Hippos

Despite being herbivorous, the hippopotamus is one of the most dangerous river creatures in the animal kingdom. Reaching over 15 feet in length and weighing up to 4,000 pounds, not even crocodiles will trifle with an adult hippo. With their dense hide, huge size, and massive jaws, hippopotami are the undisputed rulers of the riverways.

Aggressive Nature. The herbivorous nature of the hippopotamus in no way makes it docile or safe to approach. Hippos are very aggressive and are likely to attack any creature that comes too close. They will open their jaws wide in a threatening manner in an attempt to scare off intruders. Should that fail, the unfortunate intruder will likely be charged and subjected to the hippo's devastating bite.

Blood Sweat. Because hippos lack fur and live in very sunny environments, their skin is vulnerable to the sun's harsh rays. Infections from contaminated river water are also a concern.

To combat these threats, hippos secrete an oily substance from their skin, often referred to as "blood sweat." This blood sweat protects them from the sun's rays and helps prevent infections common to rivers.

River Runners. Though they are river creatures, hippos cannot swim. Instead, they rely on their extremely dense bodies to allow them to run along the bottoms of rivers without impediment. They have been known to chase down boats this way, leaping up through the water and chomping through the unfortunate water vehicle.

Hippopotamus Gorgops. These monstrous creatures are primeval relatives of the modern hippopotamus. Growing 15 feet long, 7 feet high, and weighing nearly 10,000 pounds, the hippopotamus gorgops is a river titan. Adventurers exploring remote and uncharted rivers may suddenly find themselves staring into the yawning jaws of these terrifying behemoths.

Art Credit

• Tierleben 1920 - Wilhelm Kuhnert
• Pygmy Hippo - Steve White, Magic the Gathering