目分化，而在不久之後河馬與鯨豚也分別分化為兩個獨立的演化支[7][10]。 偶蹄目 Artiodactyla 全撰类 Artiofabula 鲸反刍类 Cetruminantia 河马形亚目 Whippomorpha 鲸下目 Cetacea 须鲸小目 Mysticeti 齿鲸小目 Odontoceti 凹齿下目 Ancodonta 反刍亚目 Ruminantia 有角下目 Pecora 鼷鹿下目 Tragulina 猪形亚目 Suina 胼足亚目 Tylopoda 漸新世時期生存於歐洲的石炭獸 Anthracotherium magnum，被認為是河馬的近親 最新的理論認為河馬與鯨豚的半
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Wikidata facts
- Image
- Zulaihamaryam-Museum Geologi-Hippotamus Simplex (Kuda Nil).jpg
Sources (6)
Article
18 sectionsContents
- Etymology
- Taxonomy and origins
- Classification
- Evolution
- Extinct species
- Characteristics
- Distribution and status
- Behaviour and ecology
- Social life
- Reproduction
- Interspecies interactions
- Relationship with humans
- Attacks on humans
- In zoos
- Cultural significance
- See also
- References
- External links
The hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius; ; : hippopotamuses), often shortened to hippo (: hippos), further qualified as the common hippopotamus, Nile hippopotamus and river hippopotamus, is a large semiaquatic mammal native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is one of only two extant species in the family Hippopotamidae, the other being the pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis or Hexaprotodon liberiensis). Its name comes from the Ancient Greek for "river horse" ().
After elephants and rhinoceroses, the hippopotamus is the next largest land mammal. It is also the largest extant land artiodactyl. Despite their physical resemblance to pigs and other terrestrial even-toed ungulates, the closest living relatives of the hippopotamids are cetaceans (whales, dolphins, porpoises, etc.), from which they diverged about 55 million years ago. Hippos are recognisable for their barrel-shaped torsos, wide-opening mouths with large canine tusks, nearly hairless bodies, short legs, and large size: adults average for bulls (males) and for cows (females).