Table of Contents

1. Introduction 1 2. Anatony and Physiology 8 3. The Origins of Hippos 39 4. The Social Life of Hippos 47 5. Reproduction in Hippos 58 6. Diet and Feeding Habits of Hippos 74 7. The Ecology of Hippos 86 8. Diseases, Parasites and Commensals of Hippos 110 9. Hippos and Man 120 10. The Distribution and Numbers of Hippopotamus amphibius in East Africa 162 12. The Distribution and Numbers of Hippopotamus amphibius in Southern Africa 162 References 173 Index 179 The plate section can be found betwen pages 88 and 89.

Reviews

[This is the] first full account of the common hippopotamus, found in East and South Africa, and the pigmy hippopotamus, inhabiting the forests of West Africa... A major contribution to mammalian and African wildlife literature, one which every mammalian and wildlife conservation collection should have. Choice An enormous amount of information about the common hippototamus... [A] readable, fascinating account, covering all know aspects of hippo biology, including taxonomy, anatomy, physiology, energetics, evolution, social behaviour, reproduction, diet and feeding, ecology, diseases, and parasites. Mammal News There are two species of hippos in the world today. This book is a comprehensive account of the natural history and biology of both of them. An important part of the book is a survey of common hippo numbers and conservation status, country by country. The author concludes that, although it has a total population of c.174,000, the species is vulnerable; many of its populations may be too small to be viable and the species is comparatively poorly protected. In respect of the pygmy hippo, we don't even know how many there are; they occur in just a few scattered localities, probably in small numbers, making them very vulnerable. Let us hope that the clear picture presented by this book stimulates better protection and deeper study of these curious animals. -- Jeremy J. D. Greenwood Habitat You may feel that you have absolutely no need to know about hippos but this slim book makes for fascinating reading, especially as the common view of slow, gentle, wallowing animals, immortalized in fun by Flanders and Swann, hides an interesting ecology with even more interesting applied ecology questions. Bulletin of the British Ecological Society