河馬科 Hippopotomidae (Sub-family of Artiodactyla)

河马科（Hippopotomidae）源于希腊语ἵππος（híppos,"马"）和希腊语ποταμός（potamós,"河流"）,意为 "河马",这是因为该科的所有成员都是半水生动物,其外形与马等其他陆生四足动物（其他兽脚类）相似.

Hippopotomidae, from Greek ἵππος (híppos, “horse”) and Greek ποταμός (potamós, “river”), means “river horse”, in reference to the fact that all the members of this family are semi-aquatic animals that have a shape similar to that of other terrestrial quadrupeds (other artiodactyla), such as the horse.

種的名字 Common names of members

倭河马,河馬.

Pygmy hippos, common hippos.

分佈 Distribution

撒哈拉以南非洲.

Sub-saharan Africa.

體型 Size

牠们体型庞大,从肩高 75-100 公分、体长 150-175 公分、体重 180-275 公斤到身高 1.30-1.65 米、体长 2.90-5.05 米、体重 1 500 公斤不等.

They are large animals, varying in size from 75–100 cm high at the shoulder, 150–175 cm in length and 180–275 kg in weight to 1.30 to 1.65 m tall, 2.90 to 5.05 m long and 1,500 kg.

形態描述 Morphology

牠们的头骨呈沙漏状,长鼻,身体呈桶状,尾巴和腿都很短.牠们的骨骼强健,重心低,能够沉入水底并在水底移动,这要归功于牠们的重力式骨骼结构,这种结构专为支撑牠们巨大的体重而设计.牠们的脚趾有蹼,腿很短.眼睛、小耳朵和鼻子位于头顶.下颌上,獠牙状的门齿和犬齿不断生长.牠们的皮肤很厚,毛发很少.皮肤被血汗覆盖,呈红粉色.

They have hourglass-shaped skulls with long snouts, barrel-shaped bodies with short tails and legs. Their strong bones and low center of gravity enable them to sink and move over the water's bottom thanks to their graviportal skeletal structures, which are designed to support their massive weight. Their toes are webbed, and their legs are short. Their eyes, small ears and nose are located at the top of their head. On the lower jaw, the tusk-like incisors and canines grow continuously. Their skin is thick with little hair. The skin is covered by a blood sweat which is reddish pink.

生態與棲息地 Ecology & Habitat

雖然有少數雄性會被發現在流速更快有岩石坡的水中,但實際上牠们喜欢宁静的水域和平缓的海滩.牠们是半水栖动物,需要足够的水量才能将自己淹没.

Although males can be found in very limited numbers in more fast waters with rocky slopes, they prefer rather quiet waters with gently sloping beaches. Semiaquatic, they need enough water to submerge themselves.

食性 Diet

作为草食动物,牠们主要吃草,很少吃水生植物.

As herbivores, they mostly eat grass and very little aquatic vegetation.

繁殖 Reproduction

牠们在旱季交配,在雨季分娩.雌性产下一只幼崽.新生儿能潛水 40 秒钟.在最初的几天里,母亲会照顾新生儿而不进食.哺乳期约为 8 个月.

They mate in the dry season and give birth in the wet season. Females give birth to one young. Newborns can dive for 40 seconds. For the first few days, the mothers will take care of the newborns without eating. The nursing period is around 8 months.