The exact number of bones in a hippopotamus skeleton can vary slightly due to individual differences and the presence of small, sometimes unfused bones. However, a typical mammalian skeleton, including that of a hippopotamus, generally consists of a fixed number of bones.
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A hippopotamus skeleton typically contains around 200 to 210 bones, similar to most other large mammals. While the provided content does not give a precise total number for a complete hippopotamus skeleton, it does mention that the Armley Hippo, a partial skeleton of a common hippopotamus, consists of 122 bones, with 25 mounted for display and the remainder kept in the museum's archives [1] [5]. This partial count indicates a significant number of bones in a full skeleton.
The common hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) is a large semiaquatic mammal with a barrel-shaped body and short legs [2]. Its skeletal structure is graviportal, adapted to carrying its enormous weight, and its dense bones allow it to sink and move along the bottom of the water [2] [3] [4]. The bones of hippos are osteosclerotic, meaning they are extraordinarily dense due to the replacement of porous bone with more compact bone, which acts as a ballast to help them achieve neutral buoyancy underwater [3] [4]. This adaptation is crucial for their semi-aquatic lifestyle, allowing them to walk, prance, and even "fly" underwater with ease, despite their cumbersome appearance on land [3].
Authoritative Sources
- Armley Hippo. [Wikipedia]↩
- Hippopotamus. [Wikipedia]↩
- Hippos and Pezosiren: Walking Under the Water. [National Geographic]↩
- Body measurements. [San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Library]↩
- Leeds Museums and Galleries object of the week- The Armley hippo. [leeds.gov.uk]↩
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