The Hippos: Natural History and Conservation (A Volume in the Poyser Natural History Series)

Hippos are unusual in being genuinely amphibious and this has a fundamental effect on their physiology and way of life. Following a general introduction, there is a detailed description of hippo anatomy and physiology, including many fascinating and little known facts about their skin structure and physiology. The complex question of hippo stomach anatomy, and its impact on their diet and nutrition, is critically reviewed. Hippos have a four-chambered stomach similar to ruminants although, unlike them, they do not chew the cud. Hence they are often called "pseudoruminants". The fossil history of hippos is then considered and the recently claimed relationship with whales is examined. Subsequent chapters are devoted to their social biology and ecology, including descriptions of their breeding and feeding ecology. Several extraordinary instances of carnivory, including an instance of cannibalism, are described. A chapter on diseases and parasites also discusses the relations between hippos and other species, including crocodiles, to which they appear to be dominant. A consideration of the hippo's relationships with its human neighbours and the prospects for its long-term conservation gives an important view of current conservation concerns. The book closes with three chapters devoted to the results of the author's recent survey on the distribution and abundance of the common hippo throughout Africa. This is the first such estimate to have been made on a continent-wide basis and the total population of about 170,000 was so much smaller than many people had expected, that it resulted in the common hippo being given special protection under the CITES convention. Key Features* The first complete work on both species of hippo, the river hippo and the pygmy hippo* Much of its data is drawn from the author's experiences while completing the IUCN Hippo Plan throughout Africa and in Uganda in particular* All aspects of hippo biology are covered* There has been no previous in depth study of the ecology and behaviour of these mammals before

Hippos are unusual in being genuinely amphibious and this has a fundamental effect on their physiology and way of life. Following a general introduction, there is a detailed description of hippo anatomy and physiology, including many fascinating and little known facts about their skin structure and physiology. The complex question of hippo stomach anatomy, and its impact on their diet and nutrition, is critically reviewed. Hippos have a four-chambered stomach similar to ruminants although, unlike them, they do not chew the cud. Hence they are often called pseudoruminants. The fossil history of hippos is then considered and the recently claimed relationship with whales is examined. Subsequent chapters are devoted to their social biology and ecology, including descriptions of their breeding and feeding ecology. Several extraordinary instances of carnivory, including an instance of cannibalism, are described. A chapter on diseases and parasites also discusses the relations between hippos and other species, including crocodiles, to which they appear to be dominant. A consideration of the hippo's relationships with its human neighbors and the prospects for its long-term conservation gives an important view of current conservation concerns. The book closes with three chapters devoted to the results of the author's recent survey on the distribution and abundance of the common hippo throughout Africa. This is the first such estimate to have been made on a continent-wide basis and the total population of about 170,000 was so much smaller than many people had expected, that it resulted in the common hippo being given special protection under the CITES convention.

Key Features:

• The first complete work on both species of hippo, the river hippo and the pygmy hippo
• Much of its data is drawn from the author's experiences while completing the IUCN Hippo Plan throughout Africa and in Uganda in particular
• All aspects of hippo biology are covered
• There has been no previous in depth study of the ecology and behavior of these mammals before

Hippos are unusual in being genuinely amphibious and this has a fundamental effect on their physiology and way of life. Following a general introduction, there is a detailed description of hippo anatomy and physiology, including many fascinating and little known facts about their skin structure and physiology. The complex question of hippo stomach anatomy, and its impact on their diet and nutrition, is critically reviewed. Hippos have a four-chambered stomach similar to ruminants although, unlike them, they do not chew the cud. Hence they are often called pseudoruminants. The fossil history of hippos is then considered and the recently claimed relationship with whales is examined. Subsequent chapters are devoted to their social biology and ecology, including descriptions of their breeding and feeding ecology. Several extraordinary instances of carnivory, including an instance of cannibalism, are described. A chapter on diseases and parasites also discusses the relations between hippos and other species, including crocodiles, to which they appear to be dominant. A consideration of the hippo's relationships with its human neighbours and the prospects for its long-term conservation gives an important view of current conservation concerns. The book closes with three chapters devoted to the results of the author's recent survey on the distribution and abundance of the common hippo throughout Africa. This is the first such estimate to have been made on a continent-wide basis and the total population of about 170,000 was so much smaller than many people had expected, that it resulted in the common hippo being given special protection under the CITES convention.

"The Hippos by Keith Eltringham is the first book to present a complete coverage of hippopotamus biology and ecology. Keith Eltringham summarises the most recent studies and presents them in a style accessible to the interested general reader and the research biologist alike. Both the larger, common hippo and the smaller, and much less well-studied, pygmy hippo are described, and the similarities and differences between them discussed are unusual in being genuinely amphibious and this has a fundamental effect on their physiology and way of life. A consideration of the hippo's relationships with its human neighbours and the prospects for its long-term conservation gives an important view of current conservation concerns. The book closes with three chapters devoted to the results of the author's recent survey on the distribution and abundance of the common hippo throughout Africa. This is the first such estimate to have been made on a continent-wide basis and the total population of about 170,000, was so much smaller than many people had expected, that it resulted in the common hippo being given special protection under the CITES convention."--Jacket The Hippos by Keith Eltringham is the first book to present a complete coverage of hippopotamus biology and ecology. Keith Eltringham summarises the most recent studies and presents them in a style accessible to the interested general reader and the research biologist alike. Both the larger, common hippo and the smaller, and much less well-studied, pygmy hippo are described, and the similarities and differences between them discussed are unusual in being genuinely amphibious and this has a fundamental effect on their physiology and way of life.After national service with the Royal Air Force, Keith Eltringham worked as a laboratory assistant in the research section of the National Smelting Company, Avonmouth, before going to university to read Zoology. He studied the physiological ecology of the gribble, a marine wood-boring crustacean, for his PhD. Book Title......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Contents......Page 6 1. Introduction......Page 10 2. Anatomy and Physiology......Page 17 3. The Origins of Hippos......Page 48 4. The Social Life of Hippos......Page 56 5. Reproduction in Hippos......Page 67 6. Diet and Feeding Habits of Hippos......Page 83 7. The Ecology of Hippos......Page 95 8. Diseases, Parasites and Commensals of Hippos......Page 123 9. Hippos and Man......Page 133 10. The Distribution and Number of Hippo......Page 147 11. The Distribution and Numbers of Hippopotamus amphibius in East Africa......Page 166 12. The Distribution and Numbers of Hippopotamus amphibius in Southern Africa......Page 175 References......Page 186 Index......Page 192 Plate Section ......Page 98 Introduction Anatomy and physiology The origins of hippos The social life of hippos Reproduction in hippos Diet and feeding habits of hippos The ecology of hippos Diseases, parasites and commensals of hippos Hippos and man The distribution and numbers of hippos The distribution and numbers of Hippopotamus amphibius in East Africa The distribution and numbers of Hippopotamus amphibius in Southern Africa.