Hippos the aggressive African Mammal

Despite ferocious animals such as lions also inhabiting Africa, there are many people who consider the hippopotamus of "river horse", as the most dangerous of African mammals.

Hippopotami are very territorial animals. Males especially are very aggressive towards intruder - both fellow species and otherwise.

When confrontations occur between rival  males they soon escalate into violent attacks often resulting in fatalities. The more mature males can have a vast array of battle scars.

There have been many reports of hippos capsizing boats that have strayed into their territory and biting the people inside.

A hippo jaws is strong enough to bite a crocodile in half.

Females only appear to become aggressive when they have young to protect. 

Despite these attacks, hippos do not eat the animals. They are herbivores.

Because they are herbivores, as well as staying in the water to cool down they also use it to help support their weight. Plants do not give a huge amount of energy to these giant mammals.

By resting in the water hippos conserve their energy thus reducing the amount of time they have to forage for food.

Despite their aggressive lifestyle and limited diet the average hippo can live for a surprising forty years.