Hippo
This morning Alexa announced, *‘Air purifier hippo filter replacement.’ I didn’t know there was such a thing as an air purifier hippo . . . and just imagine trying to replace anything in a hippopotamus. J
Hippos are known to be extremely dangerous and will kill a human if under threat, especially if they have young to protect. However, they are primarily herbivorous so will not eat human flesh, not that that is much comfort to the victim.
I learnt the other day, courtesy of Radio 4, that hippos can’t swim. I found that quite astonishing since they spend so much of their time practically underwater, just noses, eyes and ears protruding above the surface. When they sleep, which they do underwater, a reflex prompts them to rise to take a breath before sinking down again. When they are awake they can submerge completely and hold their breath for five minutes.
Hippos are more closely related to whales and dolphins than other mammals and mating and birth both take place in the water. Each bull hippopotamus, which may weigh as much as 3½ tons, defends a stretch of water and controls a group numbering anything from five to thirty cows and calves.
There are two species in the family Hippopotamidae. The first is Hippopotamus amphibius, sometimes called the common, Nile or river hippopotamus. The second is the Pygmy hippopotamus, (Choeropsis liberiensis or Hexaprotodon liberiensis)
Hippos spend their days keeping cool in water or mud, emerging at dusk to graze on grasses.
For those, like Ann, who enjoy them, the collective noun for hippos is 'a bloat' - I find that very appealing.
You may or may not remember this little ditty from Flanders and Swann. The chorus is very easy to learn and will probably stay with you for life.
* Barry replaced the air purifier hepa filter, at no danger to himself. J
