The Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) is a large African ungulate. It is an adoptable animal in all three mainline Zoo Tycoon games, as well as Zoo Tycoon DS and Zoo Tycoon: The Board Game.
Description[]
The Hippopotamus, also known as the Common Hippopotamus, River Hippopotamus or simply Hippo, is a large mammal native to Sub-Saharan African rivers, lakes and mangrove swamps. "Hippopotamus" comes from the Greek word "River Horse", but hippos are in fact more closely related to whales and dolphins. They are easily recognizable by their barrel-shaped torsos, wide mouths and large canines. The hippopotamus is one of the largest animals in Africa, with males weighing up to 1,500kg (3,310lb). Despite its fierce appearance, hippos are herbivores, coming out onto land at night to graze; their large teeth are used only for fighting and defense.
Hippos are semi-aquatic in nature and spend most of the day in water or mud to avoid the heat of the African sun. Mating and birthing also occurs underwater, but despite this, adult hippos can't actually swim -calves can swim in short bursts- and tend to stay in shallow waters. Although largely solitary, hippos will gather in loose groups, or pods when there is enough water. The hippopotamus is one of the most dangerous animals in Africa.
Zoo Tycoon[]
The Hippopotamus is an adoptable animal in Zoo Tycoon and is available in the base game. In Freeform mode, it is not adoptable until June 1.
The hippopotamus lives in the Savannah biome and requires lots of fresh water and some dirt. Its favourite foliage is the Water Reed, which is an Aquatic biome plant, despite the hippo being a Savannah biome animal. Hippos are fairly popular among guests.
The hippopotamus cannot reach a habitat suitability of 100% in the base game, however the introduction of tanks in Marine Mania allows the player to max out the hippo's habitat suitability using a fresh water tank and either Acacia Caffra Trees, Umbrella Thorn Acacia Trees or Thorn Bushes, provided that the player places an extra square of Thorn Bushes or Umbrella Thorn Acacia Trees.
Zoo Tycoon 2[]
The hippopotamus also appears in Zoo Tycoon 2 and is available in the base game. Hippos were updated with Marine Mania to be able to walk on the floor of water bodies, as opposed to constantly swimming on the surface.
The hippopotamus lives in the Wetlands biome instead of Savannah, which they can still tolerate, along with scrub and temperate forest. They are comfortable in exhibits with any animal that isn't a large predator, although it is most effective to be placed with other animals from the wetlands biome, such as the Greater Flamingo and African Buffalo.
The hippopotamus is herbivorous and will eat hay, grass and lettuce. They can eat from a large variety of feeders including terrain food, dishes, troughs, substrate piles, and the lettuce hollow log. They are a highly entertaining animal and can use a variety of enrichment items, including the scratching post, salt lick, balls, squeaky toys, plastic barrel and car tire. The selection of shelters they can use is small, being limited to the Large Wooden Shelter, Stables, and the Large Concrete Shelter.
 Zoopedia Description
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| The hippopotamus is an African mammal that lives partly in water and partly on land. There are two species of hippopotamuses. The smaller species, called the pygmy hippo, stands barely waist-high to an adult human. Its bigger relative - known as the river or common hippopotamus or, simply, hippopotamus - is one of the world's largest and heaviest land animals, weighing up to about 4,000 kg (about 8,800 lb). Although strictly a plant eater, the hippopotamus has massive jaws with formidable tusks. The animal has an unpredictable temperament and is capable of biting through small boats and slicing crocodiles in two.
The word hippopotamus comes from two Greek words that mean "river horse". While hippos do live in rivers, they differ from horses in being artiodactyls, mammals with an even number of hoofed toes on each foot. There is also very little about their shape that is horselike. Both species of hippos have barrel-shaped bodies, stocky legs, and smooth, almost hairless skin. Their heads appear outsized and their mouths look unusually broad. Hippopotamuses are not as numerous as they once were, but they can still have a major impact on the landscape of the areas they inhabit. In some parts of Africa, river hippos trample riverbanks and lakeshores, creating a maze of waterside paths and wallows that they use to get access to the plants they eat. Hippos spend their days lazing in or near water, emerging after dark to feed. Fun Facts
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 zootycoon.com Description
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| The hippopotamus is one of the world’s largest and heaviest land animals. It lives partly in water and partly on land. Although strictly a plant eater, the hippopotamus has massive jaws with formidable tusks. Hippos have an unpredictable temperament and are capable of biting through small boats and slicing crocodiles in two. Hippos trample riverbanks and lakeshores, creating a maze of waterside paths and wallows that they use to get access to the plants they eat. Hippos spend their days lazing in or near water, emerging after dark to feed. |
Zoo Tycoon Xbox[]
The hippopotamus is an adoptable animal in Zoo Tycoon (Xbox) and is available in the base game. It is primarily a Grasslands animal, though can also be placed in the Savannah, Outback, Temperate Forest and Tropical biomes. The hippopotamus is unlocked when a zoo reaches a fame level of 4 and is not compatible with any other animals, except other hippos. Furthermore, it can use the Hose Interaction and likes Wading Pools and Shelters. The hose interaction and wading pools will contribute to the hippopotamus' cleanliness need.
Gallery[]
Zoo Tycoon[]
Zoo Tycoon 2[]
Zoo Tycoon (Xbox)[]
Trivia[]
- In Zoo Tycoon, the information plaque shows the Hippopotamus in the rainforest biome, despite being a savannah animal.
- As it is the only animal included in its family and is not compatible with any other animal family, the hippopotamus is the only standard exhibit animal in Zoo Tycoon (Xbox) that cannot be exhibited with any other species.
| Zoo Tycoon DS animals | |
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| Standard Animals | African Buffalo • African Elephant • African Lion • African Warthog • American Bighorn Sheep • American Bison • Arctic Wolf • Bengal Tiger • Black Bear • Black Leopard • Black Rhinoceros • California Sea Lion • Cheetah • Chimpanzee • Clouded Leopard • Common Wildebeest • Dromedary Camel • Emperor Penguin • Gemsbok • Giant Anteater • Giant Panda • Giraffe • Gray Wolf • Greater Flamingo • Grizzly Bear • Hippopotamus • Ibex • Jaguar • Leopard • Lowland Gorilla • Mandrill • Markhor • Moose • Okapi • Olive Baboon • Ostrich • Plains Zebra • Polar Bear • Red Kangaroo • Saltwater Crocodile • Siberian Tiger • Snow Leopard • Spotted Hyena • Thomson's Gazelle • White Bengal Tiger |
| Unlockable Content | Asian Elephant • Kouprey • Onager • Orangutan • Unicorn |