Gracile hippopotamus (SciiFii)

The gracile hippopotamus (Leptopotamus palustris) is a species of hippopotamus that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the rainforests, wetlands, tropical forests, open woodlands, grasslands, and scrublands across Africa to help boost biodiversity. The gracile hippopotamus, unlike most other hippo species, is more terrestrial and lightly build, although they are still associated with watercourses and flooded areas, where they form herds and graze on semiaquatic vegetation, filling thus a niche closer to the water buffaloes of Eurasia and North America. The gracile hippopotamus grows to be about 9.2 feet (2.8 meters) and weigh between 1 and 1.5 tons (907-1088 kilograms), depending on the conditions of its environment. Gracile hippos are both diurnal and nocturnal. They are grazers by preference, feeding mainly on graminoids when available, such as grass and sedges, but they also eat other herbs, fruits, and bark, as well as browsing on trees and shrubs. They also feed on crops, including rice, sugarcane, and jute, sometimes causing considerable damage. Adult females and their young form stable pods of as many as 30 individuals which have home ranges of 170 to 1,000 ha (0.66 to 3.86 sq mi), including areas for resting, grazing, wallowing, and drinking. Pods are led by old cows, even when bulls accompany the group. Several pods form a herd of 30 to 500 animals that gather at resting areas. In the wild in the Congo, the herd size varies from three to 30 individuals. Adult males form bachelor groups of up to 10 individuals, with older males often being solitary, and spend the dry season apart from the female pods. They are seasonal breeders in most of their range, typically in October and November. However, some populations breed year round. Dominant males mate with the females of a clan who subsequently drive them off. Their gestation period is 10 to 11 months, with an inter-birth interval of one year. They typically give birth to a single offspring, although twins are possible. Age at sexual maturity is 18 months for males, and three years for females. The maximum known lifespan is 25 years in the wild. The conservation status of the gracile hippopotamus is Near Threatened due to habitat loss and poaching, however, thanks to the conservationists, the gracile hippopotamus is a protected species.
Category:Animals
Category:Species
Category:SciiFii