Taken 29-Dec-08
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Photo Info
Dimensions3255 x 2126
Original file size7.91 MB
Image typeJPEG
Color spacesRGB
Date taken29-Dec-08 08:53
Date modified4-May-10 03:42
Shooting Conditions
Camera makeNIKON CORPORATION
Camera modelNIKON D3
Focal length270 mm
Focal length (35mm)405 mm
Max lens aperturef/5.3
Exposure1/800 at f/5.3
FlashNot fired
Exposure bias+1 EV
Exposure modeAuto
Exposure prog.Shutter priority
ISO speedISO 200
Metering modePattern
Digital zoom1.5x
Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius). Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania. East Africa 2009 © Nora de Angelli / www.noraphotos.com
A massive resident of the Serengeti rivers, hippopotamus can weight up to 3.2 tonnes. The peaceful appearance of these plant-eaters is deceitful, as hippos are very dangerous animals, responsible for many human deaths in Africa.
Averaging 1.5 metres (5 ft) tall at the shoulder and weighting from 1,500 kg to 3,200, they are, together with the White Rhinoceros, the next largest land animal after the elephant. Male hippos appear to continue growing throughout their lives, whereas the females reach a maximum weight at around the age of 25. However, larger specimens than this have been documented, including one of which weighed almost five tonnes. Even though they are a bulky animal, hippopotamuses can run faster than a human on land. There are estimates of its actual running speed varying from 30 km/h (18 mph) to 40 km/h (25 mph), or even 48 km/h (30 mph).
The gregarious hippo lives in groups of up to 40 animals, called a pod, herd, school or bloat. A male hippo is known as a bull, a female, a cow, and a baby, a calf. A hippo's lifespan is typically 40 to 50 years. Female hippos will reach sexual maturity at 5 to 6 years, and have a gestation period of 8 months.
The eyes, ears, and nostrils of the hippo are placed high on the roof of the skull. This allows them to spend most of the day with the majority of their body submerged in the waters of tropical rivers to stay cool and prevent sunburn. For additional protection from the sun, their skin secretes a natural sunscreen substance which is red colored. This secretion is sometimes referred to as "blood sweat," but it is not actually blood, nor sweat. This secretion starts out colorless, turns red-orange within minutes, eventually becoming brown.
Hippos are highly territorial. Their canine teeth are 50 cm (20 inches) long, and it uses its head as a battering ram, especially against rival males while fighting over territory. Since their habitat is often encroached upon by farmers and tourists, and because they are so territorial, the hippopotamus is one of the most dangerous animals in Africa.
Baby hippos are born underwater at a weight between 60 to 110 pounds and must swim to the surface in order to take their first breath. The young often rest on their mothers' backs when in water that is too deep for them, and swim underwater in order to suckle.
Averaging 1.5 metres (5 ft) tall at the shoulder and weighting from 1,500 kg to 3,200, they are, together with the White Rhinoceros, the next largest land animal after the elephant. Male hippos appear to continue growing throughout their lives, whereas the females reach a maximum weight at around the age of 25. However, larger specimens than this have been documented, including one of which weighed almost five tonnes. Even though they are a bulky animal, hippopotamuses can run faster than a human on land. There are estimates of its actual running speed varying from 30 km/h (18 mph) to 40 km/h (25 mph), or even 48 km/h (30 mph).
The gregarious hippo lives in groups of up to 40 animals, called a pod, herd, school or bloat. A male hippo is known as a bull, a female, a cow, and a baby, a calf. A hippo's lifespan is typically 40 to 50 years. Female hippos will reach sexual maturity at 5 to 6 years, and have a gestation period of 8 months.
The eyes, ears, and nostrils of the hippo are placed high on the roof of the skull. This allows them to spend most of the day with the majority of their body submerged in the waters of tropical rivers to stay cool and prevent sunburn. For additional protection from the sun, their skin secretes a natural sunscreen substance which is red colored. This secretion is sometimes referred to as "blood sweat," but it is not actually blood, nor sweat. This secretion starts out colorless, turns red-orange within minutes, eventually becoming brown.
Hippos are highly territorial. Their canine teeth are 50 cm (20 inches) long, and it uses its head as a battering ram, especially against rival males while fighting over territory. Since their habitat is often encroached upon by farmers and tourists, and because they are so territorial, the hippopotamus is one of the most dangerous animals in Africa.
Baby hippos are born underwater at a weight between 60 to 110 pounds and must swim to the surface in order to take their first breath. The young often rest on their mothers' backs when in water that is too deep for them, and swim underwater in order to suckle.
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