Hippopotamus and hippo: the differences and similarities of these mammals

If someone is interested in who the hippopotamus and hippopotamus are, the differences between them, then you should familiarize yourself with the publication proposed here. We will try to cover in detail all the questions concerning these interesting mammals.

Ordinary hippo and hippo - differences

It is not necessary to lead for a long time at the reader's nose, torturing him with half-heartedness. If the question concerns an animal called the ordinary behemoth, then it should be noted that it belongs to the family Hippopotamus, which also has the Latin name - Hippopotamidae. Trying to read this word, everyone will understand why this animal can have two names.

In other words, to this mammal the name and "hippopotamus", and "hippopotamuses" will equally suit. Differences between the animals, which they call, do not exist. Just one word is the species name of a mammal, and the second is broader in meaning. It indicates the family in which the species enters. In this case, "behemoth" and "hippo" are the same thing.

The etymology of these words

So, we came to the conclusion that the definitions of "ordinary behemoth", "hippo" - synonyms, but derived from the roots of words from different languages.

The first name came to us from the Hebrew. It means it's a translation of the "beast". But the second word - "hippo" - Latin. And in Latin it came from the Greek language. It was from the "hippo" that the international scientific name of these mammals originated. It means literally "river horse".

Thus, there are differences between the words "hippo" and "hippo". Only to find them you need to look into the etymological dictionary.

Dwarf and ordinary hippos - different species and different families

Formerly, these two species belonged to the same genus. In scientific circles it was called Hippopotamus, that is, "hippo". Apparently, then these words appeared in the dictionaries of synonyms in one row.

But more recently it has been established that there are great differences between these species. And so for the dwarf hippopotamus was isolated in a separate genus, which is called Hexaprotodon, after the name of extinct hippopotamuses.

So the answer to the question of how a hippo differs from a hippopotamus can be a pun. It is in him that the main semantic features of these two words are revealed. "Each hippopotamus is a hippopotamus, but not every behemoth is a hippopotamus."

Who is the ancestor of the hippos?

It so happened that hippos and pigs were considered the closest relatives. And this opinion dominated for many years. But it turns out that the hippopotamuses are not pigs and boars, but ... whales! Although this is still only the assumptions of scientists. And not all of the world of science accept this statement as true.

According to the modern version about fifty million years ago on Earth there was a kind of animal, in size close to the current raccoon, which was given the name - Indochius. Subsequently, thanks to evolution, his descendants split into two branches. Whales were born from one, and from the other, hippos.

To date, only two species of these mammals have remained on the planet. These are ordinary and pygmy hippos. They live both on the same continent - in Africa.

Differences of pygmy hippos from ordinary

Appearance of these mammals are very similar. Dwarf hippos seem to be small copies of ordinary hippopotami. But nevertheless they are different animals. And answering the question, what distinguishes the hippopotamus from a hippopotamus, probably, just should be compared them. After all, the differences between the living now these two species are observed not only in size, but also in the structure of the skeleton, skull, the number of teeth.

Dwarf hippos have longer legs and neck than ordinary ones. Their cranial box is also smaller. If the spine of the hippo usually has a horizontal arrangement, then the dwarf hippos of the back are slightly inclined forward.

Differences between these species can even be read on the muzzle. In pygmy hippopotamuses, the nostrils and eyes are less prominent than in the ordinary ones. And their toes are spread more strongly. And the membranes in a dwarf species are expressed to a much lesser extent.

An interesting detail is the color of the sweat of pygmy hippopotamuses. He's pink! But do not think that it contains particles of blood - it is not so.

Also worth noting the difference in the behavior of dwarf and ordinary hippos. Hippopotamus are quite aggressive creatures. They are anxious to protect their territory. Dwarf same hippos usually do not care if their place of habitation will wander inadvertently stranger. They never arrange internecine wars because of the territory, they practically do not fight because of the females.

It is this particular feature that allows you to keep small hippopotamuses as pets. Although in the adult state they can reach in weight of two hundred and eighty kilograms. But this is not four and a half tons, what are the adults of a hippopotamus!

Dwarf hippos differ from ordinary ones by the fact that they prefer to lead a single way of life. Hippopotamus usually live in compact flocks.