Hippos are known to be heavy and powerful creatures, but recent research from the University of London’s Royal Veterinary College has revealed a surprising new aspect of their movement. Contrary to popular belief, hippos are capable of going airborne while trotting at high speeds.
The study, which analyzed footage of 169 different strides from 32 hippos, found that these massive mammals do not gallop but instead stick to a trotting pattern. During this trot, their feet strike the ground in diagonal pairs, and at their peak speeds, hippos spend about 15% of each stride completely airborne. This aerial phase in their movement had never been reported before, making it a unique discovery in the animal kingdom.
While hippos are mostly known for their aquatic lifestyle, they do come onto land to graze on grass at night. This behavior, combined with their aggressive nature, has made studying hippos a challenging task. John R. Hutchinson, the lead author of the study, explained that hippos are not easy to work with due to their limited time on land, nocturnal activity, and dangerous tendencies. This has made capturing footage of their fast movements in the wild a rare occurrence.
The study of hippos’ movement may seem like a niche topic, but for Hutchinson, it was an important aspect of his research on the locomotor abilities of heavy animals. By shedding light on how hippos move on land, this research contributes to a better understanding of the biomechanics of large terrestrial mammals.
In addition to their unique trotting pattern, hippos have other interesting characteristics that make them stand out in the animal kingdom. For example, their closest relatives, rhinoceroses and giraffes, employ different footfall patterns at various speeds. This diversity in movement patterns among large mammals highlights the complexity and adaptability of animal locomotion.
Overall, the study on hippos’ airborne trotting behavior adds a fascinating new dimension to our understanding of these enigmatic creatures. Despite the challenges of studying them in the wild, researchers like Hutchinson are dedicated to unraveling the mysteries of hippos’ movement patterns and behaviors. Through their efforts, we continue to gain valuable insights into the remarkable capabilities of these iconic animals.
