The large hippo is an aggressive animal; old scars and fresh, deep wounds are signs of daily fights that are accompanied by much bellowing, neighing and snorting. Hippos have developed some ritualized postures the huge open-mouthed “yawn” that reveals formidable teeth is one of the most aggressive. With the long, razor-sharp incisors and tusk-like canines, the hippo is well-armed and dangerous.
Known for their remarkable jumping ability, klipspringers live singly or in life-long monogamous relationships – in which pairs spend most of their time within a few meters of each other. The males are fiercely territorial. Klipspringers attain a mass of only around 12 kg, with the females being slightly larger than the males. Only males have horns.
The pygmy hippopotamus looks like a mini version of its larger relative, the hippopotamus The pygmy hippo has adaptations for spending time in the water but is much less aquatic than the hippo. Its nose and ears close underwater just like a hippo’s do, but its head is rounder and narrower, its neck is proportionally longer, and its eyes are not on the top of its head. The pygmy hippo’s feet are less webbed and its toes more free than those of the hippo, and its legs are longer than its huge cousin’s. The pygmy hippo’s teeth are also different: it only has one pair of incisors, while the hippo has two or three.
